For older kindergarteners: Let’s make it! A collection of recommended origami ideas for February
February brings a string of cold days, which means more time playing indoors, doesn’t it?
That’s why we recommend origami play.
In this article, we’re sharing a collection of origami ideas you’ll want to try in February.
As graduation from kindergarten approaches, many older children have gained lots of new skills.
Even with origami models they’re making for the first time, many children can now follow instructions or an origami book and fold on their own without the teacher guiding each step.
If teachers create and display origami diagrams, children can choose what they want to make and fold freely!
It’s wonderful to provide an environment where children can make what they want, when they want.
Please use these ideas as inspiration and try making all kinds of things!
- [For preschoolers] A collection of origami ideas to enjoy February, including Setsubun and Valentine’s Day
- [For Preschoolers] Let’s Make It Together with the Kids! Origami Ideas for February
- [For 4-5-year-olds] Folding is fun! A collection of January origami ideas to enjoy with preschoolers
- [For 5-year-olds] Let’s make origami! A collection of fun folding ideas
- [Kindergartners (Older Group)] Folding is Fun! Recommended January Origami Idea Collection for Senior Kindergarteners
- [For 4–5 year olds] A collection of recommended origami ideas for March—featuring seasonal events and natural motifs
- Recommended in February! A collection of easy origami ideas perfect for childcare to enjoy the season.
- [For 5-year-olds] Let’s Make It! A Collection of Recommended Craft Ideas for February
- Perfect for September childcare! A collection of origami ideas recommended for older preschoolers
- Captivating for older kindergarteners! A collection of fun origami ideas for December
- Fun Origami Ideas for July That Older Kindergarteners Will Love
- [For Preschoolers] Fold with Fun! January Origami Ideas for Little Ones
- [For 4-year-olds] Enjoy February! A Collection of Craft Ideas
For Older Kindergarteners: Let’s Make It! Recommended Origami Ideas for February (11–20)
Origami for a Setsubun wreath
I want to use these for room decorations! Here’s a colorful and cute wreath idea.
You’ll need origami paper in various colors, pens or crayons, round stickers, and double-sided tape or glue if needed.
The key feature is a lovely design that combines parts for a blue oni, a red oni, and an Otafuku face.
You can enjoy adding personality through the expressions of the oni, so it’s highly recommended! In the video, the project is made with quarter-size origami paper, but it’s a good idea to adjust the paper size to suit the children’s growth and abilities.
A snowman and a snow hut (kamakura)
Let’s make a cozy, cute snowman and a kamakura (snow hut)! First, how to make the snowman.
Fold the paper in half diagonally twice to make creases, then open it.
Fold the bottom corner up toward the center and open it again, then fold the bottom corner up as if tucking it in.
Flip it over and fold three corners toward the center.
Also fold the two colored corners toward the center.
On the bottom, fold both ends inward toward the center, leaving a small gap at the middle.
Following the creases, fold up from the bottom, then fold it back down leaving about a 1 cm step.
Open the pockets on both sides diagonally.
Finally, tuck in the corners to shape it like a snowman, and it’s done.
Next, the kamakura.
Fold the paper in half into a square twice to make creases, then open it.
Fold the top and bottom edges toward the center line.
Open it, then fold up about 1 cm along the bottom.
Fold up the left and right corners.
Fold the top edge up toward the triangular crease lines and round off the corners.
Your kamakura is complete!
Polar Bear and the Scarf
Recommended for older preschoolers! Here’s an origami project: a polar bear with a scarf.
Start with the colored side up and fold using the “Kannon” base.
Fold the top left and right edges to the center to make crease lines, then fold the left and right corners inward.
Fold the back side as is, and change the valley fold at the front into a mountain fold.
Next, using the bottom left and right corners as pivots, fold the top left and right corners toward the center.
Open and fold outward from the center of the top toward both sides.
Now make the ears: flip it over, flatten the top corner, and fold it to form ear shapes.
Diagonally fold the lower section to suggest the body, draw the face, and your polar bear is complete.
For the scarf, take a 15 cm × 3 cm strip of origami paper, fold it in half, and fold it to look like a scarf to finish!
Bear and heart
Here we have a cute bear and heart made of origami.
First, how to make the bear: fold into a triangle twice, then unfold one step back and fold both ends up.
Like making a samurai helmet, fold both sides up diagonally.
Fold the bottom corner up toward the center, and once you tuck all the corners inward, the bear is complete.
Next, how to make the heart: fold into a square twice to create a cross-shaped crease, then open it.
Fold the bottom edge up to the center line, flip it over, and fold the bottom left and right corners up toward the center line.
Flip it over again, fold the bottom corner up to the top edge, and flip it over once more.
Open the pockets on the upper left and right, fold up the top layer, and rotate the piece 180 degrees.
Fold up the left and right corners, tuck in the side corners, then fold up the bottom corner.
There will be a pocket on the bottom side—tuck the top part into it, glue it to the bear, and you’re done!
mumps
Let’s make origami! Here’s a gentle-looking Otafuku (good-fortune lady).
You’ll need black origami paper, red round stickers, black round stickers, and a black pen.
It’s said that Otafuku’s calm, smiling expression brings lots of good fortune.
How about making your very own Otafuku with origami? The creasing steps are important, and some parts of the folding can be a bit complex, but just like the chant “Oni wa soto, fuku wa uchi” (“Demons out, fortune in”), it’s also recommended to make an Otafuku together with an oni (ogre) craft!
ogre’s iron club
It’s even a proverb! Let me introduce how to make an ogre’s kanabō (spiked club) out of origami.
You’ll need black or gray origami paper, a black pen, and a white pen.
How about making a kanabō—famous from the proverb “oni ni kanabō” (like giving a kanabō to a demon)—with origami? The steps are simple and easy to follow.
After you finish, drawing a spiky pattern with the pens will make it look even more like a real kanabō, so I recommend it.
It also looks great displayed together with Setsubun crafts, like an ogre’s face! Give it a try.
For Older Kindergarteners: Let’s Make It! Recommended Origami Ideas for February (21–30)
knit cap
Here’s an origami tutorial for a cute knit cap that’s perfect for the cold winter.
First, turn the paper over, fold it into a triangle twice, then unfold once.
Take the front layer’s tip and fold it down to the bottom edge twice.
Flip it over, then fold the left and right corners toward the center.
Fold the left and right edges inward to shape it like a hat, then turn it to the front.
Next, use a quarter-sized piece of origami paper to make the hat’s pom-pom.
Fold it twice using the “cushion” (zabuton) fold.
Slightly round each of the four corners with small folds.
Finally, glue the pom-pom onto the hat, and your knit cap is complete! It looks adorable in a variety of colors.