Origami: Where Math Goes 3-D
Origami master Michael LaFosse worked with third, fourth and fifth graders at Newman Elementary School, teaching not only origami, but connecting the craft to the math and geometry concepts on which origami are based.
LaFosse challenged the students in each class with geometric
questions and terms for the various shapes he was folding. During fifth
grade workshops, he gave directional folds in relation to negative and
positive numbers located along the X and Y axes.
Teachers said …
"The students were readily able to connect origami
to math concepts previously learned.”
"Seeing things visually and in 3-D helped a lot!”
Another teacher commented, “Even some of my students who aren’t usually
into music and dance loved it!”
Students said …
“It felt good to accomplish something hard.”
“It felt kind of cool to make origami because I always look
at those creations and just shake my head in wonder. Once you can do it, it’s
simple.”