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PlayOwl
A green paper tent standing on a table, with a pointed top and an open door made by folding back the front corners.
The finished project.

Origami · folding only

Mini Paper Tent

  • Starter (level 1 of 5)
  • 5 min
  • 6 steps
  • Ages 4–8 (a guide, not a rule)
  • No scissors
  • No glue
  • No adult help needed
Start Making Print

This tiny tent takes four easy folds. Fold the square in half twice, fold a corner back on each side to make the door, then open it and stand it up. Make a campsite for small toys, or a row of tents in different colors. Paper that is colored on one side and white on the other works well.

Before you start

You need

Decorating (optional): Before you stand it up, draw stripes, a window or pegs along the bottom edges.

No square of origami paper? No origami paper? Fold the corner of a printer sheet over to the opposite edge, then tear off the extra strip along a sharp crease to make a square. Thicker paper or thin card makes a sturdier tent.

How to place the paper before the first step
Your paper: Put the square down with its edges straight, like a window, and the white side facing up.
  • Valley fold: blue dashes. Fold toward you, like a valley.
  • Turn over: flip the whole model to its other side.

Step by step

Each step shows what to do (left) and how it should look after (right).

  1. Step 1: valley fold, shown on the paper Do this
    Step 1 result Result
    Step 1 of 6 Valley fold Fold the top edge down to the bottom edge. Press the fold flat.
  2. Step 2: valley fold, shown on the paper Do this
    Step 2 result Result
    Step 2 of 6 Valley fold Fold the left edge over to the right edge. Press this fold hard: it is the top of the tent.
  3. Step 3: valley fold, shown on the paper Do this
    Step 3 result Result
    Step 3 of 6 Valley fold Fold the top right corner of the top layers down to the middle. This is a door flap. (A closer view of the small folded square. The fold you just made is on the left.)
  4. Step 4: turn over, shown on the paper Do this
    Step 4 result Result
    Step 4 of 6 Turn over Turn the paper over, left to right.
  5. Step 5: valley fold, shown on the paper Do this
    Step 5 result Result
    Step 5 of 6 Valley fold Fold the top left corner down the same way to make the other door flap.
  6. Step 6: open, shown on the paper Do this
    Step 6 result Result
    Step 6 of 6 Open Open the loose edges on the left apart and stand your tent up, with the hard fold on top.
A green paper tent standing on a table, with a pointed top and an open door made by folding back the front corners.

You made it!

Yours may look a little different. That is part of making things by hand.

Print the steps

If something goes wrong

The tent falls over.

Spread the bottom edges wider apart, and press the top fold sharp so the sides stay straight.

The door flaps are different sizes.

Each corner folds from the middle of the top edge to the middle of the side edge. Unfold one and line it up again.

The door flap catches only one layer.

Pinch the two top layers together and fold them as one.

Helpful hints

  • The second fold becomes the top of the tent, so press it hard.
  • Make several tents in different colors for a campsite.
  • A small toy fits inside: slide it in through the door.

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