Origami Flowers

Sterling loves the little bit of origami that we've done. I think he could manage this!

Your child can cut and fold her way to lots of lovely spring tulips through the art of origami! Spring is all about fresh flowers, and tulips are one of the first bulbs to pop. With some simple Origami folding techniques, your child can create a vase full of these colorful paper flowers.

What You Need:

• Colorful lightweight paper – such as colored typing paper
• Green pipe cleaner
• Scissors
• Ruler

What You Do:

1. Start by helping your child measure and cut a 4" x 4" square paper. Not only is she honing her cutting skills, but encouraging her measuring abilities, too!
2. Now she can fold the paper diagonally in half, turning her square into a long-edged triangle, with the fold facing toward her.
3. To create the petals of her tulip, she can carefully fold the right edged corner up and to the right of the center point.
4. Now she can do the same to the other side of her triangle, also finishing just to the left of the center point.
5. Next, invite your child to flip her flower over and fold over the side edges of the flower, creating a finished tulip! She can gently open the flower by pressing her finger into the center of the flower.
6. To attach her stem, she can use the scissors to snip the bottom of the tulip and then carefully thread the hole with a green pip cleaner, bending the end so it stays in place.

Did you know: it’s thought that origami originated as early as 105 AD in Asian culture and would accompany a valued gift. The small folded papers represented good fortune, sincerity, or purity!

By Sarah Lipoff found here on education.com

Sarah Lipoff has a K-12 Art Education degree and enjoys working with kids of all ages.