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Fold a Paper Crane

The paper crane is a famous origami bird from Japan. With just one square of paper and your hands, you can make one too!

We will learn it one small step at a time. Ready? Tap Next to begin! 👉

1. Pick the right paper

Origami cranes need a perfect square — all four sides the same length. A long rectangle won't fold neatly.

Tap the shape that is a square.

No origami paper? Cut a square from any paper — fold one corner of a rectangle across to make a triangle, then snip off the strip left over. ✂️

2. Fold the base (the magic start)

Every crane begins with a small "diamond" base. Tap the Fold! button to watch each fold happen, one at a time.

Stage 1 of 5 — Flat square
diamond Base ready! ⭐

3. Fold the edges to the middle

Turn the open end of the diamond to the top. Now fold the two side edges so they meet at the centre line — like closing a book. This makes a tall "kite".

Both side points slide in to touch the dotted middle line.

Press hard! Run your fingernail along every fold to make a sharp crease. Sharp creases = a tidy crane. 👍

4. What comes next?

Origami only works if you do the steps in order. Tap the steps from first to last.

5. Lift the neck and tail

Two thin flaps stick out at the bottom. Fold them up on each side. One will become the neck, the other the tail.

neck tail

A tiny fold near the top of the neck makes the beak. 🐦

6. Meet your crane!

Your crane has come to life! Read the word in the chip, then tap that part on the crane.

Find the: head

🎉🕊️

You folded a crane!

Origami Star ⭐

The 6 steps to remember

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Square — start with a perfect square.
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Base — fold into the little diamond base.
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Kite — fold the side edges to the centre.
⬆️
Lift — raise the flaps for neck and tail.
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Beak — a tiny fold makes the head.
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Wings — gently pull the wings open.

In Japan, folding 1,000 cranes is a wish for good luck and health. Keep practising — soon you can fold one with your eyes almost closed! 💝