Easy Origami Bird

This Easy Origami Bird is a fun paper folding activity for kids, families, and classrooms. It is a great introduction to origami because the steps are simple enough for beginners, but still give kids a finished bird they will be proud to make. Print the diagram and instructions so children can practice again and again until they remember the folds on their own.

Origami is a wonderful quiet activity for home, rainy days, classroom centers, and homeschool lessons. It also helps build patience, focus, and fine motor skills.

Supplies

• Thin paper squares

Instructions

1. Start with a square piece of thin paper.
2. Fold the paper in half diagonally and crease well.
3. Fold the top point of the front layer down to the bottom fold. Crease it, then open it back up.
4. Fold the right point inward to meet the crease line you just made. Crease well.
5. Fold the left point inward to meet the same crease line. Crease well.
6. Rotate the paper so it matches the diagram.
7. Fold the bird shape in half toward the back. Leave the wings flat and pointing upward as shown in the printable diagram.
8. To make the beak, crease the right side point downward and open it back up. Crease it again in the opposite direction. Gently push that creased section inside the fold with your finger to form the beak.

Fun Facts

• Origami is the Japanese art of paper folding.
• The word origami comes from Japanese words that mean folded paper.
• Origami can help children practice careful hand movements and following directions.
• Paper folding is also connected to math because it uses shapes, lines, symmetry, and angles.

Award your kids with an inexpensive and colorful origami patch from MakingFriends.com. They can wear them, collect them or trade them.

Patterns, Templates and Printables

Click on a pattern to open it in a new window to print.