Follow these easy origami fish folding instructions to teach kids how to make a whole school of cute paper fish.
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This origami fish is one of our favorite traditional paper folding patterns. It has a few tight folds, but once you’ve made one or two, you’ll find it’s pretty easy to make.
We used green paper for ours, but you can use any color. Or make your fish from white paper and then color it. This pattern would make a cute rainbow fish!
Origami paper folding tips
- Start with a perfect square of paper (unless the pattern calls for something different). Use a ruler to double-check that all sides are even.
- Use origami paper if you can. This paper is just the right weight and thickness, and it often comes cut to size.
- Young kids can learn to fold origami but may learn better by copying an adult. Sit beside your child, rather than across from them, so that they can see exactly what you’re doing.
- To make a crease, use the edge of a pencil or ruler, or your fingernail to make the crease nice and crisp.
- Traditionally origami doesn’t include glue. But you may want to add some in a few places to ensure your folds stay put, especially if the finished design is a toy.
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How to make an origami fish
Supplies
- 1 square piece of origami paper or craft paper
- scissors
- ruler
- pencil
Instructions
1. Make a narrow house shape.
Start by folding the square of paper in half vertically, then unfolding it, to create a crease. Fold the upper 2 corners toward the center crease. Then fold the sides in to meet at the center crease.
2. Prepare the accordion fold.
Fold the bottom edge up over the top and fold the edges toward the center, then unfold, leaving creases.
3. Prepare the back.
Flip over the shape. Fold the bottom edge up over the top and fold the edges toward the center, then unfold, leaving creases.
4. Accordion fold the body.
Push the accordion together and crease it to maintain its shape. You should have a rectangle on the bottom and a diamond on the top with sides between them folded inward.
5. Shape the fishtail.
Finally, fold the bottom flap down and the corners on the bottom flap down, away from the diamond shape.
Flip it over, and you now have a completed fish buddy, to decorate however you please! Draw a face and scales, or just leave it plain. After you’ve made one, you might want to make a whole school of fish!
Printable instructions
Origami Fish
Materials
- 1 square piece of origami paper or craft paper
- scissors
- ruler
- pencil
Instructions
- Start by folding the square of paper in half vertically, then unfolding it, to create a crease. Fold the upper 2 corners toward the center crease. Then fold the sides in to meet at the center crease.
- Fold the bottom edge up over the top and fold the edges toward the center, then unfold, leaving creases.
- Flip over the shape. Fold the bottom edge up over the top and fold the edges toward the center, then unfold, leaving creases.
- Push the accordion together and crease it to maintain its shape. You should have a rectangle on the bottom and a diamond on the top with sides between them folded inward.
- Finally, fold the bottom flap down and the corners on the bottom flap down, away from the diamond shape.
- Flip it over, and you now have a completed fish buddy, to decorate however you please! Draw a face and scales, or just leave it plain.
Our origami fish tutorial was featured by Twinkl in World Oceans Day Activities for Kids.
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