DIY Origami Swan (NOT a Crane)

This Instructable is about creating an origami swan, not to be confused for the crane, the swan is a classic origami model that can be done by children from first grade and up. Practicing origami helps children develop their fine motor skills as they fold the paper and cognitive develop skills such as spatial awareness. Above all else, children (and adults) get to create a swan of their own and delve into the world of art, origami, and craftmanship.

Learning Objectives:

• Students should be able to:
• Use their fine motor skills to fold the paper
• Develop their spatial awareness and cognitive development as they work with folding paper into a 3D object
• Develop an appreciation for craftsmanship/visual arts from other countries around the world
• Create a folded swan model

Resources:

• Youtube video: Origami Swan - Paper Swan Instructions
• Origami Resource Center: Easy Origami Swan

• Origami paper (5 in x 5 in)
• For children, you don't want to go too small nor too large, 5 in x 5 in is great
• If you don't have origami paper on hand, you can create your own square sheet out of whatever is available (printer paper is a great option)
• Link to tutorial: How to turn an A4 sheet of paper into a perfect Square // Origami 折り紙
• Patience!

• Start with your square colored side up
• Valley fold your paper in half diagonally

Flip the paper to the white side and tilt it diagonally so it looks like a diamond

• Bring the top right edge of the paper to the center fold line and crease.
• Repeat the same step for the top left fold line

• Flip the paper to the other side
• Repeat the same steps, as before
• Bring the right edge to the center crease of the paper
• Then bring the left edge to the center crease of the paper

To start creating the neck, grab the top point of the paper and bring it to the bottom point and crease

• Next, to make the head, take the point and bring it up as far as you like.
• Remember, the larger the head, the smaller the neck and vice versa.

It should look something like this

(The paper does not have to be completely pressed flat down, this is one of the quirks of paper)

• Rotate the model 180 degrees (upside down)
• The next step is to do a mountain fold for the whole structure
• Use the crease that was made in Step 1 for this part

• Grab the body in one hand and the neck in the other
• Pull the neck away from the body gently
• Once you have it in a position that you like, crease(press down) the newly made fold
• This can be adjusted later on if wanted

• Repeat the same step for the head
• Pull the head away from the neck gently
• Once you have it in a position that you like, crease the newly made fold
• Once again, this can be adjusted later on if felt necessary

(Optional)

If you don’t like the pointy beak, it can be tucked in

Take the point of the beak and bring it under the head, crease the fold when it is to your satisfaction

Here is a closer look of the folded beak

Congratulations! You now have a swan!