Origami is the Japanese word for paper folding.

ORI means to fold and KAMI means

paper. Together, they form the word, "origami." It is an art form that has been handed
down from parent to child through many generations. Origami involves the creation of
paper forms usually entirely by folding. 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.

he art of making paper from originated in China in the year 102A.D. Paper then became
more available to the masses. The secret of making paper was kept in China for several
hundred years and finally made its way through Korea and into Japan. A Buddhist monk
is said to have carried this secret .The introduction of paper making to Japan several
hundred years later coincided with the development of their religion and soon became
part of the lives of its people. Colors and silk threads were added and origami was held
in high esteem. Gifts were decorated with "noshi." Noshi had particular fold patterns
depending on the gift.

In Japan, at one time origami was taught in schools but today, children are generally
taught origami at home. Holidays are celebrated with colorful origami decorations made
by the family. On children's day (formerly boy's day), children make colorful carp: a fish
that swims upstream, against the current. This symbolizes strength. During the summer,
Tanabata, The Star Festival is celebrated. Live bamboo branches are decorated with
origami stars and other paper decorations in a manner which brings to mind a decorated
Christmas tree.

WHO WERE THE FIRST PAPER FOLDERS?

There is an ongoing debate as to who were the first paper folders. Certainly, paper
folding is a part of Chinese culture: perhaps they were the first. When people are
buried, replicas of items are folded and included in their tombs. Also, the Chinese have
always been frugal people who wouldn't waste something that could be reused. So, a
paper that has served its original purpose now can be recycled for origami. Many
origami toys were developed by the Chinese. The most famous of these is the
"waterbomb." Children make balloons out of paper, fill them with water and throw
them down with a loud splat. Today, paper folders refer to the base of the waterbomb
as the "waterbomb base."

Europeans have evidence of Baptismal certificates dating back hundreds of years with
a recognizable crease pattern. As trade among nations developed, magicians often
traveled to distant lands bringing with them the magic of origami.

Today the strongest evidence points to the Ancient Egyptians as the first paper folders.
A map to the tombs in the Valley of the Kings was found. It resides in a museum in
Milan, Italy. It is more than 2.000 years old. Here the papyrus (The first known paper
dating back 4.500 years is made in a laborious process from papyrus reeds.) shows
creases on the map. This crease pattern is similar to the way maps are folded today.
However, a sheet of papyrus took a week to make and it is brittle. Probably there was
very little other paper folding done by the Egyptians.

Though the debate continues as to who was first, each nation brought something to
the fold and you have a chance to do that too. After you learn some of the basics, start
experimenting with folding paper. You can make your own folds and become part of
the history of origami.

Geometry

According to the National Center for Education Statistics in 2003, geometry was one area
of weakness among American students. Origami has been found to strengthen an
understanding of geometric concepts, formulas, and labels, making them come alive.
Here’s how to use it in your class (PDF). By labeling an origami structure with length,
width, and height, students will learn key terms and ways to describe a shape. You can
use origami to determine the area by applying a formula to a real-world structure.

Thinking Skills

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. In your
class, find origami or geometric shapes in nature and then describe them with geometric
terms.

Fractions

The concept of fractions is scary to lots of students. Folding paper can demonstrate the
fractions in a tactile way. In your class, you can use origami to illustrate the concepts of
one-half, one-third, or one-fourth by folding paper and asking how many folds students
would need to make a certain shape. The act of folding the paper in half and in half again
and so on can also be used to demonstrate the concept of infinity.

Problem Solving

Often in assignments, there is one set answer and one way to get there. Origami
provides children an opportunity to solve something that isn't prescribed and gives them
a chance to make friends with failure (i.e. trial and error). In your class, show a shape
and ask students to come up with a way to make it. They may get the solution from
various approaches. Remember, there is no wrong answer.

Fun Science

Origami is a fun way to explain physics concepts. A thin piece of paper is not very strong,
but if you fold it like an accordion it will be. (Look at the side of a cardboard box for
proof.) Bridges are based on this concept. Also, origami is a fun way to explain
molecules. Many molecules have the shape of tetrahedrons and other polyhedra.
Bonus: Just Plain Fun!

I hope that I don't need to explain fun. Here are some activities (with diagrams) to keep
those young hands and minds working.

No Papering Over Origami's Benefits

Children love origami as evidenced by how they are enamored with their first paper
airplane, paper hat, or paper boat. And while we might not always think about it, origami
surrounds us -- from envelopes, paper fans, and shirt folds to brochures and fancy
towels. Origami envelops us (forgive the pun). Origami has been found to improve not
only 3D perception and logical thinking (PDF), but also focus and concentration.

Researchers have found that students who use origami in math perform better. In some
ways, it is an untapped resource for supplementing math instruction and can be used
for geometric construction, determining geometric and algebraic formulas, and
increasing manual dexterity along the way. In addition to math, origami is a great way
to merge science, technology, engineering, art, and math all together: STEAM.

Origami is a STEAM Engine

While schools are still catching up to the idea of origami as a STEAM engine (the merging
of these disciplines), origami is already being used to solve tough problems in
technology. Artists have teamed up with engineers to find the right folds for an airbag
to be stored in a small space, so that it can be deployed in a fraction of a second.
Additionally, the National Science Foundation, one of the government's largest funding
agencies, has supported a few programs that link engineers with artists to use origami
in designs. The ideas range from medical forceps to foldable plastic solar panels.

And origami continues to amaze scientists with its presence in nature. Many beetles
have wings that are bigger than their bodies. In fact they can be as much as two or three
times as large. How are they able to do that? Their wings unfold in origami patterns.
Insects are not alone. Leaf buds are folded in intricate ways that resemble o

rigami art, too. Origami is all around us and can be a source of inspiration for children
and adults alike.

So no matter how you fold it, origami is a way to get children engaged in math, could
improve their skills, and makes them appreciate the world around them more. When it
comes to making lessons exciting, origami is above the fol
15 curiosidades sobre el papel

1. El papel lo inventaron los chinos hace más de 2000 años.

2. Durante los primeros 600 años China mantuvo en secreto el invento.
3. El primer ejemplar escrito en papel es una carta árabe que data del año 806 en Europa.
4. El primer taller de papel en el mundo estuvo localizado en España en el año 1036
5. El 35% de todos los árboles talados se utilizan para la producción de papel.
6. Para la fabricación de una tonelada de papel se utilizan unos 115.000 litros de agua.
7. El consumo anual promedio de papel es de 48kg por persona, a nivel mundial.
8. Anualmente son utilizadas en oficinas 115 mil millones de hojas de papel.
9. Hay un papel para cada necesidad. En total más de 500 tipos de papeles.
10. El papel se puede reciclar hasta 11 veces en diferentes tipos de cartón y papel.
11. Una tonelada de papel recuperado posibilita el ahorro de 0,4 hectáreas de bosque,
aproximadamente.
12. El papel reciclado y papel ecológico son diferentes. El papel ecológico no
necesariamente es de papel usado sino que no utiliza cloro como blanqueador.
13. El Día del Libro se celebra desde 1995 cada 23 abril. La Unesco eligió esta fecha por el
fallecimiento de Miguel de Cervantes, William Shakespeare y Garcilaso de la Vega.
14. El libro más vendido de la historia es Don Quijote.
15. Entre los libros más vendidos también figuran El Señor de los Anillos con un total
registrado de 150 millones de copias y a este le sigue El Principito con 140 millones.