What age is this origami Whale for?

About Age 5+. It is rated “Easy” (level 2 of 5), with 5 steps, and takes about 5 minutes.

What paper do I need?

One sheet of square origami paper (15 cm / 6 in). No scissors or glue are needed.

What is it called in Japanese?

In Japanese it is “くじら”. 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.

★★Easy Sea LifeTraditional

How to make an origami WhaleくじらWhale

A big whale with its tail up. It starts from the kite base, a basic shape in origami.

5 steps
about 5 min
1 sheet of origami paper
Age 5+

How to fold

上と下のかどを合わせて半分に折り、折りすじをつける
Fold in half, top to bottom, and unfold.
右の2つのふちを、まん中の線に合わせて折る（たこの形）
Fold the two right edges to the center line. This is the kite base.
左のかどを右へ折る
Fold the left corner to the right.
上と下のかど（たこの形のいちばん広いところ）を結ぶ線で折ります。
下を上へ、半分に折る
Fold in half from bottom to top.
しっぽを、ななめ上に折る
Fold the tail up at an angle.
できあがり！目をかいたら、くじらのできあがり。しおをふいている絵をかいても楽しいよ。
Finished! Draw an eye, and your whale is ready. You can draw a water spout on top, too!

Fun fact

くじらは魚ではなく、わたしたちと同じ「ほにゅうるい」。海の上に顔を出して、息をすいます。

A whale is not a fish. It is a mammal, like us, and it comes up to the surface to breathe air.

Origami English in this model

❓ FAQ

What age is this origami Whale for?: About Age 5+. It is rated “Easy” (level 2 of 5), with 5 steps, and takes about 5 minutes.
What paper do I need?: One sheet of square origami paper (15 cm / 6 in). No scissors or glue are needed.
What is it called in Japanese?: In Japanese it is “くじら”. 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.