Origami Heart Lesson Plan

While student teaching I did this lesson for my students right about Valentine's Day.

Unit: Origami Basics

Objectives: Students will be able to identify different types of origami and effectively follow directions to create an origami heart.

Standards: Students will be able to demonstrate effective use of art media and tools through an origami exercise.

Materials: Video clip (Between the Folds Trailer), PowerPoint with examples of types of origami, example of in progress origami steps, handouts of steps for each table, paper, scissors, glue, and magazines.

Duration: One class period

Anticipatory Set: Show trailer of Between the Folds

Input: Go through the PowerPoint and explain Origami and show examples.

Modeling: Show the materials, the examples on the board, and the finished product. Demonstration of the steps to be done once with students working at the same time, using the ELMO.

Check for understanding: Walk amongst the students and confirm their understanding.

Questions to ask:  Question : What applications can origami serve besides art? (Answer(s): airbags, packaging, medical stents, space telescopes/satellites) Question: How can you make your paper folding better? Answer: Make your creases really sharp. Use a ruler to make it straight, etc.  Question: What could you use these hearts for? Answer(s): Garland, wreath, put them on a card, write a note on the paper, etc. Question: What would be a nice way to display them? Answer(s): place them on a canvas.

Guided Practice:  Students will work at their tables to make two more heart models. One will be glued into their classroom sketchbooks and made from a magazine page with a warm color scheme. The other one will be made of plain white computer paper to be turned in for a daily grade.

Closure: Have students write on the same page as their origami heart “One thing you learned about origami”.

Independent Practice: If students finish early they may make more hearts for themselves.

I showed the trailer to an amazing documentary, Between the Folds. You can watch it full length on Netflix and there are some clips on YouTube. 

I then made a PowerPoint that went over the basics of Origami (its history, common techniques, and ways it is used in our world and time). 

Students seemed to really like this project and had something to give their Valentines at the end of the period.