Origami is the art of folding paper into decorative objects. The term origami is the Japanese word for folded paper. There are about 100 traditional origami figures, most depicting such natural forms as birds, flowers, and fish. An abstract, ceremonial form of origami called noshi, is a pleated paper ornament attache to gifts. Most origami is folded from an uncut square of paper.The most common sizes of square are 6-inches and 10-inches. The preferred paper is thin Japanese paper called washi, but foil-backed wrapping paper, heavy art paper, and typing paper can be used. Origami, like paper, originated in China but flourished in Japan.
The purpose of this page is to introduce students to the art of origami and to the various methods of folding paper. Paper folding activities related to geometry help to motivate student interest in mathematics. The process of producing a paper figure allows students to learn to follow directions, to become motivated, to use a visual aide for better understanding of mathematical concepts, and to complete a project through their own perseverance.
(*Before you begin add this site to your bookmark list.) To initiate the exploration of paper folding find out some basic facts about the history of origami at Eric's Origami Page and write a short summary about what you discovered. Next, go to the Geometry Junkyard , check it out, and then click on the Crumpling Paper site. I think that you will find this a very interesting page. After you have checked this site out, go to the Origami Tanteidan Home Page This is an interesting page that contains a lot of thumbnails of origami(located in the Convention 96 Book). Write about what interested you the most about these pages. Now it is time to learn some basic folds used in origami. Go to Jasper's Guide to PaperFolding. Practice a couple of these folds on recycled paper and save a tree. Remember that the paper must be square. You can also check out the Paper Folding site.
This project will teach you how to create a fortune
teller by folding a square piece of paper. A fortune teller sits over the
index fingers and the thumbs of person who is the soothsayer. It answers
bothersome questions about love, fortune, and the future. To play, one
person at a time asks the soothsayer(owner of the fortune teller) a question
and then chooses one of the four colors on the outside of the fortune teller.
The soothsayer then opens the fortune teller and shuts in opposite directions
once for each letter in the color chosen. Next, the questioner chooses
one of the four numbers exposed inside, and the soothsayer moves the fortune
teller that number of times. Repeat this process one more time. Finally,
the questioner chooses one of the numbers revealed inside, and the soothsayer
folds it back to reveal the answer to that most bothersome question.
First, you must make a list of eight general but
humorous responses, such as Most definitely, No way, Try again, and Negative
good buddy.
Now, cut out an 8 inch square piece of paper. Using
your ruler, draw a line at the 2 inch mark and 6 inch mark both horizontally
and vertically on only one side of the paper. This will give you a total
of 16 squares.
Draw a diagonal lines to connect opposite corners (this
will form an X).
Next, draw a diamond shape by connecting the 4 inch
line marks. You should now have what looks like four boxes each with an
X and a + in it.
Color, or label, each of the four corners a different color.
Label each right triangle adjacent to the upper left corner with the
number 1. Work your way clockwise around the larger square, using 2, 3,
and 4 in the triangles next to each of the other triangles. Each corner
should correspond to a different number.
Write your responses in the eight triangles located
in the center of the page. Rotate the answers so that they run along the
side of each triangle.
Now it is time to fold your fortune teller. 1)Fold the square in half
diagonally in both directions, creasing to form
an X. Unfold face up. 2) Flip the square over, folding each colored corner
to the center to make a square. 3) Turn the smaller square over, folding
each numbered flap to the center, covering the answers in the middle. Carefully
fold and unfold along each seam to make the fortune teller flexible. 4)
Fold in half to create a rectangle with the colored sides out, making it
easier to insert your fingers. Carefully, place your thumb in front and
your forefinger in back under the colored flaps on each side and push upward
and toward the center, forming points with the colors outside and the numbers
inside. 5) Line up your customers and begin telling fortunes!
Last Updated on December 5, 1996 by M.Baker