The Organ Base in Origami: Teaching Mathematics and Creativity in the Elementary Classroom
R. Alan Russell, William DeMichele, Nicole Holland, Caroline Lanzarone, and Nettie Leepson

Proceedings of Bridges 2019: Mathematics, Art, Music, Architecture, Education, Culture
Pages 651–658
Workshop Papers

Abstract

Origami, the Japanese art of paper folding, tends to arise organically from the intersection of mathematics and art. This workshop explores the organ base in origami as both an item for creative play and a manipulative for the elementary mathematics classroom. Participants will learn to fold several origami models starting from the organ base. We will then explore the ways in which we used the model for elementary mathematics. Aside from the printable materials, workshop participants will use notions of Williams’ taxonomy of Creative Thinking as brainstorming techniques for more ways to use the model in a classroom setting.

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