Extra assignment

As a mean of thanking you for taking this class, we have an extra credit homework, so in case you missed making one of your origami folding or comment responses before, you can get an extra 5%  (this does not count for the unit evaluation tests)


No instructions this time, so be careful following the video! Feel free to decorate and experiment with your origami shoe!

Unit 3 Test

Unit 3 Grader

Please choose the correct answer, at the end of your test, send it to anon12589@gmail.com, thank you.

Therapists have concluded that origami can be used as a(n)_____? . Psychometric tool . diagnostic tool . overly eficient tool . experimental tool Origami does not deal with which of the following educational aspect? . Reading . Mathematic . Physical Children with disabilities usually score at average or above average in IQ tests . True . False Other than to pass the time, what is origami used for? . as an observation technique . as a relaxation technique . as an interaction technique What is one of the most important ideas of origami? . Beauty . Nature . Symbolism . Geometry Other than festivals and web pages dedicated to origami, what else has it inspired? . Car Design . Kite Design . Fashion Desing . Boat Design Origami?s ramifications are present in all of the following except for? . Business . Mathematics . Aviation . Arts Into what symbols did Sadako?s disease and life turn her into? . Peace and prosperity . Prosperity and determination . Peace and determination How many cranes was Sadako able to fold in her life? . 1000 . 64 . 644 . 944 During which war did the dropping of the atomic bomb occur? . WWI . WWII . Vietnam War . Bay Of Pigs . Cold War . Between WWI and WWII . After WWII

Origami and Social Studies - Activity

This lessons homework is as follows:

In honor of sadako and the meaning of her story for all the people who have been victims of war (specially children), you will make a paper crane, one of the most iconic figures in origami, and no easy feat for the beginners (that why we have made the other figures before!) The catch is: you cant make it with color or white paper, you have to decorate your square of paper! You can try coloring it, using a special paper or decorating the crane after built for example. As always, upload your picture (including a piece of paper with your name and date) and post it on the comments section

Here is a video of the crane folding

Origami and Social Studies

Origami, having such a vast cultural background, has influenced many people through time, with obvious ramifications like art, mathematics and even aviation!

It can also serve as an example of tool of sensitization, such as the history of Sadako and the thousand cranes. Based on the story of a little girl who fell victim of a horrible disease, and transformed her life into an icon of peace and determination.

On this class I have a video for you to watch, but it's in spanish so I also put the written story of Sadako


The History of Sadako

Sadako Sasaki (佐々木 禎子 Sasaki Sadako, January 7, 1943 – October 25, 1955) was a Japanese girl who was two years old when the atomic bomb was dropped on August 6, 1945, near her home by Misasa Bridge in Hiroshima, Japan. 

Sadako was at home when the explosion occurred, about one mile from Ground Zero, she was blown out of the window and her mother ran out to find a child, she suspected she may be dead but she found her two year old daughter alive. In November 1954, Sadako developed swellings on her neck and behind her ears. In January 1955, purple spots had formed on her legs. Subsequently, she was diagnosed with leukemia (her mother referred to it as "an atom bomb disease"). She was hospitalized on February 21, 1955, and given, at the most, a year to live.

Several years after the atomic bomb, an increase in leukemia was observed especially among children. By the early 1950s it was clear that the leukemia was caused by radiation exposure.

On August 3, 1955, Sadako's best friend Chizuko Hamamoto came to the hospital to visit, and cut a golden piece of paper into a square to fold it into a paper crane, in reference to the ancient Japanese story that promises that anyone who folds a thousand origami cranes will be granted a wish by the Gods. A popular version of the story is that Sadako fell short of her goal of folding 1,000 cranes, having folded only 644 before her death, and that her friends completed the 1,000 and buried them all with her. This comes from the book Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes. An exhibit which appeared in the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum stated that by the end of August, 1955, Sadako had achieved her goal and continued to fold more cranes.

Though she had plenty of free time during her days in the hospital to fold the cranes, she lacked paper. She would use medicine wrappings and whatever else she could scrounge up. This included going to other patients' rooms to ask to use the paper from their get-well presents. Chizuko would bring paper from school for Sadako to use.

During her time in the hospital her condition progressively worsened. Around mid-October her left leg became swollen and turned purple. After her family urged her to eat something, Sadako requested tea on rice and remarked "It's good." Those were her last words. With her family around her, Sadako died on the morning of October 25, 1955 at the age of 12.

What are the consequences of war? What have we learned from the atomic bomb? How can folding origami cranes send a peace message to the world?




Please write your answers on the comment section. Again, this will count towards your final grade.

Cultural Influence of Origami

One of my favorite festivals is the Origami Festival that its held annualy in CSULB, where people and students from different cultures come together to enjoy and understand more of the ancient arts. Origami has its own place in the festival as master pieces composed of intricate designs and various colors are exposed for the world to see and admire. A brief history of the origami sculpture is given as well as the creator's inspiration.

As the japanese culture boom comes and goes, many of its cultural references inspire different aspects of our common lives, one of them being Fashion. As weird as it sounds, fashion designers often take inspiration from the strangest places, and the ancient art of origami, with its many forms and delightful complexity, helps them fabricate "the clothes we dream of having". Even Lady Gaga, a fashionista Popstar, made popular an origami inspired dress in her begginings.

In this page we can see many Origami Inspired Dresses:

http://www.pixel77.com/35-origami-inspired-fashion-designs/

Origami has taken such importance in world culture that even google (the search engine) made one of his famous "google doodles" celebrating the anniversary of one of the most iconic characters in origami, the butterfly, and one of the most renowed persons in theorigami world: Akira Yoshizawa

As your assignement, please write in the comments what other areas of culture you think that have been influenced by Origami and why

This will count towards your participation grades

Origami in Education and Therapy

When a child is faced with a piece of blank paper he/she has an urge to write or draw on it, but very rarely does the child use the paper itself as a creative medium. Paper folding, known by its Japanese name – Origami - is the only technique that uses a manipulation of papers without any other materials and thus considered by many as a non-threatening activity.

Origami can be defined as the art of creating recognizable objects by mean of folding a sheet of paper. In contrast with other forms of art, where one must be naturally gifted to be creative, Origami can be learned by almost anyone. In recent years, Origami has been used by educators and therapists in many applied setting. Teachers have discovered that Origami is an activity that fits ideally into interdisciplinary and multi-cultural programs.

Therapists have found that origami has a modifying affect on their patients, and they often use it as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool. 
Paper folding combines the advantages of being instructive and attractive. It appeals to the creative, inventive and constructive abilities of children. Friedrich Froebel (1782 – 1852), the German educator and founder of the kindergarten, who dedicated most of his life to the exploration of the learning process of young children, realized that a game for children is an educational tool of a great value. Origami in that sense has the characteristics of a game. It is an enjoyable activity that follows certain rules, it involves emotions, it excites, entertains, and at the same time teaches through doing. To the unsuspecting child, the transformation of the flat sheet of paper into a three dimensional form, using only two hands, seems almost magical.

In this learning by doing activity, (in which co-ordination and motor control play an important part), there is a continuous interaction of the action and thought process. Children watch how each fold leads to a more advanced one and how together they all progress to create a life-like pliable material, which they, the children, duplicate or, use their creativity to form a new one on their own. In that aspect, Origami is a method of “active research”. There is a gradual progression, a sequential order, research into new relationships of folds, and creative possibilities which encourage the advancement of new ideas.

Paper folding provides the children with a multi sensory hand on approach, which is particularly beneficial to children with learning difficulties. The child is exposed to speaking, listening, seeing, observing, touching and doing. In the process of learning a new model and duplicating it on his own, the child has an opportunity to improve multiple cognitive skills in an enjoyable way. A partial list of these skills includes: visual sequential memory, ability to follow directions (visual or auditory), eye hand coordination, spatial perception and fine motor skills. The child also develops associative thinking skills, improves patience, concentration and attention to details.

Paper folding can be used as a technique to achieve vital academic objectives. One of the most obvious applications is mathematics. Origami provides a highly engaging and motivating environment within which children extend their geometric experience and the skill of spatial visualization. With its richness in mathematical topics, students literally manipulate the concepts that they are learning. Origami demonstrates the fact that mathematics is a subject that can involve exploration. When a student, for example, folds a piece of paper in half and opens it out again, the nature of one half is shown to him/her.

When he/she is asked to open the paper and to fold each edge to the middle line, he/she is gaining an appreciation of the nature of one quarter. Students enjoy mathematics when it is combined with Origami. It seems like a game for young children to unfold a model and identify the revealed triangles, rectangles, and other geometric shapes. At the same time, seeds of geometric thinking are implanted. The activity remains in their conscious memory. When later on they develop the ability to think in the abstract, they will associate it with the time they spent playing with math. Symmetry, proportion, right angles, 60 degrees angles, bisections of angles, fractions, mathematical proofs and a host of other endless math concepts can be presented with Origami.

Since the art of Origami is based on a language of symbols, another natural educational objective that can be applied through Origami is reading. Reading is based on association of symbols and sounds. Origami is based on association of symbols and actions. Some reading specialists contend that while students are involved in folding papers, they are developing essential reading skills in three main areas: perceiving a sign as a symbol, recognizing it and interpreting its meaning. By the virtue of the children’s desire to produce a three dimensional model teachers can use Origami to reinforce reading. This medium is especially helpful when dealing with children with language based disability for whom reading is a struggle. Teachers are constantly faced with the difficult task of finding new appropriate and exciting ideas to motivate these students to read. The eagerness to complete an Origami model reduces their resistance to reading since they will not be able to produce successful results unless they try to decode new words and understand new vocabulary. In this way children are working toward a realistic and concrete goal set by and for themselves, rather then working to earn the approval of a teacher or a parent.

Origami lends itself to the development of the concept of sequencing. Experienced teachers are used to seeing children who lack the understanding that certain things need to be done in a certain order. Writing a story, where there is a beginning, middle and end is one example. Origami helps the children to construct the concept of “first thing first” If the children are trying to fold an origami model without carefully watching and listening to the verbal instructions, or following the sequence of steps, they will not be successful in producing the results they are aiming for. The model rather then the teacher will tell them they have not gotten where they wanted to 

Origami and children with learning disability

Learning disability is an invisible disorder that affects people’s ability to either interpret what they see and hear or to link information from different parts of the brain. These limitations extend to schoolwork and can cause difficulties with spoken and written language, coordination, self-control, or attention. Such difficulties can impede learning to read, write or do math. Children with learning disabilities usually score average or above average on I.Q. tests. Many of them demonstrate a superior ability in art or academic areas, which are not affected by their disability. Some very eminent people have found learning difficult: Thomas Edison, Albert Einstein, Winston Churchill and Nelson Rockefeller, just to name a few. Professionals have longed accepted the idea that these children can indeed learn, though somewhat differently from their peers, and referred to them as having learning differences. For many children, learning differences do not only mean struggle with academics. Learning differences, in many cases, affect a child's social competence and prevent him from having successful interpersonal relationship. Many of these children exhibit low self-esteem and a high level of anxiety.


Origami as a teaching tool for the learning disabled

Children with learning disability often have difficulty in delaying immediate gratification. They become frustrated or anxious with projects that require a long time to complete, and expect to see results right away. Origami makes this possible. Unlike other manipulative craft activities, there is no glue or paints that need to be dried. The results are enjoyed almost at once. Mistakes do not show up one’s disability in such a way as to cause embarrassment and are not a permanent symbol of failure, since all they need to do is to flatten the paper and start anew. This gives Origami a neutral or non-threatening status.

A feeling of self-worth - the knowledge that you can do something, is a critical part of the learning process. Children with learning disabilities often come to think they are incapable of learning because of their ongoing difficulties. Martha Lady a learning disability specialist from North Brunswick NJ, emphasizes that the self esteem component is as important as the learning skills “Most learning disabled children stopped succeeding in educational setting because they had difficulties so they stopped trying. They won’t attempt something that’s challenging because the assumption is that they’ll fail. If you give them successful experience, one that they can take pride in, something that they successfully learned, they won’t be scared to attempt something else new. Origami takes the phobia out of attempting. Yes, they may fail, but they can fix their mistakes and try again. Origami gives them permission to take risks. The child is doing something that not everyone can do. Most things that a learning disabled child can do – that other can’t – do not get the respect of other students. Here is something that is admired”.


When a child is pulled out from class to receive special services such as therapy, or any type of intervention she may feel a sense of inferiority to the rest of the class. Returning to class with something special to show her classmates may bolster her self-image. This is especially important in pre-teens, where peer opinion is more important than adults’ comments. Origami offers individuals with learning disabilities a way to fully discover their own self worth. It helps them change their self-evaluation of doubt and low esteem into feeling of pride.

By examining how a patient folds, clinicians can informally use Origami as a diagnostic tool and make necessary referral for psychological testing. The process of paper folding requires the use of several different cognitive and motor skills. Deficits in any of these psychological tasks may result in difficulty finishing an Origami model. A clinician can use Origami to identify strengths and weaknesses such as verbal and visual memory, attention and concentration, sequencing verbal reasoning, visual perception, gross and fine motor skills. The non-threatening nature of Origami can be used to facilitate the therapeutic process. Using Origami in therapy establishes rapport between the therapist and the child. Being an activity that can be tailored to the skill level of the patient, helps the patient feel a sense of competence and accomplishment. Origami can serve as a medium through which conflicts are symbolically represented. It can reduce the resistance of adolescents, many of whom feel that they are too old for play therapy, but not yet ready to verbally discuss their problems. It can also provide an alternate medium for those with communication problems. 

Many folders have found Origami to be an inherently relaxing activity. Therapists who are knowledgeable in paper-folding, have been using Origami as a stress-reducing technique for themselves. At a conference on Origami in Education and Therapy, which was held in N.Y.C. on June 2002, Dorothy Kaplan, an educator and experienced folder, said: “The use of Origami in Education strengthens the intellectual skills. The use of Origami as a therapeutic tool strengthens the spirits. Recreational Origami makes us happy. Origami has enriched my life for 32 years. I owe it a debt of gratitude”.


Please post your comments below, in no less than two paragraphs, about what scenario of your life (such as yourself, friends or family) could be or could have been improved with the use of origami as a therapeutic or diagnostic tool

Unit 2 Test

Unit 2 Grader

Please choose the correct answer, at the end of your test, send it to anon12589@gmail.com, thank you.

In Robert Lang?s Video, he shows the figures of many animals. Among them, 3 of the animals shown are: . Fish Moose Beetle . Moose Beetle Monkey . Beetle Monkey Fish Origami allows development of ___ abilities in children: . Left and right brain . Motor skill and intelligence . Psychomotor and cognitive ______ Introduced Origami as part of education . Friederich Fröebel . Friedrich Froebel . Hienrich Froebel Part of the Skills involved in Origami making are: . Logical Reasoning, Sequential Memory and fine Motor Skills . Listening Skills, Reading Skills, and Motor Skills . Visual Memory, writing Skills and Mathematical Memory Froebel recognized the following principles within origami: . Math and Geometry . Math and Eye-Hand Coordination . Fine Motor Skills and Geometry Piaget held the following statement about origami . When the mind unfolds the paper folds . When the paper folds the mind unfolds . When the paper unfolds, the mind unfolds . none of the above What is the name of Robert Lang?s pattern for the telescope lens? . Eye . Umbrella . Lens Disc The heart stent name is based on the ?waterbomb? base . True . False, it Is based on the ?tubular? base . False, its based on the ?mountain and valley? base Robert Lang considered ______ changed origami in the modern world, influencing an art: . Math . Engineering . Math and Engineering

Benefits of Origami as an Educational Tool

Using origami as an educational tool is not new. The German pedagogue and the founder of kindergartent, Friedrich Froebel (1782 – 1852) , was the first to introduce Origami into formal education.. Froebel recognized the value of children learning through play and exploration. He considered the manipulation of the paper as a mean for children to discover for themselves the principles of math and geometry. Piaget, the renowned child development psychologist held that “motor activity int the form of skilled movement is vital to the development of intuitive thoughts and the mental representation of the brain”.

“When the paper folds the mind unfolds”

Origami is an activity that requires both hands and activates the whole brain. According to a research done on the brain by Dr. Katerin Shumakov and Yuri Shumakov, when both hands are engaged, impellent motor impulses activate the language portion of the brain.

Of the many academic benefits Origami has to offer, three are predominant:. Sequencing, mathematics/spatial relationship and reading. Origami lends itself to the development of sequential memory. In order to produce the desired model, the folder has to follow certain steps in order. The repeated manipulation of paper in certain order helps the child grasp the importance of sequence.

Origami reinforces mathematical concepts. In the process of transforming a flat piece of paper into a three-dimensional model, a child learns to distinguish different geometric shapes. Complex shapes and forms of the real world becomes a part of the children mental image of the environment in which they live. Symmetry, fractions, proportion, angles and a host of other math concepts can be shown within an activity which the children consider as an enjoyable game.


The inherent motivation of paper folding makes it simple to show the children the advantage of reading and interpreting instruction accurately. In their willingness to succeed the children need to decode new words and understand new vocabulary. In their desire to complete an Origami model, they must master the skill of reading.

Below is a list of partial academic and cognitive skills involving Origami.

Listening Skills	Social Studies	Visual Memory
Reading Skills	Sequential Memory	Visual-Spatial Motor Skills
Writing Skills	Concentration	Verbal and Visual Memory
Mathematics	Eye-Hand Coordination	Logical Reasoning
Spatial Relationship	Fine Motor Skills	Problem Solving

Origami as a Method for Bilateral Training

Origami, and folding paper allows development of psychomotor and cognitive abilities in children and adults based on various activities of the right and left hemispheres. there are many methods developed in the west taking advantage of such simple activity and use it as part of their pedagogic scheme.

Left hemisphere'sfunctions are made active: Right-hand control Spoken language Written language Number skills Reasoning Scientific skills

Right hemisphere'sfunctions are made active: Left-hand control Insight 3-D forms Imagination Art awareness Music awareness

Thus, the research carried out has shown, that the method can be used as a means of

*activation of the right and left hemispheres;
*development of fine 'motor skills' of the hands;
*development of intelligence;
*activation of creative thinking;
*development of spatial imagination and visual accuracy.


The specially organized employment of origami will help the child to develop more fully, using mental resources, opportunity for the development of the right and left hemispheres.


Also, the origami method can be applied in correctional and therapeutical purposes, as a means to increase psycho - emotional conditions, decrease uneasiness and optimization of the functional condition.

So, the origami method of bilateral development combines in itself: a psychophysiological basis of activation of hemispheres while using an activity with the sensation of a game. It results in satisfaction from work, paints positive emotional experience, utilizes multimodal activation of mental abilities, and novelty.

Origami - Science Emulating Art that emulates Nature

In this Video Robert Lang explores the link between art and practical applications at the intersection of origami and mathematics. "The secret to productivity is letting dead people do your work for you."

Robert Lang is a pioneer of the newest kind of origami -- using math and engineering principles to fold mind-blowingly intricate designs that are beautiful and, sometimes, very useful.

Robert Lang merges mathematics with aesthetics to fold elegant modern origami. His scientific approach helps him make folds once thought impossible -- and has secured his place as one of the first great Western masters of the art.

What do you think of his presentation? what part of his work do you consider innovative? Extrapolate your answer in no less than 2 paragraphs in the comment section

This comment counts towards your participation grades

Origami and Math - Activity

People who spend time folding paper often ask themselves questions that are ultimately mathematical in nature. Is there a simpler procedure for folding a certain figure? Where on the original square paper do the wings of a crane come from? Why do so many origami figures start with square paper? What size paper should I use to make a chair to sit at the origami table I already made? What words should I use to teach people to make a jumping frog? Is it possible to make an origami beetle that has six legs and two antennae from a single square sheet of paper? Is there a precise procedure for folding a paper into 5 rectangular strips? Which polyhedra can be constructed using Sonobe modules and what do they have in common?


In this activity we will do a panda, noticing the divisions and symmetry processes in its folding.


As usual, when finished take a picture of your origami figure and your name and post them on the comment area


This activity counts for 10% of your total grade

Origami and Math

I know most of us aren't mathematicians, but if you are interested in the math behind the most complex figures in origami, such as tesselations and modular origami, here is an essay from the math department of washington university:

http://www.math.washington.edu/~morrow/336_09/papers/Sheri.pdf

If you have a square piece of paper, how many ways can you fold it to make 2 sections of the same size?

A square folds in half to make 2 rectangles. A square folds in half to make 2 triangles too. Are the rectangles and triangles the same size? This type of question can help children understand the relationship between squares, rectangles and triangles.

What happens when you unfold an origami model? Can you see the symmetry in the crease patterns? Manipulating paper with their hands may help children learn concepts that may otherwise be rather abstract.


Use the comments section to express your perspective about math and origami, this will count towards your final grades so don't make short answers

Unit 1 Test

Here is the link to your first test. Please answer carefully and post your score in the comments section.

Unit 1 Grader
Please choose the correct answer, at the end of your test, send it to anon12589@gmail.com, thank you.

Origami resembles what two arts according to Hatori Koshiro? . Cooking and painting . Painting and theatre . Cooking and theatre What is most important in this class? . Making the origami figures . having fun . Reading your assignments What Should you avoid when doing Origami? . Cutting . Gluing . Drawing the folds . All of the above . A&B Who was the first country to have knowledge of origami? . China . Japan . Korea Other than psychologically and culturally, in which other way does origami have an effect in our lives? . Mentally . Biologically . Mathematically . Socially Into what shape did the small square in the short story did not turn into? . Wardrobe . Butterfly . Mirror . Witch . Cat To what European country did the Moors introduce origami to? . Arabs . Spain . France . British What animal is used to represent the peace movements? . Dove . Crane . Monkey . Pigeon

Highlights in Origami History Activity

As a complement to your previous reading, your homework is to build your first ever (at least in this class) origami figure, a Samurai Helmet!

If you don't have a square paper to do it, please watch the video on how to make one and proceed.

for your evaluation process, you will be required to post a picture of your finished work along with your name written on or next to the origami figure.

Do not take separate pictures of your figure and your name
Your name must be handwritten
the paper must not be all white (some small decoration or colored paper/newspaper/special paper will suffice)

Highlights In Origami History

100 AD

Paper-making originated in China by Ts'ai Lun, a servant of the Chinese emperor. The art of paperfolding began shortly after.

600 AD 

Paper-making spread to Japan where origami really took off.

800-1100AD

Origami was introduced to the West (Spain) by the Moors who made geometric origami models.

1797     

Hiden Senbazuru Orikata is the oldest origami book for amusement in the world is published. Translated it means "The Secret of One Thousand Cranes Origami".

1845     

Kan no mado (Window on Midwinter)-The first published collection of origami models which included the frog base

1900     

Origami spread to England and the United States

1935     

Akira Yoshizawa developed his set of symbols used for origami instructions.

1960     

Sadako and One Thousand Cranes was published by Eleanor Coerr and is linked with the origami crane and the international peace movement.

2000         

International Peace Project-An international project which is engaging communities in collaborative activities to promote peace, non-violence and tolerance - A Million Paper Cranes for Peace by the Year 2000!

Origami For Everyone - A Short Story

This is a story about a square, and the folds in basic origami, read the story along with your square of paper and try doing all the folds along




The Square Story

a) There was once a small square
b)He was very sad because no one wanted to play with him.
"Waa", he cried, "if I was as skinny as my brother the rectangle, or as round as the circle, or if I had corners as beautiful as the ones my sister the triangle has… But I am nothing special, all of my corners are the same, long and boring."
Then he picked up a… a very interesting book and read this story.

c) Once upon a time there was a little witch that would sleep all day and fly all night on her broom through the dark starry sky. It was so cold to the point where she would start sneezing until she got sick. It was then that she looked for a... handkerchief and cleaned her nose.

d) After seeing her sneeze, her mom said: You won't be able to fly your broom at night anymore. Instead, bring your... boat and do a small trip. The sea breeze will make you feel much better.

e) Obediently, the little witch took her boat and traveled along all the seas until she discovered a beautiful beach a... witches' house. 

f) "I want to stay here", thought the little witch as she wrote her mom a... letter.

g) " Mom, you must come visit me. My witch house is so pretty and I have an excellent view from my... window."

h) After reading the letter, her mom went to her... wardrobe.

i) Here she looked for a beautiful red polka dot...handkerchief. 

i) "This is exactly the one I was looking for", she thought. "The handkerchief will hold my hair in place." She tried it in front of her old... mirror. 

k) The witch was hungry and before taking her broom to go visit the little witch, she decided to fry a delicious...fish. 

l) For desert, she looked for a chocolate bar. 

m) After this, she prepared her large... purse. 

n) As she mounted on her broom, she remembered. "Oh, I'm forgetting something." she said as she returned to her house to find a... magic bag.

0) She got on her broom and traveled above the seas of the world until she finally found the little witch that played in the beach meanwhile she observed a colorful... butterfly. 

p) "What is this horrible creature?", said the mom. She pulled out her magic wand and transformed the butterfly unto a fat and ugly... toad. 

q) "Please don't do it", said the little witch. I liked the pretty butterfly. "Well, I liked this toad even more", said the mom. Luckily while this occurred, another butterfly fleeted along and both felt happy once again. They lived and felt happy until the day they died. 
Our little square closed the book as he rubbed his eyes. Was I dreaming or was I awake? Can it be possible that all those things can be made when folding a simple square? Then that means that all these shapes are inside of me: a book, a handkerchief, a boat, a house, a letter, a window, a wardrobe, a handkerchief to hold your hair, a mirror, a fish, a chocolate, a magic bag, a butterfly and a toad. 
"Now I believe that I can find children that would want to fold all those shapes with me. Now I won't be bored." And due to all this joy and enthusiasm, the small square turned bright red.

Now its time for you to write your thoughts in the comments section: Did you like the story? what figure was your favorite? Did you try all the folds?

Origami Basics: Square Paper

Since some of your exercises will involve making origami figures (don't you worry, they are strategically chosen to be simple enough for every student) we need square origami paper.


Granted, Since we are in an era of ecology and cost-reduction, I will provide you with and instructive video to make square paper from random paper you have at hand. Not only it will be ecological, it will give you a chance to experiment with different patterns and type of paper (please refrain from using napkins or any kind of absorbent paper).

Ancient Art

A folk art, a creative art, a mathematical puzzle, a game-- all of these terms describe origami. Some people are attracted to origami for its simplicity, while others marvel at the minds of people who can devise the patterns for such ingenious creations. Some look to origami as a way to entertain, while others find it has a calming, relaxing effect.

Origami is unique among paper crafts in that it requires no materials other than the paper itself. Cutting, gluing, or drawing on the paper is avoided, using only paper folding to create the desired result. No special skills or artistic talent are needed for origami, although a good amount of patience and perseverance are very helpful. 


Models can be folded by following instructions exactly. Experimenting with different folds may lead to a totally new, original paper-fold.


The word "origami" comes from the Japanese language. "Ori" means folded and "kami" means paper. Paper-folding as a traditional folding art pervaded the Japanese culture more strongly than any other. But traditional paper-folding did not exist in Japan alone.


Papermaking was developed in China two thousand years ago but the Chinese did not readily share this knowledge. It eventually traveled to Korea and then Japan by the seventh century. This "trade secret" then spread in the direction of the Arab world, reaching Spain by the twelfth century.


Origami was first practiced in the Japanese imperial Court, where it was considered an amusing and elegant way of passing the time. Over the centuries the skill has been passed down to ordinary people, who took it up with enthusiasm and made it into the folk art that it is today.

Today in Japan the art of paper-folding is as widely practiced by children, parents and grandparents as it was centuries ago. And for a number of years now origami has been immensely popular here in the western world.

During this journey, did simple paper-folding spread with the knowledge of papermaking? Or did each country independently discover that paper could not only be written and drawn on, but manipulated into forms? Despite the fact that some traditional models from different paper-folding traditions are similar, most people believe that each tradition developed its own paper-folding ideas.


In the course of this class we will both travel alongside the pages of history, science and culture, acquiring knowledge of how Origami affects into the human existence, having a biological, psychological and cultural effect on us.


Have you practiced other types of paper craft or even Origami before? what was your first experience? Post your answer on the comments section below. This counts toward your participation grade

Your Student Duty

This course will be divided into three units each covering a different aspect of culture with regards to origami. The course itself will last only 8 weeks and the break-down goes as follows:


Basics of Origami Knowledge- March 5th trough March 16th - 2 weeks
Sciences Around Origami- March 19th through March 30th -  2 weeks
Education and Culture Within Origami- April 2nd through April 13th - 2 weeks


Your responsibilities as a student for this course are as follows:


-Read each section on time and submit your homeworks to the page before the due date each week.
-Every Friday, a homework assignment will be due. No late work will be accepted.


Why is it autoadministrative? You can manage your time as you like, with posts being put in the first days of the week and the deliver date being the friday. You are able to choose wich day to read and do your exercises, but don't leave it all to friday! Some of your projects take time to be finished. You wont need the professor to be phisically with you, but of course if you have doubts you can contact him. Also, the tests are automatized, so as soon as you submit your answers, your score will be given to you. 


      Your homework includes 4 major components and a percentage of your grade.

• Comments (15%)
• Origami models (3 at 10% each)
• Tests- (2 at 15% each) 
• Final (non-cumulative 25%)

It is your duty to keep up with the class in terms of reading, understanding, participating and applying your knowledge for every activity whether it is posting comments, constructing origami models or taking the tests.
Your grade is in your hands.


Let the semester begin and may the odds be ever in your favor.

Most importantly, have fun :)

Bibliography

http://www.otaku-damned.com/t279-el-origami

http://origametria.blogspot.mx/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sadako_Sasaki The History of Sadako

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bhd30tDCsNI Sadako's Story (Video)

http://www.theragami.com/origami_ed.html

http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origami

http://www.oriland.com/oriversity/benefits/articles.asp?category=articles&model=03_full&name=Folding%20-%20Method Origami method for bilateral development

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pD9JALM9Z48 Origami Crane Video

Kindergarten, Colegio Humboldt, Die Geschichte vom Quadrat. San José, Costa Rica 1997. –The Square Story (GERMAN, fragment)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRIvCe6nqJo Origami Festival CSULB

http://www.pixel77.com/35-origami-inspired-fashion-designs/ Origami and Fashion

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sadako_and_the_Thousand_Paper_Cranes Sadako and the thousand paper Cranes

http://www.pixel77.com/35-origami-inspired-fashion-designs/ Origami meets Fashion

http://www.math.washington.edu/~morrow/336_09/papers/Sheri.pdf Origami and Math

http://rosella.apana.org.au/~mlb/cranes/million.htm IPP- International Peace Project