[For 4–5 year olds] A collection of recommended origami ideas for March—featuring seasonal events and natural motifs
From April, the Year-Middle class will become the oldest big brothers and sisters in the kindergarten.
They’re probably feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness as they look forward with anticipation and a bit of anxiety.
For these Year-Middle children who have grown so much in both mind and body over the past year, the article I’d like to introduce this time is about March origami.
We’re sharing lots of ideas that evoke spring, but consider the origami folded in April, right after they move up to the Year-Middle class, and the origami folded in March, about a year later.
When you compare them, you can really sense each child’s growth—being able to fold finer details, or progressing through the steps on their own.
Teachers, please try folding together with the children, and enjoy feeling their growth along the way.
- [Kindergarten (older class)] What kind of season is March? Let’s make events and natural objects with origami!
- [Origami] Easy spring-themed origami ideas to enjoy with 4-year-olds
- [For 4-5-year-olds] Folding is fun! A collection of January origami ideas to enjoy with preschoolers
- [Childcare] Recommended crafts and activities for March, such as Hina Matsuri (Doll’s Festival) and cherry blossoms
- [Origami] Simple Origami Ideas to Feel the Spring with 3-Year-Olds
- For older kindergarteners: Let’s make it! A collection of recommended origami ideas for February
- [For preschoolers] A collection of origami ideas to enjoy February, including Setsubun and Valentine’s Day
- [For 3-year-olds] Let’s make strawberries with origami! A collection of easy strawberry folding ideas
- [For Age 3] Let’s make it in April! A collection of craft ideas to feel spring events and nature
- Perfect for children in the middle year of kindergarten in September! A collection of origami ideas recommended for autumn
- [For Preschoolers] Let’s Make It Together with the Kids! Origami Ideas for February
- [Origami] Simple Origami Folding Ideas to Savor Spring with 5-Year-Olds
- [For 4-Year-Olds] Feel the Spring Up Close! Fun and Easy Craft Ideas You’ll Love
[For 4–5-year-olds] A collection of recommended origami ideas to make in March, featuring events and natural motifs (11–20)
peach blossoms
Let’s use origami to make peach blossoms! Prepare double-sided colored origami or washi origami, a pen, and scissors.
Peach blossoms are often confused with cherry and plum blossoms, but let’s capture their distinctive features and express them with origami.
The method is simple: crease and then cut with scissors.
Peach petals are characterized by pointed tips, so keep that in mind when cutting.
You can also make a lovely arrangement by cutting the center and hollowing out the stamens and pistil!
broccoli
Let’s make vegetables with origami! Here’s an idea for broccoli.
What you’ll need: green origami paper and colored pencils or crayons.
Broccoli is something children often see at home or in school lunches, so it’s probably a familiar vegetable to them.
This time, let’s try making broccoli out of origami! There are many steps, so some children might find it difficult, but working together with a parent or teacher can make it fun.
Try to keep the broccoli’s round shape in mind as you make it.
tiered platform for Hina dolls
Let’s display handmade Hina dolls! Here are ideas for making a tiered Hina stand out of origami.
Prepare the following: for a small stand, two sheets of 15 cm by 7.5 cm origami; for a medium stand, two sheets of 15 cm origami; for a large stand, three sheets of 15 cm origami; plus glue or double-sided tape.
Use this idea to showcase Hina dolls made from origami or other materials! The feel changes with the colors and patterns of the paper, so customizing it is part of the fun.
Make crisp creases for a neat finish!
paper lantern (especially small decorative festival lantern)
These three-dimensional bonbori lanterns look authentic! Let me show you an idea for making bonbori using origami.
You’ll need pink and black origami paper cut to 7.5 cm squares, plus double-sided tape.
Let’s try making bonbori from origami that give off a gently soft, warm glow.
Using this idea, you’ll end up with a three-dimensional piece you can display on top of a locker or shoe cabinet, which is really charming.
Some steps are a bit tricky, so it’s reassuring to work together with a parent or teacher!
Standing Sanpō tray with Hina-arare (Girls’ Day rice crackers)
Recommended for Hinamatsuri! Here’s an idea for a three-legged sanpō (ceremonial offering stand) filled with hina-arare.
What you’ll need: one sheet of black origami paper, plus pink, yellow, yellow-green, white, and other colors cut into 1/16-size pieces.
Hina-arare, traditionally eaten during Hinamatsuri, carries wishes for children’s health, growth, and happiness.
Through making this craft, it’s also nice to learn about the origins and meanings of Hinamatsuri and hina-arare.
The instructions are simple and easy to follow, which is part of the appeal.
When making hina-arare with origami, try arranging it so that the colored side faces outward.
ladybug
Both the colors and designs are fun to customize! Here are some ideas for making ladybugs out of origami.
All you need are origami paper in your favorite colors, round stickers, and a pen.
Some children may find the steps a bit complex, so it’s a good idea to start by working together with a teacher or guardian.
There’s a wide range of ways to customize them, and their cute appearance will spark children’s interest and motivation.
When you open the ladybug’s wings, you can write messages or draw pictures, so this makes a great gift idea too!
[Age 4–5] A collection of recommended origami ideas to make in March—events and nature themes (21–30)
heart
Also perfect for White Day! Here are some heart-themed ideas.
All you need is origami paper in your favorite colors or patterns, like pink or red.
March 14th is White Day! How about giving a cute origami heart in return for Valentine’s Day? The key point of this idea is the step where you insert your finger into the gap in the origami to open it up.
Since this forms the indentation of the heart, be sure to make a crisp crease there.
Give making an origami heart a try!