An old-time tent: fold a waterbomb base, then spread it and stand it up. No cutting, just folding.
Why this level: Crease, collapse into a waterbomb base and spread it: easy enough for a first model.
You need: 1 sheet of origami paper
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The tent is a traditional fold: nobody knows who first made it. The oldest record we know of is a handbook for teachers published in Madrid in 1902, which calls it “tienda de campaña” (camping tent). It starts from the waterbomb base, the same start as the paper balloon. French versions from 1930 on cut a little door into the front; this one is the older, uncut tent.
Did you know? In 1930 a French children’s magazine showed how to cut the front of the tent and fold back a door flap.
White side up. Fold one corner to the opposite corner to make a triangle and unfold, then do the same on the other diagonal.
Turn over so the coloured side is up.
Fold the bottom edge to the top edge and unfold, then fold the left edge to the right edge and unfold.
Fold the top half behind along the horizontal crease while pushing the middles of the left and right edges inward. You get a triangle pointing up.
Bring the two bottom corners of the front triangle together in the middle: the front triangle folds in half and goes inside. Spread the hidden flaps on the left and right into walls and stand the model on its three points. Your tent is done!