Let’s make an origami crane in 9 simple steps. This beautiful origami crane is great for older kids in elementary school and adults – younger children may struggle with the first time but’ll still have fun during the whole process! Grab a square piece of paper and let’s get started. 

Final result - purple origami crane on top of a blue background. tutorial from Kids Activities Blog
Here we go!

Before we delve into the folding process, let’s take a moment to appreciate the history behind this ancient Japanese art of paper folding. The origami crane holds a special place in Japanese culture as a symbol of peace, hope, and healing. Legend has it that folding one thousand paper cranes brings good luck and grants the folder a wish. Isn’t that sweet?

Step-By-Step Instructions

Step 1. 

Begin with a square piece of paper, preferably origami paper, but regular paper works just fine too. Orient it so that the colored side is facing down, if it has one.

Origami Crane - Step 1 - Begin with a square piece of paper or origami paper. Orient it so that the colored side is facing down, if it has one. Tutorial from Kids Activities Blog
Let’s get started!

Step 2. 

Make mountain folds by folding the top corner to the bottom corner, forming a diagonal crease. Then, make valley folds by folding the left edge to the right edge, creating a horizontal crease. Unfold the paper after making both folds.

Origami Crane - Step 2 -  make valley folds by folding the left and right edges. Tutorial from Kids Activities Blog
Creating corners for our crane.
Origami Crane - Step 2 - make mountain folds by folding the left and right edges. Tutorial from Kids Activities Blog
Our first mountain fold!
Origami Crane - Step 2 - make mountain folds by folding the left and right edges. Tutorial from Kids Activities Blog
This is our second mountain fold.
Origami Crane - Step 2 - make mountain folds by folding the left and right edges. Tutorial from Kids Activities Blog
Open the folds again.
Origami Crane - Step 2 - Make valley folds by folding the left and right edges to the centerline. Tutorial from Kids Activities Blog
Folding to create our first valley fold.
Origami Crane - Step 2 - Make valley folds by folding the left and right edges to the centerline. Unfold the paper afterward. Tutorial from Kids Activities Blog
Now unfold again.
Origami Crane - Step 2 - Make valley folds by folding the left and right edges to the centerline.Tutorial from Kids Activities Blog
One more fold before we finish with this step.
Origami Crane - Step 2 - Unfold the paper afterward. Tutorial from Kids Activities Blog
Your origami should look like this so far.

Step 3. 

Fold the top corners down to meet the bottom corner, creating a triangle. Your paper should resemble a kite shape.

Origami Crane - Step 3 - Fold the top corners down to meet the bottom corner, creating a smaller triangle. Tutorial from Kids Activities Blog
Fold as shown.
Origami Crane - Step 3 - Fold the top corners down to meet the bottom corner, creating a smaller triangle. Tutorial from Kids Activities Blog
Your origami should look like a kite at this point.

Step 4. 

Fold and unfold the bottom edges of the triangle to the central crease. Repeat this step on the backside of the paper.

Origami Crane - Step 4 - Then, fold and unfold the bottom edges to the central crease. Repeat this step on the backside.  Tutorial from Kids Activities Blog
Isn’t doing origami such a peaceful activity?
Origami Crane - Step 4 - Now unfold the last creases.  Tutorial from Kids Activities Blog
Unfold the previous creases.
Origami Crane - Step 4 - Turn around and fold and unfold the bottom edges on the back side to the central crease. Tutorial from Kids Activities Blog
Turn around and repeat.
Origami Crane - Step 4 - Fold and unfold the bottom edges on the back side to the central crease. Tutorial from Kids Activities Blog
We’re halfway done with the origami crane tutorial.
Origami Crane - Step 4 - Unfold the last crease. Tutorial from Kids Activities Blog
Now unfold again.

Step 5. 

Push in the corners of the triangle, following the creases created in the previous step. This will form a diamond shape. Repeat this step on the backside of the paper as well.

Origami Crane - Step 4 - Push in the corners, following the creases from the previous step, to form a diamond shape. Repeat this step on the backside. Tutorial from Kids Activities Blog
Push in the corners as shown.
Origami Crane - Step 4 - Push in the corners, following the creases from the previous step, to form a diamond shape. Repeat this step on the backside. Tutorial from Kids Activities Blog
Now we have a diamond shape.

Step 6. 

Fold up the front flap of the diamond along the central horizontal line. Repeat this step on the backside.

Origami Crane - Step 5 - Fold up the front flap along the central horizontal line. Tutorial from Kids Activities Blog
Lifting the flaps.
Origami Crane - Step 5 - Fold up the back flap along the central horizontal line. Tutorial from Kids Activities Blog
Now lift the back flap too.

Step 7. 

Fold in the bottom edges of the diamond, two in the front and two in the back, creating a smaller diamond shape.

Origami Crane - Step 6 - Fold in the bottom edges of the diamond, two in the front and two in the back, creating a smaller diamond shape. Tutorial from Kids Activities Blog
Let’s tuck in the edges.
Origami Crane - Step 6 - Fold in the back bottom edges of the diamond. Tutorial from Kids Activities Blog
Folding fun for everyone.

Step 8. 

Inside reverse fold the bottom corners of the diamond, tucking them inward to form the base of the crane.

Origami Crane - Step 7 - Inside reverse fold the bottom corners of the diamond, tucking them inward to form the base of the crane. Tutorial from Kids Activities Blog
Let’s form the base of our origami crane.
Origami Crane - Step 7 - Inside reverse fold the bottom corners of the diamond, tucking them inward to form the base of the crane. Tutorial from Kids Activities Blog
Folding origami is so relaxing for kids and adults.
Origami Crane - Step 7 - Inside reverse fold the bottom corners of the diamond, tucking them inward to form the base of the crane. Tutorial from Kids Activities Blog
Repeat the last step on the back side as well.
Origami Crane - Step 7 - Inside reverse fold the bottom corners of the diamond, tucking them inward to form the base of the crane. Tutorial from Kids Activities Blog
So your crane should look something like this.

Step 9.

For the head and wings, inside reverse fold one corner to create the beak and fold down the wings.

Origami Crane - Step 8 - Inside reverse fold one corner to create the beak and fold down the wings. Tutorial from Kids Activities Blog
Just a few more folds to finish your origami crane.
Origami Crane - Step 8 - Inside reverse fold one corner to create the beak and fold down the wings. Tutorial from Kids Activities Blog
Pull down the back flap too.
Origami Crane - Step 8 - Inside reverse fold one corner to create the beak and fold down the wings. Tutorial from Kids Activities Blog
Almost done!
Origami Crane - Step 8 - Inside reverse fold one corner to create the beak and fold down the wings. Tutorial from Kids Activities Blog
Fold one corner to create the beak.

Your origami crane is now complete!

Finished result - purple origami crane on top of a green background. Tutorial from Kids activities blog
Wasn’t that so much fun?

Extra tips

Experiment with different paper textures to create unique origami birds. You can find origami paper at craft stores, or simply use regular paper for your origami projects.

Yield: 1

Origami Crane

Final result - purple origami crane on top of a blue background. tutorial from Kids Activities Blog

Make a beautiful origami crane in simple steps with our tutorial, perfect for kids and adults!

Active Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Difficulty Medium
Estimated Cost $1

Materials

  • Square origami paper

Instructions

    1. Begin with a square piece of paper, preferably origami paper, but regular paper works just fine too. Orient it so that the colored side is facing down, if it has one.
      Origami Crane - Step 1 - Begin with a square piece of paper or origami paper. Orient it so that the colored side is facing down, if it has one. Tutorial from Kids Activities Blog
    2. Make mountain folds by folding the top corner to the bottom corner, forming a diagonal crease. Then, make valley folds by folding the left edge to the right edge, creating a horizontal crease. Unfold the paper after making both folds.
      Origami Crane - Step 2 - make mountain folds by folding the left and right edges. Tutorial from Kids Activities Blog
      Origami Crane - Step 2 - make mountain folds by folding the left and right edges. Tutorial from Kids Activities Blog
      Origami Crane - Step 2 - make mountain folds by folding the left and right edges. Tutorial from Kids Activities Blog
      Origami Crane - Step 2 - make mountain folds by folding the left and right edges. Tutorial from Kids Activities Blog
      Origami Crane - Step 2 - Make valley folds by folding the left and right edges to the centerline. Tutorial from Kids Activities Blog
      Origami Crane - Step 2 - Make valley folds by folding the left and right edges to the centerline. Unfold the paper afterward. Tutorial from Kids Activities Blog
      Origami Crane - Step 2 - Make valley folds by folding the left and right edges to the centerline.Tutorial from Kids Activities Blog
      Origami Crane - Step 2 - Unfold the paper afterward. Tutorial from Kids Activities Blog
    3. Fold the top corners down to meet the bottom corner, creating a triangle. Your paper should resemble a kite shape.
      Origami Crane - Step 3 - Fold the top corners down to meet the bottom corner, creating a smaller triangle. Tutorial from Kids Activities Blog
      Origami Crane - Step 3 - Fold the top corners down to meet the bottom corner, creating a smaller triangle. Tutorial from Kids Activities Blog
    4. Fold and unfold the bottom edges of the triangle to the central crease. Repeat this step on the backside of the paper.
      Origami Crane - Step 4 - Then, fold and unfold the bottom edges to the central crease. Repeat this step on the backside. Tutorial from Kids Activities Blog
      Origami Crane - Step 4 - Now unfold the last creases. Tutorial from Kids Activities Blog
      Origami Crane - Step 4 - Turn around and fold and unfold the bottom edges on the back side to the central crease. Tutorial from Kids Activities Blog
      Origami Crane - Step 4 - Fold and unfold the bottom edges on the back side to the central crease. Tutorial from Kids Activities Blog
      Origami Crane - Step 4 - Unfold the last crease. Tutorial from Kids Activities Blog
    5. Push in the corners of the triangle, following the creases created in the previous step. This will form a diamond shape. Repeat this step on the backside of the paper as well.
      Origami Crane - Step 4 - Push in the corners, following the creases from the previous step, to form a diamond shape. Repeat this step on the backside. Tutorial from Kids Activities Blog
      Origami Crane - Step 4 - Push in the corners, following the creases from the previous step, to form a diamond shape. Repeat this step on the backside. Tutorial from Kids Activities Blog
    6. Fold up the front flap of the diamond along the central horizontal line. Repeat this step on the backside.
      Origami Crane - Step 5 - Fold up the front flap along the central horizontal line. Tutorial from Kids Activities Blog
      Origami Crane - Step 5 - Fold up the back flap along the central horizontal line. Tutorial from Kids Activities Blog
    7. Fold in the bottom edges of the diamond, two in the front and two in the back, creating a smaller diamond shape.
      Origami Crane - Step 6 - Fold in the bottom edges of the diamond, two in the front and two in the back, creating a smaller diamond shape. Tutorial from Kids Activities Blog
      Origami Crane - Step 6 - Fold in the back bottom edges of the diamond. Tutorial from Kids Activities Blog
    8. Inside reverse fold the bottom corners of the diamond, tucking them inward to form the base of the crane.
      Origami Crane - Step 7 - Inside reverse fold the bottom corners of the diamond, tucking them inward to form the base of the crane. Tutorial from Kids Activities Blog
      Origami Crane - Step 7 - Inside reverse fold the bottom corners of the diamond, tucking them inward to form the base of the crane. Tutorial from Kids Activities Blog
      Origami Crane - Step 7 - Inside reverse fold the bottom corners of the diamond, tucking them inward to form the base of the crane. Tutorial from Kids Activities Blog
      Origami Crane - Step 7 - Inside reverse fold the bottom corners of the diamond, tucking them inward to form the base of the crane. Tutorial from Kids Activities Blog
    9. For the head and wings, inside reverse fold one corner to create the beak and fold down the wings.
      Origami Crane - Step 8 - Inside reverse fold one corner to create the beak and fold down the wings. Tutorial from Kids Activities Blog
      Origami Crane - Step 8 - Inside reverse fold one corner to create the beak and fold down the wings. Tutorial from Kids Activities Blog
      Origami Crane - Step 8 - Inside reverse fold one corner to create the beak and fold down the wings. Tutorial from Kids Activities Blog
      Origami Crane - Step 8 - Inside reverse fold one corner to create the beak and fold down the wings. Tutorial from Kids Activities Blog
    10. Your origami crane is now complete!
      Finished result - purple origami crane on top of a green background. Tutorial from Kids activities blog

Notes

Experiment with different paper textures to create unique origami birds. You can find origami paper at craft stores, or simply use regular paper for your origami projects.

More Origami Tutorials For Kids From Kids Activities Blog

Once you’ve mastered the traditional origami crane, try exploring other origami models! 

Did you have fun folding this origami crane?



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