Origami: Paper Boat

A classic, kid-friendly origami project — no scissors or glue needed, just one square or rectangular sheet of paper. Print this page for step-by-step folding instructions.

1. Start with a rectangular sheet of paper. Fold it in half from top to bottom, then unfold — this crease is just a guide.
2. Fold the top edge down to meet the crease you just made, so you have a long rectangle folded in half.
3. Fold the top two corners down to the center, making a triangle shape on top of the rectangle strip.
4. Fold the bottom strip of paper up on both the front and back, over the base of the triangle, to lock the corners in place.
5. Open the shape from the sides and flatten it into a square (like an envelope) — you should have two triangular points sticking out to the left and right.
6. Fold the bottom corners of the square up to the top corner on both the front and back, forming a smaller triangle.
7. Open this smaller triangle from the sides and flatten it into a square again.
8. Gently pull the two outer corners apart and open up the middle to shape it into a boat, flattening the bottom crease so it can sit upright.