Good Art is Good Medicine!
Please enjoy these Elementary Visual Art Lessons. Some are more challenging than others. So choose lessons you want to do.
Remember the practice of making art helps to support the limbic system of the brain so feel free to practice other age/grade level lessons if they look like fun to you.
May these activities allow us to learn, create, explore, inspire and grow!
Origami is the Japanese art of paper folding. The word comes from: ori meaning "folding," and kami meaning "paper." You’ll need a square piece of paper to try one or more of these projects.
Origami helps us develop and maintain eye-hand co-ordination, sequencing skills, math reasoning, spatial skills, and memory. It also teaches patience, attention skills, fine motor skills and mental concentration. With origami we can learn about another culture and work together, teaching each other and taking pride in our work.
HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN ORIGAMI PAPER
<--- Here is a tutorial on how to make your own origami paper WITH or WITHOUT SCISSORS using any kind of note book paper, white or colored printing paper.
(Click on the photo for a tutorial)
Gift-wrapping paper is another more challenging material to make your own origami paper. If you are using gift wrapping paper scraps, be sure to trace a square from something that is already "perfectly squared."
You can also find & purchase origami paper here ----------------->
HOW TO MAKE A SURPRISE MESSAGE CARD
When I was 10 years old, we used to write letters to our friends and make them into special cards that felt like opening a gift! A nice friendly letter is a great way to send something special to a friend and to make new ones!
(click on the photo for a tutorial)
How to Fold a Traditional Origami Crane
One of my best friends in 6th grade showed me how to make this traditional crane during Nisei week, a Japanese festival.
The traditional paper crane is probably the most famous of all origami models. In Japanese mythology this crane is known as the “Honourable Lord Crane” and it wings carried souls up to heaven.
The Japanese name for this model is “Orizuru” which means “Folded crane.” “Ori” is the same “Ori” that you find in the word origami.
(click on the photo for a tutorial)
An ancient Japanese legend promises that if anyone folds a thousand paper cranes they will be granted a wish by the gods. In same cases you are granted happiness or good luck. In Japan the crane is said to live for 1,000 years which is why one must fold 1,000 of them. You have to keep all the cranes to get the wish though. If you fold one and give it away that one doesn’t count.
The origami crane’s popularity is largely due to a children’s book written by author Eleanor Coerr called “Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes.” The story follows a Japanese girl name Sadako who was 2 years old when the United States bombed Japan at the end of World War II. Due to the fall-out from the bombs Sadako developed leukaemia. In the hospital she spent her time folding origami cranes hoping to make 1,000 of them. According to Sadako’s family she managed to fold approximately 1,400 paper cranes. Many of these cranes have been donated to places such as the 9-11 memorial in New York City, Pearl Harbour, the Museum of Tolerance and more places as a symbol of peace.
HOW TO MAKE AN ORIGAMI CORNER BOOK MARKER
Use some colored pencils or markers or scraps of paper & glue to add or draw on your bookmark.
(Click on the photo above for a basic tutorial)
Add wings and a tail to make a dragon style
book marker --------->
Add a paper horn,
some triangle ears,
and some
paper flower shapes to make a unicorn
<----- book marker
What other character can you design?
HOW TO MAKE
AN ORIGAMI BUTTERFLY CORNER BOOK MARKER
(ADVANCED)
(click on the photo to goto a tutorial)
HOW TO MAKE AN ORIGAMI JUMPING FROG
(click on the photo to goto a tutorial)
HOW TO MAKE A MINI NOTEBOOK
If you enjoy making books out of paper, try making one of these mini books using one sheet of paper! You can practice making mini doodles in it like a sketchbook!
(click on the photo for a tutorial)
HOW TO MAKE Star Wars LIGHT SABERS
Here is a tutorial that shows how to make 5 different light sabers!
(click on the photo for a tutorial)
HOW TO MAKE A Star Wars TIE FIGHTER
(click on the photo for a tutorial)
HOW TO FOLD A Star Wars X-WING FIGHTER
(click on the photo for a tutorial)
HOW TO MAKE AN ORIGAMI DINOSAUR
(click on the photo for a tutorial)
HOW TO MAKE AN ORIGAMI DRAGON (FRENCH VERSION)
This tutorial is in French. However, she goes very slowly and carefully if you are up to the challenge!
(click on the photo for a tutorial)
HOW TO MAKE A PAPER F-15 JET
For safety reasons, we are never allowed to make these in our art room.
This jet is meant to be used and flown outdoors.
(click on the photo for a tutorial)
HOW TO MAKE AN ORIGAMI UNICORN
(click on the photo for a tutorial)
I would appreciate any donation to help keep this blog going and growing!
Or
Please contact me for an original art work commission :)