Turn One Square of Paper into a Crane! Grab a sheet of paper and follow along with an easy video to fold a classic origami crane.
Origami is the Japanese art of paper folding, and the crane is one of its best-loved designs. In Japan, the crane is a symbol of peace, hope, and long life. A well-known tradition, called senbazuru, says that anyone who folds 1,000 paper cranes can make a wish.
You don’t need any experience to start. The video guides you through every step. Your first crane might look a little wobbly, and that’s part of the fun. By your second or third, you’ll be folding with confidence.
Once you’ve figured out the crane, try folding a few in different colours, or teach a friend how to make one too!
How to Prepare
This activity only needs paper!
- Origami paper: Origami paper is square paper with a colour or pattern on one side. When you are building your crane, it will be helpful to know which side is the front (colour or patterned side) and which is the back (plain/white).
- You can also use any thin paper cut into a square. Thick paper will be harder to fold.
Fold and Create Your Crane
The best way to create an origami crane is to follow along with this video from the Japanese American National Museum:
Follow these steps from the video:
Step 1: With the white (or back side up) fold your paper halfways into a triangle.
Step 2: Without unfolding, fold the paper in half into a triangle again.
Step 3: Open up one triangle half and flatten into a square.
Step 4: Flip and fold the other side to match.
Step 5: Fold the open edges in to meet the centre line.
Step 6: Flip and repeat.
Step 7: Crease along the top line.
Step 8: Open back into a square.
Step 9: Open the pocket along the creases you've created and flatten into a diamond shape.
Step 10: Flip and repeat to match.
Step 11: Fold the edges of the loose ends in to meet the centre line.
Step 12: Repeat on the other side.
Step 13: Fold the loose ends up into the body.
Step 14: Fold the top of one side down to form a head.
Step 15: Open the wings.
Done! Now you have a beautiful crane. Grab another square and fold as many as you like!