[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
[Age 4–5] A collection of recommended origami ideas to make in March—events and nature themes (21–30)
rabbit
How about making the Easter bunny, a character from the spring holiday, out of origami? After folding the paper into a triangle twice, open the pockets on both sides and flatten it into a square.
Place it with the flaps at the top, then fold the top corner down to the bottom corner.
Flip it over and do the same—doesn’t it start to look like a bunny? The two triangles become the ears, so fold them in toward the center line on the left and right.
Shape the chin and ears to complete the face.
The body is a bit more complex to fold, so please work on it together with an adult or teacher.
Once you glue the face and body together, your cute bunny is complete!
rice ball
With spring’s arrival, many preschools and kindergartens likely enjoy field trips and longer strolls.
Here’s an origami idea to go with that theme: how to fold a rice ball (onigiri).
Prepare a sheet of black origami paper to represent the nori (seaweed).
Fold it in half twice into a square to make creases, then unfold.
Fold three corners toward the center point.
Flip the paper over, then fold the remaining corner up so its tip meets the center point.
Next, slightly fold the corners to round the shape, and your onigiri is complete! On the small white “rice” area that shows, draw your favorite filling, or add a red round sticker to make it look like an umeboshi (pickled plum) onigiri—it looks delicious.
[Year-Round] A collection of recommended origami ideas—events and natural motifs—to make in March (31–40)
pinwheel
Let me show you how to make a pinwheel that’s perfect for spring.
We’ll fold it using the basic “two-layer boat” method.
With this method, identical boat shapes appear on the top and bottom; usually you’d fold those together to complete the boat, but since we’re making a pinwheel, stop at the point where the matching top and bottom boats are formed.
Next, create the pinwheel’s blades by folding the bottom-left corner downward and the top-right corner upward—that’s it! It looks super cute in lots of different colors.
Display it in your room to bring in the feeling of a pleasant spring breeze.
Apple
Let’s make round, cute apples! Here are some origami apple ideas.
You’ll need red or yellow-green origami paper, quarter-sized pieces of brown and green origami paper, and craft glue.
It’s perfect for a spring theme and a wonderful hands-on activity to enjoy with children.
By making apples with red or yellow-green paper and using brown and green paper for the leaf and stem, kids can develop color recognition and fine motor skills.
For the more complicated steps, try them together with a parent or teacher to encourage communication.
With spring-like motifs, you’ll have a fun time nurturing creativity!
tree
Enjoy spring nature with origami too! Here are some tree ideas.
You’ll need two 7.5 cm square sheets of origami paper and glue or craft adhesive.
It’s a lovely origami project you can enjoy with children while feeling the warmth of spring.
We’ll make a tree using 7.5 cm squares, but you can adjust the paper size to create a tree in whatever size you like! By using glue or craft adhesive to firmly secure the leaves and trunk, you’ll improve the finished look as well.
It’s a fun idea that uses simple materials to express a spring landscape with origami—highly recommended.
flower field mobile
Let’s make it with a paper cup! Here’s an idea for a cute flower-field mobile with fluttering butterflies.
You’ll need a paper cup, scissors, colored construction paper, round stickers, pens, tape, thread, decorative materials, and ribbon.
First, cut six slits evenly around the paper cup.
Open the slits, turn the cup upside down, and round off the tips of the slit sections.
Next, use the colored paper to make butterflies and flowers, and add patterns with round stickers and pens.
Finally, connect the paper cup and the paper motifs with thread, decorate the paper cup, and you’re done!
Three-dimensional dandelion
It looks just like the real thing! Here’s an idea for making a 3D dandelion.
You’ll need yellow origami paper, yellow-green origami paper, green origami paper, pink origami paper, scissors, and craft glue.
First, connect strips of yellow origami paper that you’ve cut into long, narrow pieces.
Make 1 mm-wide fringe cuts, then roll it up while applying craft glue; once it’s rolled, the dandelion flower is complete.
After making the stem and leaves with green origami paper, create a frame with the pink origami paper.
If you add some curves and motion to the stem and leaves, it will look even more like a real dandelion.
In conclusion
Was there any origami you wanted to fold with the preschoolers? Curious children will likely get enthusiastic just hearing the name, saying “I know that!” or “I want to make it!” Be sure to make lots and decorate your classroom or the entrance of the school with them!