Simple origami for kids – how to make a paper penguin

My daughter loves all kind of fine motor skills activities. She also likes to create things from paper. A few months ago, we went to Boston and visited New England Aquarium. They had a really impressive penguin colony and we spent a lot of time there admiring these little creatures. By the way, do you know why penguins are black and white? It is their camouflage: when the penguin is in the water, any predator above him will see its black side (so hard to spot) and any predator below will see the white side (also hard to spot against the sky and ice). Pretty clever, right?

My daughter loved all the penguins so much that she kept asking me how to make a paper penguin, as she wanted to have one at home. When I found these ready to use origami paper sheets, I thought they would be great for her. I was right, even though her penguin was not so perfect, she loved it a lot! 

Step1 I had a ready-to-use paper sheet, but you can start with a blank piece of paper and let your kids draw on it first. You may want to help out and prepare a pattern, similar to the one I have used, so the folding is easier for kids. The grey lines are important as they indicate where the paper should be folded.  First step, you fold the paper in half diagonally (corner to corner), following the middle line.

Step2 Then, fold the small black parts on the outside. You need to fold on both sides.

Step3 Fold up the black triangle that is on the bottom of the paper sheet.

Step4 You need to open up this black triangle and fold it to the inside.

Step5 Fold a small triangle shape to form the head of the penguin. Then fold twice, inside and out (following the dotted lines) to make the beak.

Step6 To finish up, fold the pink parts to the inside, so the penguin can stand. Enjoy

Simple origami for kids – how to make a paper penguin