There is something very pleasing about an origami bird that actually stands up. This little sparrow does exactly that, and it takes one sheet of paper and about ten minutes to get there.

Two small things make all the difference: lend a hand with the cover fold and the middle fold if a child is folding along, and do not skip the eyes. Fold a couple in different sizes and you have a sparrow family worth pinning to the wall.

Way of folding

STEP 1. With the coloured side facing up, fold the paper in half to make a triangle.

STEP 2. Turn it over to the white side and fold the outer edges in towards the centre from about a third of the way along.

STEP 3. Fold the tip down along the dotted line.

STEP 4. Fold it back up along the dotted line.

STEP 5. Fold it in half along the centre, towards the back.

STEP 6. Make a crease from the dotted line.

STEP 7. Open it out and fold it over.

STEP 8. Fold it over along the crease.

STEP 9. Fold it inwards along the dotted line, then do the same on the back.

STEP 10. Make a crease from the dotted line.

STEP 11. Open it out and fold it in half.

STEP 12. Fold it in half along the crease.

STEP 13. Fold the bottom part inwards along the dotted line, then do the same on the back.

STEP 14. Your sparrow is folded.

STEP 15. Open the body out slightly so that it can stand.

STEP 16. Try changing the colour and the size, and fold all sorts of variations.

Tips when folding

The cover fold and the middle fold can be tricky for children to follow, so give them a hand. Adding eyes makes it look far more like a sparrow.

Fold them in different sizes and you will have a sparrow family. Make a whole flock and put them up on the wall.