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Craft an origami elephant

Craft an origami elephant
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Fold paper to craft an origami elephant, learn precise folding steps, follow diagrams, and decorate your elephant to explore geometry and fine motor skills.

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Step-by-step guide to craft an origami elephant

What you need
Adult supervision required, coloring materials, square paper about 6 inches

Step 1

Place your square paper color side down on a flat table so the white or plain side is facing up.

Step 2

Fold the paper in half from left edge to right edge to make a center crease and then unfold to return to the flat square.

Step 3

Fold the left edge of the paper in to meet the center crease and press the fold firmly.

Step 4

Fold the right edge of the paper in to meet the center crease and press the fold firmly so you now have a kite shape.

Step 5

Fold the top point of the kite down about one third of the way toward the bottom to form the elephant’s head area and press the crease.

Step 6

Make a small fold at the tip of the head by folding a tiny bit back up to form the trunk tip and press the crease.

Step 7

Fold the top left flap down diagonally to make the left ear and press the crease.

Step 8

Fold the top right flap down diagonally to make the right ear and press the crease.

Step 9

Fold the entire model in half from left to right so the ears sit on the outside and the trunk points forward.

Step 10

Fold the bottom edge back about 1 inch to create flat legs so your elephant can stand and press the crease.

Step 11

Decorate your elephant with coloring materials by drawing eyes patterns and any fun designs.

Step 12

Share your finished origami elephant on DIY.org

Final steps

You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!

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Help!?

What can we use if we don't have square origami paper?

Cut a 6–8 inch square from printer paper, wrapping paper, or a magazine and follow the same folding sequence with the color side down so the white/plain side faces up.

Why won't my elephant stand after I fold the bottom edge back about 1 inch?

If the elephant won't stand after you fold the bottom edge back about 1 inch, make that leg fold slightly wider, press the crease firmly with a fingernail or ruler, and gently spread the two legs so the flat legs support the model.

How can I simplify or make this origami elephant more challenging for different ages?

For younger children use a larger square (10–12 inches) and pre-fold the center and kite folds (steps 2–4), while older kids can refine the trunk tip fold, shape the ears more precisely, add a small paper tusk, and decorate with detailed patterns using markers.

How can we personalize or extend the activity after decorating the elephant?

After decorating (step 11), personalize by gluing on googly eyes or stickers, tucking a small folded paper tail into the back, making a herd of elephants in different colors and sizes, and photographing them to share on DIY.org.

Watch videos on how to craft an origami elephant

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Cute Origami Elephant - Easy Paper Elephant Making

4 Videos

Facts about origami and paper folding

📄 A single paper fold doubles the layers, so after 5 folds you'll have 32 layers — a neat example of exponential growth!

🐘 Elephants use their trunks like hands — they can pick up tiny objects with surprising precision.

🖐️ Folding tiny corners and creases helps kids build fine motor skills and concentration.

📰 Origami comes from Japanese ori ('folding') + kami ('paper'), mixing art and language!

📐 Paper folding teaches symmetry: a fold creates a mirror line so both sides match.

How do I fold an origami elephant step by step?

Start with a square sheet. Fold diagonals and edges to make a preliminary base (triangle or square base depending on model). Create the elephant body by forming a bird base or squash fold; narrow one end into the trunk with a series of small mountain and valley folds and a reverse fold to shape the tip. Fold out wide ears with pleats, form legs with accordion folds, and refine creases. Follow diagrams for each fold, flatten sharply, and decorate after final shaping.

What materials do I need to make an origami elephant?

You’ll need square origami paper (about 15 cm/6 in) or cut regular paper into a square, plus a flat surface. Optional helpful tools: a ruler or bone folder for sharp creases, a pencil for light guidelines, and small scissors only if your model calls for cuts. For decorating, use markers, crayons, stickers, or watercolor. Keep wipes or a scrap paper nearby. No glue required unless you want to attach extra decorations.

What ages is folding an origami elephant suitable for?

Origami elephants suit different ages: preschoolers (4–6) can join with adult help for simple folding and decorating; children 7–9 can attempt basic elephant folds with step-by-step guidance; ages 10+ usually complete more detailed models independently. Adjust fold difficulty and diagram complexity. Supervise younger kids when using scissors or tools and offer demonstration and patience so they learn sequencing, fine motor control, and following diagrams.

What are the benefits of making an origami elephant with my child?

Folding an origami elephant builds fine motor skills, hand–eye coordination, spatial reasoning, and early geometry understanding—kids learn symmetry, angles, and fractions through folds. It boosts patience, focus, and following multi-step directions. Decorating adds creativity and self-expression. Practicing step-by-step diagrams also strengthens reading of visual instructions and sequencing. For group activities, it encourages cooperative learning and communication. Great as a low-cost STEM-art
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