Mastering the Art of Paper Folding an art shape as vintage as paper itself, involves creating complicated three-dimensional structures from a flat sheet, a way popularly referred to as origami in cultures like Japan and China. This craft has developed globally, with each area including its precise twist to standard methods. Initially used for ceremonial functions, paper folding has accelerated into instructional and leisure realms, imparting a innovative outlet and a device for cognitive improvement. This article delves into the primary folding strategies and the cultural significance of paper crafts, illustrating how this historical art continues to captivate and project enthusiasts around the sector.
Mastering the Art of Paper Folding Activities
Crafts made from paper are not just limited to cutting, pasting and drawing but numerous things can be built by merely folding the paper or co-joining all the above techniques together. The art of making pieces of craft by folding the paper is certainly not a new one and has been around for a long period of time. Historians believe that the art of paper folding is as old as the paper itself.
There are various different ways and techniques of folding paper and different nations around the world seem to have their own unique art of paper folding. For example, the art of folding in Japan and China is known as Origami. Europeans have their own history of paper folding arts and crafts. The Scandinavians have a rich culture of making crafts with paper either weaved or folded. The art of paper folding also flourished in countries like Spain and South America.
Mastering the Art of Paper Folding Basic Paper Folding Techniques
Children need to be shown how to fold.
Exercise 1 :Basic Paper Folding Techniques
Material
Square shaped colored paper or other construction paper of different consistencies (even newspaper may be used in the beginning)
Procedure
- Invite the child to work with you.
- Bring the material to the workplace with the help of the child.
Step 1 : Fold paper in half
Show the child to fold the paper in half.
Bring the corners of the paper together. Line up the edges and press the paper to form a crease. Crease smoothly by applying appropriate pressure (neither too much, nor too little). To get a sharp crease, press down firmly on the fold with the back of the fingernail.
Step 2 : Fold the paper in quarters and eighths
The child should be allowed to fold the paper in half many times until he has mastered the skill completely. When the child has learnt how to fold paper in half, show him how to fold the paper twice and thrice in the sale way. This step may be followed on another day when the child has full control over folding the paper in half.
Step 3: Folding the paper diagonally
The directress may introduce this step when she is sure that the child can fold the paper in half, quarters and eighths with complete confidence and with minimal or no mistake.
The same procedure as instep 1 has to be followed but this time the paper should be folded such that one corner of the square is brought together with the opposite corner of the square. The paper is pressed down firmly so that a diagonal crease forms in the middle and the square piece of paper is invited into two triangles.
Step 4: Folding the paper into quarters and then eighths along the diagonal
Allow the children to practice folding the paper along the diagonal until they are fully confident. Introduce the concept of folding the paper into quarters and eighths in the same way as in step 2, however, this time show them how to do it diagonally. Allow the child amole time before moving from one type of fold to the next. Do not rush things and let them acquire each new skill in their own time.
Note: The directress should draw the child’s attention to the basic kinds of fold:
- Mountain fold
- Valley fold
Age 3 years.
Exercise 2: Mastering the Art of Paper Folding Christmas Star
Materials
- Construction paper (chart paper etc.)
- Scissors
Procedure
- Show the child how to cut a square piece of paper
- Make a diagonal mountain fold as shown in the picture.
- Open the fold and repeat the diagonal mountain fold on the other side.
- Now demonstrate to the child how to make a rectangular valley fold. Open the fold and repeat in order to form squares.
- Use a pair of scissors to cut ⅓ of the way up the valley folds, beginning from the closed ends and going towards the open ends.
- When you have finished cutting, fold the edges back to the center of diagonals in order to form the points of the star.
Origami Mastering the Art of Paper Folding
Origami is a traditional art of paper folding. The word “origami” is Japanese in origin. “ORI” means to fold and “KAMI” or GAMI” means paper (kami changes to “gami” due to “rendaku” which means “sequential voicing”). Together, they form the word, “origami.” It is a form of art that has been handed down from parents to children through many generations,
Origami involves the creation of paper forms usually “entirely by folding”. Mostly no cutting or gluing is involved. Animals, birds, fish, geometric shapes, puppets, toys and masks are among the models that even very young children can learn to make in just one sitting.
Origami is mostly known as being Japanese, although other cultures have also been known for paper folding, and it’s possible that it existed in other places at the same time it was being practiced in Japan . It is believed that this art form was brought to Europe in the “Middle Ages’. Some drawings by Leonardo Da Vinci seem to be of folded paper.
Material needed for Origami Projects
Origami paper of various colors
Projects
The same rules applied in all the exercises in the Montessori curriculum i.e. Simple to Complex is followed with the origami projects as well. Some of the projects to be introduced to the children in order of increasing complexity are given below:
- Simple Sailboat
- Fish
- Paper Cup
- Hat
- Swan
- Bench
Exercise 1: Simple Sailboat
Procedure
- Invite a child to work with you.
- Show the child how to select the appropriate piece of paper and shift it to the workplace.
- Fold the paper diagonally. Press the fold with thumbs firmly to make a strong crease.
- Now fold the corner “C” upwards carefully as shown in the next picture so that it produces the line A—–E as shown in the figure.
- Carefully show the child how to fold under corner D. Hold the paper with both fingers and slightly lift the paper. Then fold under corner D carefully to get a firm fold. Lift the paper slightly and fold under sorer D.
Age 3.5 years onwards.
Exercise 2: Mastering the Art of Paper Folding Fish
Procedure
- Invite a child to work with you.
- Show the child how to select the appropriate piece of paper and shift it to the workplace.
- Demonstrate how to fold the paper diagonally . press the fold and then unfold.
- Now fold c to meet the central crease A-D as shown in the picture below.
- Then fold B in the same way to meet the central crease A-D as shown in the next picture . ensure that the folds are well creased.
- Show the child how to fold the paper carefully so that corner A and E come together.
- Turn your paper over with the folded edge on the bottom.
- When the paper is in the direction such that the edge is folded in the last steps is on the bottom. Show the child how to fold it backwards as shown in the next pictures.
- Finally fold the point e upward.
- The fish is finished . you may add eyes, mouth or scales to the fish.
Age 3.5 years onwards.
Exercise 3: Mastering the Art of Paper Folding Paper Cup
Procedure
- Invite a child to work with you.
- Show the child how to select the appropriate piece of paper and shift it to the workplace.
- Fold the paper diagonally in half, as shown.
- Fold point B as shown in the next picture.
- In the same way, fold A to the opposite side as shown in the picture ahead.
- After step 4, you will have two flaps on the top. Show the child how to fold the “front: flap downwards and flatten it into a crease.
- In the same way, carefully fold the back flap in the backwards direction.
- Push the corner slightly inwards to open the cavity of the cup as shown on the next page. The paper cup is ready.
Age 3.5 years
Exercise 4: Mastering the Art of Paper Folding Hat
Procedure
- Invite a child to work with you.
- Show the child how to select the appropriate piece of paper and shift it to the workplace.
- Fold point B as shown in the next picture.
- In the same way, fold A to the opposite side as shown in the picture ahead.
- After step 4, you will have two flaps on the top . show the child how to fold the “front” flap downwards.
- In the same way carefully fold the back flap in the backwards direction,
- It will begin to look like a cup made in the previous exercise. Open the cup and flatten carefully to join A and B.
- Flatten completely by pressing with the thumb.
- Fold A downwards as shown in the picture on the next page.
- Similarly fold B in the opposition direction.
- Rotate the paper 180 degrees and open flap C and D as shown in the next pictures. The hat will be ready. Ask the child to try it on and see himself in the mirror.
Age 3.5 years
Exercise 5: Mastering the Art of Paper Folding Swan
Procedure
- Invite a child to work with you .
- Show the child how to select the appropriate piece of paper and shift it to the workplace.
- Fold the paper diagonally in half, as shown.
- Unfold and show the child the crease in the middle.
- Now fold A to meet the central crease as shown in the next picture.
- Fold in the same way meets the central crease as shown in the picture. Ensure that the folds are well creased.
- Fold the corner C inward in such a way that it falls on E.
- Now fold the corner D inward in the same way to join point E.
- Now fold the paper in half along the line F-G, bending the center crease backward as shown in the picture on the page.
- Draw light pencil lines on the thinner side of the folded paper, as shown by the dotted lines in the picture below.
- Crease both ways on the lines to soften the paper, and make the neck of the swan by folding along the first dotted line as shown in the next picture
- Fold along with the second dotted line outward to make the head of the swan as shown in the next picture.
- The paper swan is finished.
Age 3.5 years onwards.
Exercise 6: Mastering the Art of Paper Folding bench
Procedure
- Invite a child to work with you.
- Show the child how to select the appropriate piece of paper and shift it to the workplace.
- Fold the paper horizontally in half, as shown.
- Fold the paper once again in half.
- Now unfold the fold made in the last step.
- Now fold A side in such a way that meets the central crease as shown in the next picture. Ensure that the folds are well creased.
- Now fold side B in the sale way to make the central crease as shown in the picture on the next page.
- Now fold the corner C diagonally downward as shown below.
- Do the same with corner D.
- Now unfold E and refold the flap, as shown in the picture below.
- Do the same with flap F.
- Pull up EF and bring to the middle as shown below.
- Fold G and H inwards. The bench is ready.
Age 3.5 years onwards.