What age is this origami Elephant for?

About Age 10+. It is rated “Challenge” (level 4 of 5), with 22 steps, and takes about 35 minutes.

What paper do I need?

3 sheets (body: paper gray on both sides, 15 cm; head: gray on both sides, about 11 cm; tusks: white paper, about 5 cm) No scissors or glue are needed.

What is it called in Japanese?

In Japanese it is “ぞう（チャレンジ）” (象). The word origami (折り紙) itself means “folding paper”: ori = fold, kami = paper.

Can I print the instructions?

Yes. “Print the diagram” puts every step on one page (or a PDF), and the practice sheet has the crease lines printed on the paper. Free for home and classroom use.

★★★★Challenge AnimalsOriginal

How to make an origami Elephantぞう（チャレンジ）Elephant (Challenge)

The challenge version of the Elephant. Fold the body, the head and the tusks from three sheets and put them together. It has big ears, a long trunk, white tusks and four thick legs.

22 steps
about 35 min
3 sheets (body: paper gray on both sides, 15 cm; head: gray on both sides, about 11 cm; tusks: white paper, about 5 cm)
Age 10+

How to fold

からだ（大きい紙）：ひし形におき、下の角を上の角に合わせて折りすじをつける
Body (large sheet): place it like a diamond. Fold the bottom corner up to the top corner and unfold.
上と下の角を、まん中に合わせて折る
Fold the top and bottom corners to the center.
上と下のふちを、もう少し内側へ折る
Fold the top and bottom edges in a little more.
まん中の線から、ふちまでが同じはばになるように折ります。からだの太さが決まります。
うらがえす
Turn it over.
上半分を、うしろへ半分に折る
Mountain fold the top half behind.
左の先を、中わり折りで下へ（前足）
Inside reverse fold the left point down to make the front legs.
折りすじを先につけてから、2まいの間を少し開いて、先を中へおしこみます。
右の先も、中わり折りで下へ（後ろ足）
Inside reverse fold the right point down to make the back legs.
前足の先を、中へ折りこむ
Fold the tips of the front legs inside to make flat feet.
後ろ足の先も、中へ折りこむ
Fold the tips of the back legs inside, too.
頭（中くらいの紙）：ひし形におき、たて半分に折りすじをつける
Head (medium sheet): place it like a diamond. Fold it in half from side to side and unfold.
上の角を下の角に合わせて、三角に折る
Fold the top corner down to the bottom corner to make a triangle.
下のふちを、まん中の線に合わせて折る
Fold the lower edges to the center line.
左右の角が、上のまん中に集まります。
上に出た角を、左右へななめに折り下げる（耳）
Fold the points at the top down and out to the sides to make the ears.
耳の先が、鼻の横まで下がるように折ります。
耳の先を、うしろへ少し折る
Fold the tips of the ears behind a little.
鼻を、だんだんに折る（しわ）
Pleat the trunk to make a wrinkle.
下へ折ってから、少し上で折りかえします。
もう1つ、だんだんに折る
Make one more pleat lower down.
鼻の先を、上へ折る
Fold the tip of the trunk up.
きば（小さい白い紙）：ひし形におき、上の角を下の角に合わせて三角に折る
Tusks (small white sheet): place it like a diamond and fold it in half to make a triangle.
左右の角を、ななめ下へ折る（きば）
Fold the left and right corners down at an angle to make the tusks.
きばを、からだの前にのりでつける
Glue the tusks onto the front of the body.
頭を、きばの上からのりでつける
Glue the head on top, so the tusks peek out beside the trunk.
足を少し開いて、立たせる
Open the legs a little and stand the elephant up.
できあがり！3つをのりでつけたら、ぞうのできあがり！足を少し開くと立ちます。
Finished! Glue the three parts together, and your elephant is finished! Open the legs a little so it can stand.

Fun fact

ゾウの鼻にはほねがなく、たくさんの筋肉でできています。鼻で水をすいこんだり、物をつかんだりできます。アフリカゾウは、陸でいちばん大きな動物です。

An elephant’s trunk has no bones. It is made of many muscles, so the elephant can suck up water and pick things up with it. The African elephant is the largest animal on land.

Origami English in this model

❓ FAQ

What age is this origami Elephant for?: About Age 10+. It is rated “Challenge” (level 4 of 5), with 22 steps, and takes about 35 minutes.
What paper do I need?: 3 sheets (body: paper gray on both sides, 15 cm; head: gray on both sides, about 11 cm; tusks: white paper, about 5 cm) No scissors or glue are needed.
What is it called in Japanese?: In Japanese it is “ぞう（チャレンジ）” (象). The word origami (折り紙) itself means “folding paper”: ori = fold, kami = paper.
Can I print the instructions?: Yes. “Print the diagram” puts every step on one page (or a PDF), and the practice sheet has the crease lines printed on the paper. Free for home and classroom use.