What age is this origami Turkey for?

About Age 7+. It is rated “Medium” (level 3 of 5), with 7 steps, and takes about 15 minutes.

What paper do I need?

2 sheets of origami paper (one for the tail, a smaller one for the body) No scissors or glue are needed.

What is it called in Japanese?

In Japanese it is “ターキー”. 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.

★★★Medium Seasons & HolidaysOriginal

How to make an origami TurkeyターキーTurkey

A Thanksgiving turkey with a tail that spreads like a fan. The tail is made by pleating the paper out from the middle of the bottom edge.

7 steps
about 15 min
2 sheets of origami paper (one for the tail, a smaller one for the body)
Age 7+

How to fold

しっぽの紙：色の面を上にして、上の左右のかどを、うしろへ折る
Tail sheet: start with the colored side up. Fold the top left and right corners behind.
下のまん中から、扇のように段折りして、しっぽにする
Pleat the paper like a fan, out from the middle of the bottom edge, to make the tail.
下のまん中の1点から、細い山折りと谷折りを2本ずつ、8か所に折ります。まん中の羽は動かさず、左右の羽を少しずつまん中へ重ねます。
からだの紙：色の面を上にして、上の2つのふちを、まん中の線に合わせてうしろへ折る
Body sheet: start with the colored side up. Fold the two upper edges behind to the center line.
先にたての折りすじをつけておくと、合わせやすくなります。
左右のかどを、うしろへ折る
Fold the left and right corners behind.
下のかどを、うしろへ折る
Fold the bottom corner behind.
上の先を、下へ折って頭をつくる
Fold the top point down to make the head.
からだを、しっぽの前に重ねる
Put the body on the front of the tail.
しっぽの下のとがったところが、からだでかくれるように重ねます。のりでとめてもよいです。
できあがり！目とくちばし、赤いひだ、足をかいたら、ターキーのできあがり！しっぽに羽のもようをかいてもすてきです。
Finished! Draw the eye, beak, red wattle and feet, and your turkey is finished! You can draw feather patterns on the tail, too.

Fun fact

アメリカでは、11月の第4木曜日のサンクスギビング（感謝祭）に、家族で集まってターキーの丸焼きを食べます。

In the United States, families get together and eat roast turkey on Thanksgiving, the fourth Thursday in November.

Origami English in this model

pleat段折り
corner角
edge辺（ふち）
center line中心線
colored side色の面（表）
turkeyしちめんちょう（ターキー）
feather羽（はね）
fan扇（おうぎ）
thankful感謝している

❓ FAQ

What age is this origami Turkey for?: About Age 7+. It is rated “Medium” (level 3 of 5), with 7 steps, and takes about 15 minutes.
What paper do I need?: 2 sheets of origami paper (one for the tail, a smaller one for the body) No scissors or glue are needed.
What is it called in Japanese?: In Japanese it is “ターキー”. 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.