TEACHING ARTS IN ELEMENTARY GRADES

ORIGAMI
Page 1 of 15

Topic: Origami

WELCOME SPE -ARTS STUDENTS!

I. INTRODUCTION :

Origami, the art of paper folding, is one of the most iconic cultural contributions of Japan. When did it
get its start? Where did it get its start? How did it gets its start?
Historians are unable to pinpoint an exact date for the beginnings of origami. But it most likely began
soon after paper was invented by the Chinese nearly 2,000 years ago, sometime around the year 100
A.D. Approximately 500 years later, Buddhist monks brought paper to Japan. Historians speculate that
the practice of paper folding is most likely as old as paper itself, so the Chinese probably practiced some
form of paper folding before the Japanese.
The earliest forms of origami were made by monks and religious leaders. Eventually rich and elite Japanese
began creating origami as well. Why was origami limited to this small part of the population? Well, early forms of
paper were very expensive, so the average Japanese person couldn't afford to buy it. Wealthy Japanese also had
more time to dedicate to creating art than their lowerclass counterparts. Earliest records of origami indicate
that it was used primarily for religious or ceremonial reasons. Eventually, as people became more
interested in it, origami was used for decorative and artistic purposes. It was also used as a tool to teach
basic principles of math and geometry.
The earliest print mention of origami comes from a book published in 1797, Sembazuru Orikata
(Thousand Crane Folding). The author, Akisato Rito, explains the cultural significance of origami and
touches upon the traditional ways of making the paper art.

Sembazuru Orikata

Page 2 of 15
 TEACHING ARTS IN ELEMENTARY GRADES
ORIGAMI

More than 150 years later, a man named Akira Yoshizawa revolutionized the traditional art form.
Yoshizawa originally worked in a factory and used origami as an educational tool. In 1954 he published
his groundbreaking book Atarashi Origami Geijutsu (New Origami Art), which introduced individuals
around the world to the evolving art of origami. His ideas revolutionized the art of paper folding. While
more traditional methods limited artists to square sheets of paper that couldn't be modified in anyway,
Yoshizawa's countless patterns and models encouraged artists to cut, snip, glue, and wet the paper to
create new and exciting works of origami.

Origami elephant made with a dollar bill

II. OBJECTIVES:

At the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

1. Understand what origami is

2. Know the basic types of origami folds
3. Create your own origami
 TEACHING ARTS IN ELEMENTARY GRADES
ORIGAMI

Page 3 of 15

III. PRELIMINARY ACTIVITIES:

Before you proceed to the main lesson, test yourself in this activity.
Activity 1 ARRANGE ME!
Direction. Arrange the jumbled letters.

1. M O A G I R I - ORIGAMI
2. L O F D - FOLD

3. A C N E R - CRANE

4. R W F E L O - FLOWER

5. P I M S E L - SIMPLE
6. P R A E P – PAPER

7. N S E J A P E A - JAPANESE

8. S S R I O S C - SCISSOR
9. P E T S P - STEP

10. F S A R C T- CRAFTS

Based on the preliminary activities, what did you notice about it?
_______________________________________________________
CONGRATULATIONS!
You may now proceed to the lesson.
 TEACHING ARTS IN ELEMENTARY GRADES Page
ORIGAMI

4 of 15

IV. LESSON PROPER

What is origami?

Origami is the art of paper-folding. Its name derives from

Japanese words ori “folding” and kami “paper”. Traditional
origami consists of folding a single sheet of square paper
(often with a colored side) into a sculpture without cutting,
gluing, taping, or even marking it.

The goal of the origamist is to transform a flat sheet of

paper into a finished model through the use of folding and
sculpting techniques. One of the best-known origami
shapes is the orizuru (from the words "ori" meaning
"folded" and "tsuru" meaning "crane"), or paper crane. It
represents the Japanese Red-crowned Crane bird which is
revered in Japanese culture.

The school of paper-folding that permits cuts in the paper

is known in Japan as kirigami (from the words "kiru"
meaning to cut, and "kami" meaning "paper"). Origami is
the best-known form of paperfolding, but not necessarily
the oldest.
A person who is associated with the art of origami is
called origamist or origamian.

When you're new to the art of paper folding, all of the different origami terms you encounter can seem
very confusing. There are three basic folds you need to learn to begin folding simple origami models.
 TEACHING ARTS IN ELEMENTARY GRADES Page 5 of 18
ORIGAMI

THREE MAIN TYPES OF ORIGAMI FOLDS

1. VALLEY FOLD

The most basic of all origami folds is the valley fold. The valley fold gets its name because it makes the
paper
sink down like a river valley. In a traditional origami diagram, a valley fold is indicated with dashed
lines. To make a valley fold, simply fold part of the paper towards you and crease along the dashed
line.

Sometimes, you are asked to fold and unfold the paper after you make a valley fold. This is
called precreasing. When you make a precrease, you are setting the stage for later steps in the
diagram. Precreases are made at the beginning of the process; it is sometimes too difficult to put
them into place accurately at a later time. In this photo, you can see several valley folds that are
usually made to begin an origami box.

2. MOUNTAIN FOLD
The mountain fold is essentially a valley fold in reverse. A mountain fold gets its name because it makes
the paper rise up like a mountain. In traditional origami diagrams, a mountain fold is indicated by a line
 TEACHING ARTS IN ELEMENTARY GRADES Page 6 of 18
ORIGAMI
made of dashes and dots. Sometimes, there will also be an arrow that indicates the folding
direction.

To make a mountain fold, fold part of the paper away from you and then crease along the line. You can
do this by holding the paper in the air and folding it. However, it is easier to turn the paper over, fold a
valley fold, and then turn the paper back to the original position. As with a valley fold, you may be asked
to fold and unfold the paper to create a precrease that will be used later on in the process of completing
a particular model.

3. SQUASH FOLD
After mastering the valley fold and the mountain fold, the beginning origami enthusiast needs to
understand how to make a squash fold. The squash fold is essentially a neat way of "squashing" your
paper into position. It is a compound fold that is a combination of creases that are more or less
performed simultaneously. As illustrated in the photo, you will be precreasing the model. Then, you will
 TEACHING ARTS IN ELEMENTARY GRADES Page 7 of 18
ORIGAMI

collapse it into the shape that is shown your instructions you are following. Two layers of paper open up
from a central point.

Look at your specific design instructions to get a feel for the correct placement of the paper during a
squash fold. Some, but not all, squash folds are symmetrical. If you make a squash fold that is
symmetrical when it is supposed to be off towards one side of the model will throw off all of the other
steps in your project.
Once you know how to make a squash fold, you can create a variety of origami models, ranging from
flowers to animals. The origami organ base shown in the photo is made using a squash fold. Bases are
important to know because they are the foundation for making more complex origami models.

There are two ways to make a squash fold.

Lift the flap that is to be squashed towards you. Pry apart the layers of paper. Gently press down to
squash the paper creating two new mountain folds. Align the crease line on the top layer of paper with
the layers of paper beneath.

Based on what you have read, answer the following questions:

1. Do you find origami hard to do? Why or why not?

 TEACHING ARTS IN ELEMENTARY GRADES Page 8 of 18
ORIGAMI
The Beginner's Guide to Origami. Origami is actually a very easy hobby to pick up and
it's a lot of fun. All you need is paper and you can use pretty much any paper you can find.

2. As a student, what are the benefits of origami?

Origami helps develop hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills and mental concentration. Use of
the hands directly stimulates areas of the brain. Origami is used in various therapeutic settings,
including art therapy and in stroke and injury rehabilitation.

3. For you, how important origami is?

Origami excites other modalities of learning. It has been shown to improve spatial visualization
skills using hands-on learning. Such skills allow children to comprehend, characterize, and
construct their own vernacular for the world around them.
 TEACHING ARTS IN ELEMENTARY GRADES
ORIGAMI
Page 9 of 15

Exercise 1 Fortune Teller

Direction. Learn how to make a paper fortune teller with instructions below.

Step 1: Start with a square

sheet of origami paper, color
side down. If you only have
regular rectangular paper,
follow instructions on how to
make origami paper.

Step 2: Fold the paper in half by folding the bottom left corner to the upper right corner, then unfold.

Step 3: Fold the paper in half again by folding the bottom right corner to the top left corner, then unfold
again.

Step 4: Fold the paper in half by folding the bottom edge to the top edge, then unfold.
 TEACHING ARTS IN ELEMENTARY GRADES
ORIGAMI
Step 5: Fold
the paper in
half again by
folding the
left edge to
the right
edge and
yes, unfold again.

Step 6: Fold all four corners to the center. Go to Next

page to continue learning how to make a paper fortune
teller.

Page 10 of 15

Step 7: Turn the paper over.

Step 8: Once again, fold all four corners to the center.

 TEACHING ARTS IN ELEMENTARY GRADES

Step 9: Color or label all the triangles with different colors.

Step 10: Write a fortune underneath each color and close the flaps again.

Step 11: Fold the bottom half to the top.

Step 12: Tuck your

thumbs and forefingers
in the four openings
below. Now you're
ready to play with the
paper fortune teller.
 TEACHING ARTS IN ELEMENTARY GRADES
ORIGAMI

ORIGAMI

Exercise 2. Flower blooms!

Page 11 of 15
Direction. Create a Daffodil origami using a construction or colored paper. Make at least 5 daffodils.
Take a picture of your work then print it and paste inside the box.
 TEACHING ARTS IN ELEMENTARY GRADES Page 13 of 18
ORIGAMI

V. ANALYSIS , APPLICATION AND EXPLORATION

Name:

Activity 1

Direction. Draw an example of Valley fold, Mountain fold and Squash fold. Then try to combine it all to
create your own origami. Draw it inside the rectangle below.

Finally, let us summarize the lesson of what we had discussed today.

 TEACHING ARTS IN ELEMENTARY GRADES Page 14 of 18
ORIGAMI

VI. GENERALIZATION

In what way do origami helps us?

Origami excites other modalities of learning. It has been shown to improve spatial

visualization skills using hands-on learning. Such skills allow children to comprehend,
characterize, and construct their own vernacular for the world around them.
Origami helps develop hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills and mental
concentration. Use of the hands directly stimulates areas of the  brain. Origami is used in
various therapeutic settings, including art therapy and in stroke and injury rehabilitation.

KUDOS! You have come to an end of Module 14.

OOPS! Don’t forget that you have still an assignment to do.

Here it is….
 TEACHING ARTS IN ELEMENTARY GRADES Page 15 of 18
ORIGAMI

VII. ASSIGNMENT

1. What is ethnic design?

Art typical of a specific nationality or a  design based on folk art. Example(s)

of Ethnic Design. An ethnic repeating pattern created in Artlandia Symmetry Mill,
Create repeating patterns in Symmetry Mill.

2. What are the types of ethnic pattern?

AZTEC
NAVAJO
TAPA
IKAT
AFRICAN WAX
KILIM
SUZANI

Submitted on _______01-21-2021________

After your long journey of reading and accomplishing the module, let
us now challenge your mind by answering the evaluation part of this module.
 TEACHING ARTS IN ELEMENTARY GRADES Page 16 of 18
ORIGAMI

VIII. EVALUATION

QUIZ 02

Directions: Encircle the letter of the correct answer.

1. A person who is associated with the art of origami is called ___________.

A. Origami B. Origamist C. Origamo D. Origanist

2. The art of paper folding, is one of the most iconic cultural contributions of Japan.

A. Paper maschée B. Paper craft C. Origami D. Fold

3. the most basic of all origami folds is called ___________.

A. Valley fold B. Mountain fold C. Squash fold D. None of the above

4. It is a compound fold that is a combination of creases that are more or less performed
simultaneously.

A. Valley fold B. Mountain fold C. Squash fold D. None of the above

5. The earliest print mention of origami comes from a book published in ________

A. 1770 B. 1780 C. 1779 D. 1797

6. When you're new to the art of paper folding, all of the different origami terms you encounter can
seem very ___________.

A. Confusing B. Hard C. Excited D. Complicated

7. One of the best-known origami shapes is the___________.

A.Oritsuru B. Oritzuru C. Orizuru D. Orichuru

8. In 1954 he published his groundbreaking book Atarashi Origami Geijutsu

 TEACHING ARTS IN ELEMENTARY GRADES Page 17 of 18
ORIGAMI
A. Akira Yosizawa B. Akira Yoshizawa C. Akhira Yoshizawa D. None
of the above

9. The squash fold is essentially a neat way of _________ your paper into position.

A. Squashing B.Squeezing C. Squacking D.Squeeging

10. To make a _______ fold, simply fold part of the paper towards you and crease along the dashed
line.

A. Valley B. Mountain C. Squash D. None of the above

 TEACHING ARTS IN ELEMENTARY GRADES
ORIGAMI

Page 15 of 15

(This evaluation will be submitted on Face to Face)

CONGRATULATIONS on reaching the end of this module!

You maynow proceed to the next module.
Don’t forget to submit all the cises,
exer activities and portfolio
on Face to Face classes
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. Well Done!!!