Paperfolding Polyhedrons

Add to list Go to activity
Activity link broken? See if it's at the internet archive
In this activity (on pages 55-66 of PDF), learners fold paper into origami shapes and then combine several identical shapes into a three-dimensional structure. There are clear, colorful photographic step-by-step instructions on how to fold the small shapes and how to assemble them into larger figures. There are also URLs for several origami websites and several recommended origami books.

Quick Guide

Preparation Time:
30 to 45 minutes
Learning Time:
45 to 60 minutes
Estimated Materials Cost:
1 cent - $1 per student
Age Range:
Ages 4 - adult
Resource Type:
Activity
Language:
English

Materials List (per student)

  • Origami paper: 4” x 4” or 6” x 6” squares, ½” x 12” strips (for stars)
  • Sample of complete origami constructions: a cube, an octahedron, an icosahedron, lucky stars, etc.
  • Origami diagrams: Modular Polyhedron and Lucky Star diagrams attached to this activity.

Keywords

Subjects

  • Mathematics
    • Geometry
      • Plane Geometry
      • Solid Geometry
  • The Nature of Technology
    • The Design Process
      • Problem Solving

Informal Categories

  • Arts and Crafts

Audience

To use this activity, learners need to:

  • see
  • touch

Learning styles supported:

  • Involves hands-on or lab activities

Other

Access Rights:

  • Free access

By:

Rights: