Paper Folding

Paper folding is a cheap and fun art form. A stack of real origami paper (about 100 sheets) will go for about $6.99. If you don't want to buy origami paper, any paper that can hold a crease can be used as origami paper. Models in foil paper look really cool.  Beginners can start off with simple models like the Crane, and the Fortune Teller (which most of you should have seen somewhere). Experienced folders can try out modular, crease patterns, and complex Star Wars Origami models.

Origami originated from Japan, when papyrus was used to fold animals and the environment. Modern origamists use tweezers for very complex models. You may have noticed the origami sculptures on the shelves of the South Brunswick library. These are modular origami, which uses multiple sheets of paper to create models. This method can be tedious and time consuming, but the finished models will look very nice. Diagrams for the Millennium Falcon are found http://www.flickr.com/photos/matayado-titi/sets/72157629344531435/

I fold paper because it is fun and challenging to fold complex models. It's like sculpting. I occasionally fold paper toys like Cootie Catchers for younger kids. I first started folding when I was 8 years old watching Activitytv.tv, which provided video tutorials of Micheal Lafosse folding basic models like ducks. Then I folded paper airplanes for a few months then left the idea for a few years. In Grade 6, I read Tom Angleberger's The Strange Case of Origami Yoda, which contained instructions on how to fold a simple Yoda. It was interesting and I wanted to attempt harder Star Wars models. I moved on to advanced characters like Fumiaki Kawahata's Jedi Master Yoda  http://www.spitenet.com/origami/pdf/Yoda-JediMaster.pdf. Then I moved on to the iconic Star Wars Ships like the X-Wing and the Millennium Falcon. I use foil paper because it is easy to fold and looks aesthetic. 

Origami can help children improve their creativity and Geometry. Because most models are 3-D, this can help them improve three-dimensional perception, which is better than the 2-D world of the TV. 

Diagrams for the Millennium Falcon are found here:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/matayado-titi/sets/72157629344531435/  .

Sincerely,

Jay Manchiraju