Young Children

• Young children, approximately preschool to the second grade, can work on simple origami paper-folding activities. Using different colors of construction paper, young children can make their own snakes. Starting from one corner of the paper, children can roll the paper tightly and diagonally so it forms a thin tube to create a long snake. Once the child is almost finished rolling to the end of the paper, the opposite corner is rolled toward the main roll. The child continues to roll the paper until it is a complete tube. Gently shape the tube by creating a series of curves like a snake. Bend a hard shape and place it on a table.
  
  

Older Children

• Older children who are in the third grade or older can work on more complex origami projects. A dog's face can be constructed by starting with a square piece of paper. The paper is folded in half diagonally to create a triangle. The two opposite corners are folded inward to form the ears of the dog. The bottom point is folded up and then partially down to create the panting tongue of the dog. Older children can draw eyes for the dog with crayon.
  
  

Holidays

• Celebrate the winter holidays with origami. Christmas trees can be completely decorated with paper origami. Choose a theme, such as sea creatures or flowers, and find instructions on websites such as Origami Resource Center or Origami Instructions. Traditionally in Japan, New Year's Day is celebrated with paper cranes; homes are decorated with origami cranes to bring peace and happiness to the household.
  
  

Gifts

• Gifts of origami are handmade with great care. The boxes can be crafted from paper and styles include regular boxes with matching lids or boxes that open and close by pulling on them. Mobiles made from driftwood with different types of origami creatures can be crafted as gifts. The origami can be attached with nylon cord or fishing line. Other gifts with origami can be bouquets made from paper flowers. Different flowers such as roses or tulips can be crafted with this Japanese art form. To create special gift flowers, you can use paper money as the paper.