Make an origami turtle – or a few – for a tiny paper pet or a fun nature learning activity with your kids this summer.
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Kids love turtles! Maybe it’s because they’re in so many cartoons, or the fact that they’re actually pretty cute. Do your kids know The Little Turtle poem by Vachel Lindsay?
Whether you’re planning a summer learning theme around turtles or are just looking for a fun and easy origami turtle, this is a great activity for kids!
One thing you might notice about this origami pattern is that you’ll need a pair of scissors to cut the paper partway through folding. While most traditional origami doesn’t allow for cutting, this pattern is an exception.
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 turtle
Supplies
- 1 square piece of origami paper or craft paper
- scissors
- ruler
- pencil
Instructions
1. Create a diamond shape.
Fold the paper in half diagonally, then turn so the open edges face away from you. Fold each of the 2 outer points up to the center point to create a diamond shape.
2. Fold the back legs.
Fold the 2 points in half and down, creasing the diamond in the middle. Then fold the ends outward at an angle to create the back legs.
3. Fold the front legs.
Rotate the paper so that the back legs face away from you. Cut a line through only the top layer of paper from the bottom point to the center, then fold it outward to make the front legs. They should resemble the back legs.
4. Create the tail.
Fold the point facing away from you down a small amount, crease it, then fold it up so that it makes a Z shape.
5. Shape the turtle shell.
Fold the side corners in, leaving a small amount of room between the point and the center of the turtle, crease and unfold. Fold the side corners in a second time, this time folding so the points reach all the way to the center. The sides should give the shell a 3-dimensional shape.
Flip it over, and you now have a turtle friend! You can draw a face, shell details, or decorate however you like.
Printable instructions
Origami turtle
Materials
- 1 square piece of origami paper or craft paper
- scissors
- ruler
- pencil
Instructions
- Fold the paper in half diagonally, then turn so the open edges face away from you. Fold each of the 2 outer points up to the center point to create a diamond shape.
- Fold the 2 points in half and down, creasing the diamond in the middle. Then fold the ends outward at an angle to create the back legs.
- Rotate the paper so that the back legs face away from you. Cut a line through only the top layer of paper from the bottom point to the center, then fold it outward to make the front legs. They should resemble the back legs.
- Fold the point facing away from you down a small amount, crease it, then fold it up so that it makes a Z shape.
- Fold the side corners in, leaving a small amount of room between the point and the center of the turtle, crease and unfold. Fold the side corners in a second time, this time folding so the points reach all the way to the center. The sides should give the shell a 3-dimensional shape.
- Flip it over, and you now have a turtle friend! You can draw a face, shell details, or decorate however you like.
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