If you’re looking for a fun and creative way to spend your time, learning how to make origami fish is a great option! Not only are they relatively easy to make, but they’re also quite beautiful when finished.
In this blog post, we’ll walk you through the steps necessary to create your own origami fish. So grab some paper and let’s get started!
What is origami?
Origami is the traditional Japanese art of paper folding. The goal of this activity is to transform a flat sheet of paper into a finished sculpture through folding and sculpting techniques. Many origami models begin with a square sheet of paper, often with colored stripes on one side. These instructions will assume that you are using such a sheet.
The history of origami
Origami is a traditional Japanese art form that involves the folding of paper into a variety of decorative shapes and figures. The word “origami” is derived from the Japanese words “ori” (to fold) and “kami” (paper).
Although origami started out as a simple form of entertainment for children, it has evolved over the centuries into a complex art form with a rich history. Today, origami artists use traditional folding techniques to create both representational and abstract sculptures. Some of these artists have even begun to experiment with non-traditional materials such as metal and fabric.
The history of origami can be traced back to the early 17th century when Buddhist monks brought paper from China to Japan. These monks used paper to create religious objects such as snowflakes and cranes. Over time, the Japanese people began to use origami as a way to wrap gifts and create decorations for special occasions.
In the mid-1900s, a new wave of interest in origami began to emerge in Japan. This new generation of origami artists started to create more intricate designs and experiment with different colors and materials. In the 1950s, Akira Yoshizawa — considered by many to be the father of modern origami — developed a system of symbols that made it possible for anyone to fold complex origami shapes without having to memorize long sequences of steps. Yoshizawa’s work helped propel origami into the mainstream, and his influence can still be seen in the work of today’s leading origami artists.
The basics of origami
Origami is the traditional Japanese art of paper folding, which transforms a sheet of paper into a representational or abstract sculpture through folding and sculpting techniques. The use of cuts, fringed edges, or glued-on decorations is usually considered to be cheating.
Pre-crease the entire sheet of paper. This will make it easier to fold later on. Make your folds as precise as possible.
Start with a square sheet of paper, and fold it in half along both diagonals to create four triangular quarters. Unfold, and then fold each triangle in half to create creases running along the middle of each side. Next, take the top layer of the two right triangles and fold it down to meet the bottom point, creating a smaller triangle. Do the same with the other side so that you have two tiny triangles poking up in the center (these will be the fish’s fins).
How to make an origami fish
In order to make an origami fish, you will need a square piece of paper. If you do not have a square piece of paper, you can simply fold a regular rectangular piece of paper in half to create a square. Once you have your square piece of paper, follow the instructions below:
- Fold your square piece of paper in half to create a crease down the middle.
- Unfold the paper and then fold the top corners down to meet the middle crease.
- Fold the paper in half again along the original crease.
- Flip the paper over and repeat steps 2-3 on the other side.
- Next, take the top layer of both sides and fold them down to meet in the middle.
- Now, take the bottom layer of both sides and fold them up to meet in the middle.
- Flip your fish over so that the flap is on the bottom and open up its mouth by folding down the center flap.
- Your origami fish is now complete!
Tips for making origami fish
Origami fish is a popular choice for origami enthusiasts of all levels, and with good reason: they’re relatively easy to make, and you can get creative with the design. While there are many ways to make an origami fish, here are a few tips to get you started.
Choose the right paper. Origami paper is thinner and easier to fold than regular paper, so it will give you better results. If you don’t have origami paper, you can use regular paper, but you may want to double it up so that it’s not too flimsy.
Fold the paper in half. This will give you a crease to work with when you start folding your origami fish.
Start with the basic body shape. This can be a rectangle, square, or triangle; whatever shape you choose, make sure that the sides are of equal length so that your fish is symmetrical.
Add the fins. Origami fish usually have two dorsal fins (on the back) and two pectoral fins (on the sides), as well as a tail fin. You can experiment with different fin shapes and sizes to create a unique look for your fish.
Finish off with details like eyes and scales. Once you’ve added the fins, your origami fish is almost complete! To finish it off, add some small details like eyes and scales using a marker or pencil.
Variations on the origami fish
There are many variations on the origami fish, from simple to more complex designs. Some common variations include the following:
- Adding fins or a tail
- Folding the body in different ways to create different shapes
- Changing the size of the paper to create a smaller or larger fish
- Adding embellishments such as eyes or scales
More origami animals
Here are some more origami animals for you to try!
Using origami in the classroom
Origami, the traditional Japanese art of paper folding, is a great way to bring some creativity and fun into the classroom. It can be used to teach a variety of concepts and skills, from the fine motor control and patience to geometric principles.
There are many books and websites that offer step-by-step instructions for making origami models, so it’s easy to get started. All you need is some paper (origami paper is traditionally square, but any paper will do) and a desire to fold!
Here are some ideas for using origami in the classroom:
- Have students make origami models of geometric shapes (e.g., squares, triangles, circles) to reinforce shape recognition and learn about fractions.
- Have students make origami animals or other figures to learn about classification (e.g., mammals, reptiles) or other topics such as habitats or endangered species.
- Use origami as a way to introduce basic principles of engineering (e.g., strength, stability) by asking students to test the strength of their creations or redesign them to make them stronger.
- Have students make an origami model and then write a story about it or use it as the basis for a mathematical problem.
- Use origami as a way to calm down after a stressful day or lesson – there’s something very soothing about folding paper!
