Make an Origami Fish!
Fold a square paper step-by-step to make a colorful origami fish, then decorate fins and eyes while learning neat folding techniques.
Step-by-step guide to Make an Origami Fish
Step 1
Place one square sheet of paper color side down on a flat surface.
Step 2
Fold the paper diagonally from one corner to the opposite corner to make a triangle.
Step 3
Fold the triangle in half by bringing the left point to meet the right point to make a smaller triangle.
Step 4
Unfold the last fold so you have the larger triangle again with a center crease.
Step 5
Lift only the top layer's right corner and fold it across toward the left to form a triangular tail.
Step 6
Flip the paper over so the tail is on the other side.
Step 7
Fold the left corner back about one-third of the way toward the center to make the fish head.
Step 8
Tuck the small head flap into the pocket under the layers to lock the head in place.
Step 9
Smooth the main creases with your finger to make the fish hold its shape.
Step 10
Gently pull the tail edges outward to shape the fins so they look lively.
Step 11
Decorate the fish by drawing scales and eyes or by sticking on stickers or googly eyes and glueing scrap-paper fins if you like.
Step 12
Share your finished origami fish on DIY.org.
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!
Help!?
What can I use if I don't have square origami paper or googly eyes for decorating?
Use any paper cut into a square (printer paper or recycled paper) for step 1 and replace googly eyes in step 11 with drawn eyes or sticker circles cut from colored paper.
My head flap won't tuck into the pocket in step 7—what should I do?
If the head flap won't tuck in during step 7, re-sharpen the creases from steps 2–4, gently open the pocket with your finger, and then slide the flap in so it locks more easily.
How can I adapt this origami fish for younger children or make it more challenging for older kids?
For younger children, pre-fold the square and skip tucking in step 7 by gluing the head flap for stability, while older kids can use thinner origami paper and add extra tail or fin folds before step 9 for more detail.
What are some creative ways to extend or personalize the finished fish after step 11?
Personalize and extend the project by gluing scrap-paper fins and googly eyes from step 11, painting scales on the body, or stringing several finished fish together to make a mobile to share on DIY.org.
Watch videos on how to Make an Origami Fish
How to Make an Easy Origami Fish - Perfect for Kids & Beginners! 🐟✨
4 Videos
How to Make an Easy Origami Fish - Perfect for Kids & Beginners! 🐟✨
Beautiful Paper Fish | Easy Origami Fish Step-by-Step | DIY Paper Art for Kids #craft #paperfish
Easy Paper Fish - Step by Step Tutorial for Kids & Beginners #origamifish #papercraft #video #kids
Origami fish tutorial step by step | How to make a paper fish easy for kids and beginners
Facts about origami and paper folding
🧠 Akira Yoshizawa is called the father of modern origami for developing many folds and diagram styles.
🎏 Koinobori are Japanese carp streamers that inspired fish-shaped crafts and origami carp designs.
🐟 Origami fish can be folded from a single square of paper—traditional models use no cuts or glue.
📄 The word "origami" comes from Japanese: oru (to fold) + kami (paper).
🎨 Washi (traditional Japanese paper) comes in bright patterns and is perfect for colorful origami fins and scales.
How do I fold a square paper step-by-step to make an origami fish?
What materials do I need to make an origami fish?
What ages is making an origami fish suitable for?
What are the benefits of making an origami fish with my child?
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