The land of origami

WHAT DO WE NEED TO CREATE OUR ORIGAMI (Small tips for young origamists • 1) 22

1

Paper sheet

3

Pencil

25

4

Glue stick

Colours 6

Rounded tip scissors

Ruler

2

7

Pen with no refill

THE MOST IMPORTANT SYMBOLS WE WILL FIND (Small tips for young origamists • 2) 22

1

Valley fold

3

Fold and unfold

25

4

Rotate

Turn over

6

Zigzag fold

Take the corner of the sheet to this point

HOW TO USE THE BOOK IN A FUN, DIDACTIC AND CREATIVE WAY...

(Small tips for parents and teachers) 1. Encourage the autonomy of young origamists!

If there are difficulties, do not make the fold for the child. Before doing it, try to explain how to make the fold with words. Then, in front of the eyes of the child, use another sheet of paper to make the fold and do it together afterwards (each one using his/her sheet of paper). If needed, guide the hands of the child so that he/she keeps touching the paper.

2. No need for perfection!

Do always encourage child’s dedication, patience and abilities. Origami is a process.

The more constancy and dedication you have, the more you improve. Consequently, it is important for the child to be able to handle frustration when looking at a model that hasn’t resulted as expected.

3. Find the purpose of the origami before making it!

As a result, each origami will assume a special meaning since the beginning! For example, the elephant will be a present for a friend, or it will find a space in the animals showcase or in a bigger setting, such as the zoo to play with after having created the model.

4. Encourage creativity!

Let the child experience and do not scold him/her, even if you don’t agree on the result or you aren’t completely satisfied with it.

5. Folding in group is more fun!

Share the origami experience with family, friends or in class.

…AND HAVE FUN FINDING OUT THE MEANING OF THE ENCODED MESSAGES ON THE ORIGAMI SHEETS INCLUDED IN THE BOOK! WHAT FAMOUS EPISODES OF THE CONQUEST OF SPACE AND WHAT CELESTIAL BODIES DO THEY REFER TO?

LUCA CONGIA

Psychologist, specialised in Psychopathology of Learning Disabilities, he has gained experience with children and teenagers with specific learning disorders, attention deficit and/or hyperactivity disorder, intellectual disability and social difficulties. He has a passion for origami, comics, experimental music and creative activities for children.

HI!

ASTROCATERINA Chapter 8

CHAPTER 8 - ASTROCATERINA

Description The interplanetary voyage of our protagonists is presented with a series of space related origami.

With regard to technique, this chapter deals with the topological concepts of interior and exterior. Apparently, the subdivision of planes in the sheet of paper (that is the two faces) can be considered rigid and immutable. On the contrary, the properties of the sheet of paper allow to modify this subdivision of planes, up to make it difficult to differentiate the internal face from the external face of the origami created, as shown in the activities.

The chapter also introduces the possibility to «pocket» (that is to merge or dovetail) two elements of the origami. Finally, you will practice the folding techniques learned so far: folding the sides, making adjacent inside folds and 90° folds.

Objectives

The activity promotes spatial reasoning related to the topological concepts of interior and exterior of geometric objects; the consequences of plane deformation in the distinction between interior and exterior; the flexibility of the concept of plane (or face) of the sheet.

Moreover, it promotes the comprehension and use of origami’s «pockets» and encourages the generalisation and application of the techniques previously learned: folding the sides, making adjacent inside folds and 90° folds.

Notes to prepare and carry out the activity

• To create the «Moebius strip», use a long paper strip you can obtain from an A3 sheet (size 29,7 cm x 42 cm) or from two A4 sheets pasted together. According to the child’s ability to create the Moebius strip, progressively reduce the sheet size.

• Keep at hand pencils and markers to decorate the origami created and test the properties of the Moebius strip.

Small tips for parents and teachers

To verify the topological properties of the rings, colour the inside and the outside of the rings with two different colours: the child will be able to observe how in the ring of Pierpaolo’s route the interior and the exterior are separated, whereas in the «Moebius strip» the two colours meet. Besides the use of colours, the child can simply use his/her own finger, sliding it along the ring from a starting point drawn on the outside of the ring to an arrival point drawn on the inside. In doing so, the child will be able to verify if the interior and the exterior of the ring are joined.

Analyse with the child the characteristics of the «Moebius strip». A ring-shaped paper strip usually has two faces and two boundaries (as in the «wrong» Pierpaolo’s route, for example). Check with the child how the «Moebius strip» not only has one face instead, but also one boundary: the child will be able to understand it by drawing a line on the boundary with a marker and verifying that he/she will return to the starting point only after having marked the boundary of the «Moebius strip» entirely.

After creating the «Moebius strip» you can talk with the child about what can be considered interior and exterior and the possibility of defining the limits between interior and exterior, establishing where they start and where they end.

The «Moebius strip» can be used for many others in-depth analysis. For example, you can encourage the child to imagine and draw a town whose only road is represented by a «Moebius strip». Here is another narrative framework you can propose to create the «Moebius strip»: «A little girl should take part in her team’s training sessions. She has to follow the road that goes from her house to the sports field» (the child draws the house on one face of the paper strip). «But the sports field is located on the

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ASTROCATERINA - CHAPTER 8

other face of the paper strip» (the child draws the sports field on the other face and tries to follow the road/the strip with his/her finger until it ends). «How can the little girl take part in training sessions?» .

If the child can’t find the solution autonomously, show him/her how to create a «Moebius strip». Once you’ve created it, exhort the child to follow the route from the house to the sports field (with his/her finger or a colour). The two faces are now joined and it is possible to follow the entire route without interruptions.

In addition to the topological perspective, the origami of the ring can be used for other purposes, such as the creation of bracelets or, if joined together, decorative festoon chains. By creating them, the child can improve his/her skills in using origami’s «pockets».

Finally, remember to encourage the child to creatively use the origami presented in the chapter. For example, to invent new stories set in the cosmos. Imagine... what can he/she create with rocketship, planets and telescopes?

Variations

Fold the flame of the rocketship backwards again: in this way the rocketship will remain standing before the launch!

Example models

On the following pages you will find models to create: a rocketship, a telescope, Saturn, the space route and the «Moebius strip».

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CHAPTER 8 - ASTROCATERINA

ME TOO! I HAD A GREAT TIME WITH ALL THE FRIENDS WE’VE MET TODAY!

I HAVE AN IDEA!

BUT NOW IT’S A LONG WALK BACK HOME!

WE HAD A WONDERFUL DAY WITH THEM!

WE CAN USE THE SHEETS OF PAPER ERICKSON GAVE US TO CREATE A VEHICLE! DO YOU HAVE THEM?

GOOD!

YES, HERE YOU GO!

LET’S STICK THEM TOGETHER TO MAKE A HUGE SHEET OF PAPER!

ROCKETSHIP 1

22

3

Fold the external corners into the centre and then unfold. .

4

Fold the first triangle only.

7

Step 6 completed.

56

25

Step 4 completed. .

28

6

Make two zigzag folds, so that the green creases touch the blue crease in the centre.

9

Done!

ASTROCATERINA - CAPITOLO 8

SO, ALL ABOARD!

WOW!

WE’LL BE HOME IN A FLASH!

A ROCKETSHIP!

ARE YOU SURE YOU CAN DRIVE IT?

WOOF!*

SURE, I INVENTED IT!

O

O

O

W

O

O

O

I JUST NEED TO PRESS THIS BUTTON AND...

O

** *!! !! * F

OH MY FOLD, CATERINA! I DIDN’T THINK IT WAS SO FAST!

NEITHER DID I, ACTUALLY! I WASN’T EVEN SURE IT WOULD HAVE FLOWN FOR MORE THAN A FEW METRES!

?

AND ARE YOU SURE WE’RE HEADING HOME?

DON’T WORRY, PIERPI! FOLD A TELESCOPE AND YOU’LL SEE IT WON’T BE LONG BEFORE WE’RE HOME!

TEN FOLDS LATER… SO… CAN YOU SEE THE LAND OF ORIGAMI ALREADY?

UH, CATERINA, DOES THE LAND OF ORIGAMI HAVE RINGS? * TRANSLATION: «DOGS LIKE ME TRUST THESE THINGS SINCE 1957!». ** TRANSLATION: «H E E E L P!».

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CHAPTER 8 - ASTROCATERINA

WILL OUR FRIENDS MAKE IT HOME? WE’LL FIND IT OUT AFTER THESE TWO MODELS!

TELESCOPE 22

1

Use an A4 sheet.

4

3

Cut the sheet in half. (Use the other half to make the rings of Saturn) 5

6

a b

rotate

Step 4 completed..

8

7

Make two little folds to help yourself find points a and b.

29

10

Make two zigzag folds.

Secure the two zigzag folds with some glue.

a b

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ASTROCATERINA - CHAPTER 8

SATURN

Let’s make the rings!

1

Use the other half of the A4 sheet and fold it down in half.

4

Fold the paper strip to create a circle.

22

3

Fold the paper in half again, this time upwards..

Create a tip.

25

6

Insert the tip in the pocket on the opposite side of the strip.

Ring completed!

Let’s make the planet!

7

28

9

10

The dots indicate some elements you can’t see because covered!

90°

Use an A4 sheet and fold it in half.

11

Make a fold, so that the dotted part is a square.

12 2

Repeat in the corner that doesn’t appear in the drawing.

13

Join the two pieces together!

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CHAPTER 8 - ASTROCATERINA

HI!

WOW! THAT’S SATURN FOR REAL! WHAT DO WE DO NOW? WE’RE A BIT OFF ROUTE, I MUST SAY! LET’S SET A NEW ROUTE AND DROP BY THE HYPERSPACE! THE HYPERSPACE? THIS ONLY HAPPENS IN THE MOVIES OR IN SCIENCE FICTION BOOKS!

ANYWAY, TO SET A NEW ROUTE WE JUST NEED TO USE A RING-SHAPED STRIP...

THEN WE JOIN THE RING AND INSERT IT IN THE ROCKET’S COMPUTER… 3

60

WELL, THIS IS PRECISELY A BOOK!

IT MAKES PERFECT SENSE! WHERE WE DRAW THE STARTING POINT (THAT IS SATURN)…

1

…AND THE ARRIVAL POINT 2

…THAT WILL CALCULATE A NEW ROUTE! IS THAT CLEAR? 4

YES! GIVE ME THE STRIP, CATERINA, AND I’LL PREPARE THE NEW ROUTE!

ASTROCATERINA - CAPITOLO 8

SO…

PIERPI’S ROUTE 22

1

Draw the starting point.

HERE IS THE NEW ROUTE!

WOF!*

3

Turn the strip over and draw the arrival point.

UH, PIERPI… I THINK WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS ROUTE!

Finally, join the strip.

OH MY FOLD! I MADE A MISTAKE

BY TURNING THE STRIP OVER IN STEP 2!

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS PAPYRUS SAYING?

EH?

DON’T PANIC! BUT NOW WE NEED AN IDEA TO CHANGE THIS ROUTE!!

MAYBE HE’S SUGGESTING A DIFFERENT WAY TO FOLD THE STRIP!

MOEBIUS STRIP 22

1

Take the strip apart.

Rotate the tip...

4

Create the ring again.

* TRANSLATION:

3

…in this way!

25

6

Good! Now the interior and the exterior of the strip are joined!

ute is set!

The new ro

«I’M FLOATING ON AIR!».

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CHAPTER 8 - ASTROCATERINA

Saturn

Jupiter

WE MADE IT!

Mars

LAND OF ORIGAMI, WE’RE COMING!

Moon

HURRAY!!

Land of Origami Earth

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