Slow Paper Crane Folding

What you need

• Paper, 2 square sheets, or 2 sheets of printer paper
• Kid scissors, 1 pair

How to do it

Grown-up prep: Find a flat, quiet spot and set out the paper. If you only have printer paper, a grown-up can help check the square cut.

1. Make your paper into a square.
2. Fold the square corner to corner both ways, opening it after each fold.
3. Turn the paper over and fold it edge to edge both ways, opening it after each fold.
4. Collapse the creases into a small square base.
   Ask: What shape do you think the paper will make when we push the sides together?
5. Fold the right lower edge of the top layer in to the center line.
6. Fold the left lower edge of the top layer in to the center line.
7. Fold the top triangle down over the kite, crease hard, then open all three folds.
8. Petal fold: lift the bottom point of the top layer up along the crease across the top.
   Ask: What do you think will happen to the sides when you lift the point?
9. Turn the paper over and fold both lower edges in to the center line.
10. Fold the top triangle down, crease hard, then open all three folds again.
11. Petal fold the back: lift the bottom point up and press the sides in.
12. Fold the lower edges of the top layer in to the center line to make the legs thin.
13. Turn the paper over and make the legs thin on this side too.
14. Fold one skinny leg up between the wings to make the tail.
15. Fold the other skinny leg up the same way to make the neck.
16. Fold the tip of the neck down to make the head.
17. Gently pull the wings down and out to the sides.
18. Fold a second crane and show someone! Can your next one be even neater?
    Ask: What did you notice the second time that you missed the first?

Play it again

• Crane flock: fold a whole group and hang them on a string.
• Tiny crane: use a small square and see how neat you can make it.
• Teach a friend: show someone else each fold, slowly.