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What is origami? |
by Mya Kagan (whyzz writer) >> more about the author
Origami refers to a neat type of art made by special ways of folding paper! Origami is mostly known as being Japanese, although other cultures have also been known for paper folding, and it’s possible that it existed in other places before Japan. The name we use for it today, “origami,” comes from the Japanese words ori or oru (to fold) and kami (paper).
One of the coolest things about origami art is that you can make beautiful structures with just folds of paper! Animals, masks, fortune-tellers, shapes like stars, and even hats can all be made by origami! (One of the most well-known origami shapes is a crane.) While some origami sculptures are complex, many are very simple and can be done in just a few minutes!
Now that you know a bit about what origami is and where it comes from, it’s time to make some of your own!
Have a grown-up help you find some origami instructions in a book from the library or online. Then, get some paper and start folding! Don’t forget to add decorations to some of your origami, like faces on animals or insects. Try making at least three or four different shapes!
