20 Origami Activities for Middle School

Origami is the art of paper folding. The history of origami finds its roots in Japan and China. This is where you can find original origami artwork.

This art form involves folding a piece of paper to form a structure with colored paper or blank paper.

1. Origami Flowers

Master the basics of origami with this paper-folding project for beginners. Follow step-by-step directions to create a bouquet of origami flowers from lotuses, tulips, cherry blossoms, and lilies using colorful paper squares. This makes a thoughtful thank-you present to your teachers, parents, and friends.

Learn More: Learn With Wonders

2. Origami Ladybug

Start this ladybug activity with a piece of paper-white, blank paper, or red-colored paper-and create these sweet-looking origami ladybugs. This is perfect for classroom themes and spring decorations. Then, using your colored pencils, give the ladybug its facial features.

Learn More: Origami Fun

3. Origami Butterfly

These pretty butterflies perfectly complement your paper-folded ladybug. You can use pastel-colored paper and add glitter around the butterfly’s wings to give it more texture and life. The art of origami can help develop your sense of aesthetics.

Learn More: Jarond Productions

4. Origami Rubik’s Cube

You’ll fool plenty of your fellow students into thinking that this Rubik’s cube made of paper is the real thing. What’s impressive is that this whole art project doesn’t use any glue.

Learn More: JeremyShaferOrigami

5. Origami Dragon

Students will love to perfect this paper-folded dragon. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll find the steps to this art project simple and easy to do. You can create the traditional dragon and the chibi version and make an army of dragons.

Learn More: Origami with Jo Nakashima

6. Origami Eagle

Let this majestic bird take flight because although it looks complicated with lots of folding techniques, folding your brown-colored piece of paper into an eagle is quite simple. You will love the details you will get based on the video instruction for this project.

Learn More: Henry Origami

7. Origami Shark

There’s nothing quite as satisfying as a project with origami animals. Your attention to detail and folding methodology can result in a shark. This is one of the animals that the World Wildlife Foundation advocates. Aside from this underwater creature, WWF also has instructions for other origami animals like the tiger and polar bear.

Learn More: PDF

8. Origami Stealth Aircraft

Everybody remembers their first paper airplane and seeing a well-folded airplane can motivate you to continue folding and even try 3D Origami Pieces. Upgrade the classic origami design of an airplane with this project. The detailed instructions will help you get the steps right.

Learn More: Origami Make

9. Origami Darth Vader 

Middle school students, especially the boys, would love this origami project because most are Star Wars fans. Brush up on your folding skills by creating your paper Darth Vader. If you want to do some more origami models, there’s also origami Yoda, Droid Starfighter, and Luke Skywalker’s Landspeeder. Tom Angleberger’s first two books provide instructions for two simpler origami Yoda variations of the original Origami Yoda.

Learn More: Origami Plus

10. Origami Mini Succulents

Plant lovers will appreciate this set of paper succulents. When you execute this engaging origami project correctly, they can be used instead of real succulents, as they don’t require any maintenance. When they’re starting to look not so healthy anymore, create a new batch of these mini plants.

Learn More: Paper Kawaii

11. Origami 3D swan

This will be a more extended project because of the many components you need to build your swan, but it comes up beautifully at all angles. This is worth your time and effort! Relax and de-stress with this origami project. One of the many benefits of origami includes reducing anxiety and depression.

Learn More: 3D Origami Videos

12. Origami Poke-ball 

This origami Pokémon ball is another hit with youngsters. This 3D structure makes an excellent present for a friend who loves Pokémon.

Learn More: Deviant Art

13. Origami Pokémon

Since you are making the Pokéball, you might as well fold some pokémon to go along with it. So it’s time to fold ’em all and have your team of Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle, Pidgey, Nidoran, and more.

Learn More: Origami

14. Origami Landing UFO 

Tap into your scientific creativity and fold one of the mysteries of time. This paper-folded UFO that appears to be landing or taking off is one for the books. You’ll also be able to build more complex origami houses by mastering this one.

Learn More: How Origami

15. Mathematical Origamis

If you’ve considered advanced origami, you can also fold different-sized papers and produce impressive cubes, origami balls, and intersecting planes. Advanced paper folding students interested in geometric concepts will enjoy the benefits of origami through these mathematical origami interactive resources. These examples of origami samples also make a great project for students and enable building student drawing skills.

Learn More: Mathigon

16. Origami Globe 

This is a massive origami project, and you’ll need lots of paper for this, but this globe made of paper will show you the continents, so this can be an educational tool you can use once you’ve completed it. Yes, expanding your knowledge is one of the benefits of origami.

Learn More: Instructables

17. Origami Popsicles

You won’t have any shortage of kawaii folded paper projects because you can always add these colorful ice lollies. What’s more, you can use them as decorations. You can also use an origami butterfly worksheet packet as this is one creative way to fold a letter for your BFF!

Learn More: Paper Kawaii – Origami Tutorials

18. Origami 3D Hearts

Polish your folding skills to create perfect 3D heart origami models of pink and red colored paper. You can also use newspaper or magazine sheets to give your hearts some character.

Learn More: Life is A Party

19. Origami Jumping Octopus

With this folded octopus, you can make a jumping octopus fidget toy. You can even have a battle with your classmates during recess.

Learn More: Meherima’s Craft

20. Origami Cat

All middle school students who are feline fans or enjoy origami animals will love this origami pattern that involves structured folding as a project. This can come in handy during Halloween, primarily if you use black origami paper to create the cat.

Learn More: Origami Way