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Origami Boat Art

  • All Ages

Learn how to make an Origami Boat then add it to a completed picture. Origami is the art of folding paper. With the help of an adult, simple origami folds can be done with children as young as preschool.

Materials


  • Finger Paint 6 Pack
  • Rainbow Poms Assorted Sizes, 100 pieces
  • Wiggly Eyes 7mm
  • Mini Craft Sticks
  • Construction paper (white, brown, glue, orange)
  • Markers
  • Craft Glue
  • Scissors

Instructions


Step 1. Gather your supplies.

Preschool Columbus Day Project

 

learn how to make an origami boat

 

Step 2.

 

First, let’s start by folding your origami boat. Fold your brown paper in half, as shown.

Preschool Art Project for Columbus Day

 

Step 3.

 

Fold the paper in half again, like you are making a book.

Preschool Columbus Day Origami Boat

 

Step 4.

 

Unfold Step 3. You can see the crease in the center of the paper. Fold down the top right corner into the center. Use that creased line as a guide.  Repeat on the top left corner. You will then create a triangle top.

Make an Origami Boat

 

Step 5.

 

At the bottom, you will have 2 layers of paper. Fold the top layer up as far as it goes, and repeat on the other side. Your boat is now complete.

Preschool Origami Boat

 

Step 6.

 

Decorate your boat as desired. We decorated ours using markers.

Origami Art Project

 

Step 7.

 

Take a piece of blue construction paper and rip in half longways. By ripping the paper you will create an uneven edge which will look nice for the ocean. Glue the paper, with the ripped side showing, onto the bottom of a sheet of white paper.

Origami Boat Art Project for Preschoolers

 

Step 8.

 

Glue your boat to the paper so it looks like it’s sitting in the water.

Columbus Day Art Project

 

Step 9.

 

Glue (3) red Poms in the water to make fish, and a yellow Pom in the sky for the sun.

Origami Boat Art Project

 

Step 10.

 

Have your child use their fingers to create elements on the page using Finger Paint. Tip: add lines around the yellow Pom to create rays for the sun and 2 finger prints on the red poms to create fish tails.

Columbus Day Art Project

 

Step 11.

 

Add Wiggly Eyes to your fish.

Origami Boat art project for preschool

 

Step 12.

 

Cut a triangle from a piece of orange construction paper and glue to a Mini Wood Craft Stick to create a flag for your boat.

Preschool Project: Origami Boat for Columbus Day

 

Step 13.

 

Glue the flag onto the boat and you have completed your origami boat craft!

Discussion: This is a fun project to do with young children in honor of Columbus Day.

Folding paper, using finger paints, and gluing simple materials together are all creative actions that are wonderful ways for young children to practice hand/eye coordination and be creative. The end result is a great addition to any Columbus Day conversation!