[For 5-year-olds] Let’s make origami! A collection of fun folding ideas
Here are some origami ideas for five-year-olds.
By the time children are five, you’ll often see them helping each other with parts they don’t understand or folding while looking at an origami instruction book.
While respecting each child’s pace, teachers should also enjoy working on these together with the children.
We’re introducing lots of ideas—ones you can fold and play with, as well as cute ones to decorate with or wear—so once the origami is finished, be sure to have fun playing with the children!
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[For 5-Year-Olds] Let’s Make It with Origami! A Collection of Fun Folding Ideas (41–50)
Cute Santa Claus you can fold from a single sheet!
Fold the origami paper into a triangle to make a crease, then open it and fold the top corner down to meet the center.
Fold the lowered corner into a roll (tuck fold) to create the white part of the hat.
Next, fold the bottom corner up to meet the top edge, then fold it back down about 1 cm below the white part of the hat.
This white triangle will be Santa’s beard.
Turn the paper over, and fold the top left and right edges inward by about 7 mm.
Then fold both sides inward again so that the top edges align with the vertical center line.
Fold along the creases you just made so they match the lower left and right edges of the diamond shape at the center, and fold them back outward, tucking the corners into the small triangles on the left and right—these will be Santa’s arms.
Turn the paper to the front and draw the face to finish.
Easy way to make mushrooms
Open the paper after folding it twice to make a square.
Fold the top two corners in so they meet at the center of the paper.
Turn the paper over, then fold the bottom edge up to meet the horizontal crease.
Turn the paper over again, and fold the left and right sides in to meet the vertical crease in the center.
Fold the bottom edge up to meet the top corner, then fold it back down at the point where the color changes, making a valley fold.
On the rectangular section, tuck the top left and right corners inward to make creases, open them, then squash-fold those sections into triangles while aligning both side edges with the center.
Finally, tuck the remaining corner inward and round the overall shape slightly—your mushroom is complete.
Peekaboo Penguin
Here’s a super cute way to fold a penguin that’s perfect to attach to letters or cards! First, place the origami paper with the back side facing up and fold it into a triangle twice to make crease lines.
Lift one corner up to just slightly before the center line, then fold both edges of the lifted section upward at a slight diagonal.
Fold both corners of that folded section inward.
Turn it over so the white side is facing you, and fold along the center line twice to shape the face.
Next, use a 2.5 cm piece of origami paper to make the hands.
Start with a basic “zabuton” fold, then fold both corners diagonally to shape the hands.
Make two of these.
Finally, glue the hands on, and add eyes and a mouth with round stickers or similar—done!
Penguin parent and child
Here’s how to fold cute parent-and-child penguins.
First, turn the origami paper to the back and fold it into a triangle twice to make creases.
Fold one corner to align with the center line, open it, then fold along the creases two more times to set the folds.
Fold the corner up twice.
Next, fold both corners at the folded section toward the center line.
Fold the tip up to the front crease, then flip it over.
After flipping, fold the outer corners diagonally upward toward the center line.
Then, fold both corners outward so they stick out, like in the image of hands.
Finally, adjust the corners to shape them into penguins, and you’re done! If you make them with small origami paper as well, you’ll have a parent and child penguin set.
Decorate the eyes with round stickers or a pen.
Cute and easy Santa boots
https://www.tiktok.com/@hoiku.labo/video/7310107669031931138Fold the origami in half by bringing the top and bottom edges together to make a crease.
Open it up, place the colored side facing up, and fold the right edge inward by about 1 cm.
Flip the paper over again, then fold the top and bottom edges to meet the center crease.
Place it with the white side facing up, and fold the bottom edge up to align with the lower line of the white area.
Fold the paper in half by bringing the left and right edges together, then pinch the inside section and pull it outward 90 degrees.
Fold the pulled-out section upward on the front and the back to form a boot shape.
Finally, fold the tip of the boot to round it off, and you’re done!
Just two folds! An easy wreath
A wreath made by connecting folded origami pieces is a perfect origami activity for older kindergarteners in December.
Prepare eight sheets of origami paper cut into quarters.
Fold each piece into a triangle, then fold one of the corners upward.
Make eight pieces using the same folding method, then insert the tip of one piece into the pocket of another to connect them and form a circular wreath.
Mixing colors will create a bright and cute wreath.
Decorating it with stickers or pom-poms is also recommended.
Easy and cute! Snow bunny
Snow bunnies have long been considered lucky and have been loved for generations.
The origami snow bunny is simple to fold, making it a great project for older children.
Prepare one sheet of white origami paper and two pieces of green origami paper cut into quarters.
First, make the bunny’s body with the white paper.
Fold the paper in half, then fold the left and right corners—one a bit larger and the other a bit smaller.
Fold the top triangular portion downward to form the snow bunny’s body.
For the ears, fold the green paper into a triangle and open it, then fold both sides toward the center crease.
Fold the top section in the same way to complete the bunny ears.
Attach the body and ears, and create your own original snow bunny.