Easy Origami Zoo Workshop: Japanese Animal Vocabulary for Children

Origami brings paper to life and makes new words stick. In this zoo-themed workshop, children fold simple animals and learn their Japanese names—like うさぎ (usagi, rabbit) and ぞう (zō, elephant)—through hands-on fun.

Workshop Setup

Gather

• Colored square paper (15 cm × 15 cm)

• A flat surface and small bowls for paper pieces

• A printed zoo map to display finished animals

Explain that each model comes with a matching Japanese term and that they’ll practice saying the word as they fold.

Origami Animal Folds

うさぎ (usagi, rabbit)

  1. Fold a white square diagonally twice to make an X.
  2. Fold the top corner down to form ears.
  3. Fold bottom corner up to shape the body.

ぞう (zō, elephant)

  1. Start with gray paper folded in half horizontally.
  2. Fold the top edge down to make a head.
  3. Create a narrow triangle for the trunk by folding one side inward.

きりん (kirin, giraffe)

  1. Use yellow paper; fold diagonally to mark center.
  2. Fold top corners inward to form the neck.
  3. Shape a head by folding a small triangle at the top.

さかな (sakana, fish)

  1. Fold a square in half diagonally.
  2. Fold the two outer corners toward the center line for fins.
  3. Flip and fold the tail corner upward.

After each model, have kids hold up their paper animal and say the Japanese name aloud.

Activities

Animal Parade

Line up the finished origami zoo and practice a parade chant: “うさぎ、ぞう、きりん、さかな!” Kids march each paper creature across the table while naming it in Japanese.

Guess the Animal

Place models in a cloth bag. Without looking, children feel a shape and guess the animal in Japanese: “これは … ぞう ですか?” (Is this an elephant?)

Practice Corner

Display all origami animals on a “Zoo Wall.” At snack time, randomly point to one and ask, “なに ですか?” (What is it?), prompting the correct answer—“きりん です.”

Boost paper play with Dinolingo. One family subscription unlocks over 50 languages and 40 000+ interactive activities animated folding tutorials, animal-themed flashcards, and surprise badge rewards. Age-specific paths guide Pre-readers (2–5), Elementary learners (6–10), and Tween/Teen (11–14) through reinforcement games that echo your origami zoo, while parents track progress on an ad-free dashboard.

Final Thoughts

This easy origami zoo workshop turns paper into language tools. By folding, naming, and playing, children connect shape with sound and embed new words in their memory. Pair these crafts with Dinolingo’s follow-up games, and watch your little learners speak Japanese animal names with pride.

Sources

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