OtterKnow Kids Encyclopedia

Origami is the Japanese art of folding paper into shapes without using scissors or glue. The word “origami” comes from two Japanese words that mean “folding paper.” People in Japan have been doing origami for hundreds of years!

To make origami, you start with a square piece of paper and follow a set of folding steps. You can make simple shapes like a boat or a cup with just a few folds. With more practice, you can learn to fold cranes, frogs, butterflies, and even dragons! The most important trick is to make each fold very neat and sharp. You can press down on the fold with your fingernail to get a nice, crisp crease. Origami teaches you to be patient and to follow directions carefully.

• Paper was invented in China over 2,000 years ago. Before paper, people wrote on animal skins, clay tablets, and even tree bark!
• The world record for the longest paper airplane flight is over 200 feet. That is almost as long as a jumbo jet!
• In Japan, people believe that if you fold 1,000 paper cranes, your wish will come true.
• The biggest paper airplane ever made was over 60 feet long. It was built by a big team of people and actually flew!
• Paper snowflakes are all different, just like real snowflakes. No two look exactly the same.
• You can make paper from scratch by blending old paper with water and pressing it flat. This is called papermaking, and it is a great way to recycle!