Okay, okay, so there are only two weeks to go before the blessed winter break. But here’s an idea combining math, vocabulary, research, hands-on, following directions, group work, patterns, and fun: origami!
Each year the American Museum of Natural History in NYC decorates a holiday tree in origami, all origami, over 500 creations on the tree, and this year the theme is Origami, A to Z—all animals, like an A and a Architeuthis, a B and a butterfly, a C and a chimpanzee, and so on.
What fun to find patterns, or make them up (even better) for animals of all sorts, the stranger the better, and cut and fold. No Tree? Put them on a bulletin board in the shape of a tree, or string them around the room.
What great lessons can unfold! On just one search on the Internet for “history of origami for kids” there were 81,000 results. So there’s research, history, taking notes, writing a report, presenting a report. And that leads to so much more. Learning how to follow directions, step-by-step—important to demonstrate. Learning how to make a real crease (pressing thumb nail back and forth), how to make sense of the folds (you’re on your own).
One search on “origami and math” came up with 73,400 results. Who knew? Oh, Teachers, please find the first website I clicked on: Fascinating Folds, The Educational Benefits of Origami. Listed for all to see and for the conscientious teacher’s plan book are wonderful sections on: Behavioral Skills, Cooperative Learning, A Link to Math, Cognitive Development, Multi-Cultural Awareness, and Community Building. What more could teachers, team leaders, department heads, supervisors, principals, superintendents, and board members ask for? Oh, it almost makes me wish I were back teaching again. On second thought, I love writing about this and creating Spigot Science Magazine for Kids and Classrooms wwww.spigotsciencemag.com five times each year with my colleague, Dr. David Cochran, Spigot's Chief Learning Officer. Yes, we’ve been there in that classroom. I think I’ll get my grandchildren and start folding paper for our tree. What fun!
Valeria Girandola, Editor-in-Chief
Spigot Science Magazine for Kids and Classrooms
