Maths Origami Workshop

Title of the activityMaths Origami Workshop

General description

Origami, a traditional Japanese technique, is the art of paper folding. In this activity students need to match their manual skills to Maths and use their hands to make Maths shapes and objects. In this way geometrical rules, axioms and operations are physically elaborated and stimulate kinaesthetic learning.

Students age15

Type of intelligence addressedBodily-kinesthetic

Educational goals

To develop fundamental geometrical ideas and spatial intuition

To experience geometry by folding paper

To know geometrical solids

To study Mathematical vocabulary

To increase understanding of symmetry, angle, congruence and similarity

To make objects by manipulation

To practice fractions, ratios, proportions, and measurement

To develop problem solving and critical thinking skills

Expected results

The students are expected to test their kinesthetic intelligence by creating geometrical objects. At the end they will be able to say they are/are not kinesthetic learners. This activity can be defined as a metacognitive experience.

Final products: paper geometrical objects like regular and starred polyhedra

Methodology

Workshop 1 (2 hours)

The expert shows the basics of the origami technique. Students get acquainted with folding and manipulating. They produce simple geometrical objects like cubes.Workshop 2 (2 hours)

Students are shown how to make more complex geometrical solids like starred polyhedra compositions. They have their try.Workshop 3 (2 hours)

The students try with other solids like octahedra, tetrahedra and dodecahedra.

Required toolsSquare sheets of colored paper, scissors, glue and ruler.

Evaluation

Evaluation must consider the following points:

Quantity and quality of products

Involvement of students

Raised awareness of kinesthetic learning (this can be done with a final brain storm or debate).

Teachers recommendations

You cannot improvise, so you need to learn the procedure of folding on your own beforehand or otherwise involve an expert.

Link(s)http://youtu.be/IVo5vtirAS4 Video on Maths Origami Workshophttp://youtu.be/J9gvXmu_1BE Video on Origami cube construction http://www.mathigon.org/origami/ Website on mathematical origami