The December Sunshine Box theme is origami!
Origami is the art of folding paper. The word “origami” comes from the Japanese words oru, meaning “to fold,” and kami, meaning “paper.”
The crane, or tsuru, is one of the most well-known origami shapes. In Japan, the crane is a much-loved bird that represents peace, compassion, healing, and good luck. There is an old legend that if a person folded 1,000 cranes, they would be granted a wish!
Origami is also good for your health! Origami is exercise for your brain. The activity stimulates our brain—it requires hand-eye coordination, develops fine-motor skills, supports mental concentration, and builds memory. Doing origami can also:
- Help you feel calm and relaxed
- Engage your imagination
- Help you express yourself creatively
- Empower you by learning a new skill!
This month’s Sunshine Box contains origami paper as well as string, beads, and a small bell to create a hanging garland, mobile, or ornament. Find instructions for folding a paper crane, as well as steps for stringing it into a hanging creation, below.
Be sure to share your creations with us by tagging @actbennington or #ACTBennington!
Origami Crane Instructions
Hanging Crane Instructions
Click here for steps to string your paper crane
Additional links:
Another way to string your crane:
Books About Origami
Check these books out at the McCullough Free Library in North Bennington!
- Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes – Eleanor Coerr
- Quick Origami Animals – Nick Robinson
- Origami For the First Time – Soonboke Smith
- Easy Origami Animals – Ruth Ungert
- The Ultimate Papercraft and Origami book – Paul Jackson
- Wings & Things: Origami That Flies – Stephen Weiss
All people ages 16+ can activate a (free!) McCullough Library account without a parent’s permission. There are no residency requirements or fees. People under 16 will need a parent to activate their own account and their child’s. Library accounts can be activated online here or by stopping by the library for a paper form, or by calling the library at (802) 447-7121.