Ms Origami

Archive for January, 2009

Educational Benefits of Origami

No doubt it’s difficult for a teacher to continuously make a subject,
such as math interesting for their students. Many students, especially
younger children find mathematics boring. One great way to spice up a
math class is to introduce the art of origami. This activity will
ensure the students have fun while learning many beneficial and
educational things. First of all origami can be used as a history
lesson and a look into other cultures such as the Japanese culture.
This activity is very prominent in Japan and students can learn how
this activity is used and why it is important there.

Educational benefits of origami include learning how to listen and be
attentive. In order to ensure success in an origami project, the
student must listen carefully to instructions and pay very close
attention to their actions. Origami requires precision and neatness
which will demand the student to be focused. These learning tools will
teach a student to have pride in their work which will in turn promote
self-esteem.

The art of origami has the potential to teach children cooperative
learning. This too is an important lesson in the classroom as well as
in life. Learning how to communicate and interact with others is
essential. Origami is an activity that encourages students to help
others. Some children will catch on to origami faster than others.
Helping other students can promote feelings of pride and self-esteem.
Of course the positive interaction is quite beneficial.

The mathematics of origami is significant. Using this activity is
definitely an educational benefit in the area of math. Using just a
single, flat piece of paper, the students will create objects that are
three dimensional. This will require the students to use logical
reasoning and explore mathematical aspects such as symmetry, algebra
and geometry. The students, while doing origami will be learning these
concepts perhaps without even realizing it. The art of paper folding
involves the use of these three mathematical concepts which when
practiced are educational benefits.

Origami encourages cognitive development. Practicing the art of
origami requires students to use their motor skills. Using both hands;
working together, the student must learn how to manipulate the paper
to achieve their goal. The student must repeatedly carry out certain
steps in order reach the suggested result. These actions require
memory and motor skills, both necessary for the project and in every
day life.

The educational benefits of origami are great. This activity when used
in the classroom or in a school teaches students how to behave and get
along in a group setting. It’s also a terrific project to work on as a
group activity and goal. It’s imperative to teach students to maintain
a healthy relationship with other students. It’s essential to teach a
group of students how to use their individual skills to achieve one
goal.

To learn more about the educational benefits of origami, you can find
plenty of valuable information on the Internet. Because this activity
is being recognized for its many advantages, there is plenty of
written material available both printed and on the Internet. Using one
of the Internet’s search engines, you can quickly be linked to a world
of origami details.

Basic Origami Folds Terms & Techniques

As with any other craft origami has its own terms and techniques.
Here are some basic horizontal and vertical folds. It is very
important to keep all your folds crisp and clean.

The Book – fold a piece of paper (rectangular or square) down the
middle vertically making certain the opposite edges line up one on top
of the other. For many origami figures you will need to add another
book figure – open the paper and make another fold across the middle
horizontally again, making sure the edges lie one on top of the other.
If you don’t open the book before making the second fold you end up
with the handkerchief fold which gives you a small square with four
layers of paper one on top of the other.

The Cupboard – using a square piece of paper make the book fold then
open the paper and take each outside edge and fold it to the center
line. By bringing each edge over to the next line you will end up
making even more equal vertical strips.

The Fan – with either a square or rectangular piece of paper fold a
Cupboard. Open the Cupboard; three valley folds (downward angles)
divide the Cupboard into four equal sized strips. Turn the figure
over; fold the edges onto the outer lines making two mountain folds.
Turn the figure over and refold the Cupboard. Turn the Cupboard over
once again and fold the edges into the middle line resulting in two
mountain folds (upward angles). Fold up the figure and you have made
an eight fold fan with alternating mountain and valley folds, also
called an accordion fold.

The Lattice – make a Cupboard from a square piece of paper. Open the
Cupboard and repeat the procedure folding in a horizontal direction.
Open the paper and you have the Lattice. It is 16 equal sized squares
used to make boxes, houses and simple animal bodies.

The Shawl – Make a diagonal fold down the middle of a square piece of
paper making sure your edges and corners lay on top of each other.
If you need a second diagonal fold open the sheet of paper completely
before starting the second fold to get a more exact line.

The Envelope – using a square piece of paper make diagonal folds down
the center in both directions. Open the paper and bring each corner
up to the middle.

The Picture Frame – First make the Envelope. Open the envelope; turn
each corner up to the outer diagonal line. Now fold the four corners
inward and you have a picture frame.

Heaven and Hell – Fold an Envelope. Turn the Envelope over and fold
each corner up into the center again. Turn the figure over and you
will see pockets on the other side. Open these pockets. This figure
was dubbed Heaven and Hell because it was usually made on red and blue
paper. This particular fold can be used for making simple hand
puppets and animal heads

Benefits of Origami

Origami began in China and Japan hundreds of years ago. It is an
activity that has proven to be quite useful in various situations.
Origami is an activity that costs very little but offers individuals a
number of benefits. Here is a concept that requires creativity and
imagination. Folding paper may not seem educational but in reality
origami has been proven to improve reading and writing skills. It’s
also an activity that works on processing skills. In order to complete
an origami project, an individual must first of all read and
understand the instructions. They are then required to process the
information they’ve gathered from the written material before
beginning the folding steps. Once the project begins there is a need
for logical reasoning as the person thinks about each fold and the
following steps. Origami requires concentration and teaches people
about sequencing.

Sequencing is part of the mathematical side of origami. This activity
is used to work on individual’s mathematical skills. Through the
various origami designs and patterns, people are able to work with
geometry and also learn about problem solving. In origami individuals
work with measurements, fractions and symmetry. These are great
concepts to practice, particularly in the classroom. For this reason
origami is often used by teachers to demonstrate various mathematical
concepts.

There are numerous benefits of origami. Another great asset of taking
part in this activity is the development of fine motor skills. Many
people use origami to help them get both hands working well together.
Some individuals, especially those who suffer from disabling
conditions have problems with their motor skills. Origami is a great
way to improve these skills that are necessary for daily living.

The art of origami has been shown to help children and adults alike
with essential issues such as self-confidence and social skills. Being
able to complete an elaborate origami project allows the individual to
feel proud and to experience the feeling of success. Realizing they
were capable of finishing an origami composition, based on a set of
written instructions is a huge accomplishment for some people. This
procedure may be responsible for encouraging individuals to break out
of their shell and become involved in group activities.

A good memory is needed for origami. Being demanded to recall specific
sequences will help a person develop their ability to memorize
details. Not only is their memory an important aspect of origami but
it’s also essential for the individual to be attentive. In order to
complete the perfect project a person must pay attention to what they
are doing. Paying attention and concentrating demands patience.
Origami is not an activity for the impatient individual. To achieve
the intended result several attempts may need to be made. Without
patience the repetitive steps and continuous attempts may become too
much to handle.

Origami may be an inexpensive hobby or teaching tool but it does
require certain qualities in a person. As a teaching tool it can be
used to work on these qualities. As a hobby origami can be used to
challenge the individual and help them develop other skills.