Watch Math Unfold!

Origami Lion
Lion fold created by Origami Club. Used by permission of Origami Club.

Instructions
1. Start with a square piece of paper. (All sides should be
equal, and all angles should be 90 degrees.) A good size
to use is 15 centimeters by 15 centimeters. See if you can
find a strong orange or bold yellow for a proud lion. Make
sure the white side of the paper is up. Carefully fold the
square in half to make a triangle. Then unfold.

2. Fold the upper right side down to meet the center crease.
You have made a right triangle.
Fold the lower right side up to meet the center crease.
You have made another right triangle.

3. Fold the short leg of the top right triangle up and to the
right. Fold the short leg of the bottom right triangle down
and to the right. Then unfold both short legs.
Along the same creases, tuck the short legs back and
under so you make two obtuse triangles.

(Continued)
Origami Lion (cont.)
4. Turn the paper over from top to bottom. The shape is a
kite.
Fold the top point of the kite down and to the right. Fold
the bottom point of the kite up and to the right. Note
that the white edges are parallel to the center crease but
do not quite reach it.

5. Fold the bottom half of the shape up and over the top
half.

6. Fold the left part of the shape toward the back and up
so the horizontal edge becomes vertical. Make a sharp
crease, then unfold.
Along the same crease, fold the left part toward the front
and up. Unfold again. This will be the lions head. With
your finger, open the head slightly. Then push gently on
the center crease of the head and let it fold up and to the
right along the creases you just made.

7. Fold the top layer of the head to the right to open the
face.

(Continued)
Origami Lion (cont.)
8. Fold about one-third of the top of the face down. Tuck
the point under to make a blunt chin.

9. Fold the tail several times so it appears to curl around the

lions body.

(Continued)
Origami Lion (cont.)
10. To make the tail more realistic, fold the tip up and toward
the back, then unfold. Along the same crease, fold the tip
up and to the front. Unfold again.
With your finger, open the top of the tip slightly. From
below, push gently on the center crease and let the tip
fold up and to the right along the creases you just made.
You have made the tuft at the end of the tail.

11. Draw a face. Success! You have a lion!

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