How to use origami as an educational tool?

Teaching origami in classroom is very easy. Origami requires absolutely no equipment other than one small sheet of paper. It is both safe and manageable and can be enjoyed by anyone. I usually cut different size of poster paper in square shape and use it to teach different origami projects to kids in Nursery class.


Using origami as an educational tool:

The German pedagogue and the founder of kindergartent, Friedrich Froebel (1782 – 1852) , was the first to introduce Origami into formal education.. Froebel recognized the value of children learning through play and exploration. He considered the manipulation of the paper as a mean for children to discover for themselves the principles of math and geometry. Piaget, the renowned child development psychologist held that “motor activity int the form of skilled movement is vital to the development of intuitive thoughts and the mental representation of the brain”.
“When the paper folds the mind unfolds”

Origami is an activity that requires both hands and activates the whole brain. According to a research done on the brain by Dr. Katerin Shumakov and Yuri Shumakov, when both hands are engaged, impellent motor impulses activate the language portion of the brain.

Benefits of using origami as an educational tool:                      
1. The origami training stimulating high motor activity with simultaneous use of the right and left hands will render different influences on the activity of the brain's hemispheres of children from different sex-age groups.
2. The motor skills of both hands and their asymmetry will change during dynamics of training with respect to the real cerebral lateralization type of children.
3. The asymmetrical bimanual activity during origami training influences the individual - psychological features of children of different sexual-age groups. The prevalence of the left hemisphere is reflected in verbal abilities (speed of verbal thinking), and prevalence right hemisphere is reflected on nonverbal abilities (nonverbal intelligence, spatial imagination).
4. The asymmetrical bimanual activity during origami training will affect the creativity of children of different age groups and will stimulate development of creativeness.

Scientific proof how origami helps to develop skills: Ph.D. thesis by Katrin and Yuri Shumakov (Left Brain and Right Brain at Origami Training)

Useful links and Related posts:

* Origami in Education and Therapy

* The Educational Benefits of Origami

Prophet stories for kids- Prophet Adam (alayhis salam)

While telling stories of prophets to kids, your language should be very easy and as you cannot show them illustrations. I read "Goodwordbooks" as reference and sometimes shows the pictures to the kids. These books are very colorful and stories are written in easy language.
Still I edit the details and try to use easier language for my nursery class. This series of  "Prophet stories" is written as a reference for parents or teachers who want to teach these stories to the kids.


Prophet Adam (alayhis salam):
Adam (alayhis salam) was the first man created by Allah. He was created to live on earth. However, Iblis did not like this. Although Iblis was made of fire, he lived with the angels. He thought he was better than Adam, so he became Adams enemy and decided to make Adam (alayhis salam) disobey Allah.

Adam (alayhis salam) and his wife used to live in paradise, where they were put by Allah. Paradise was the most beautiful place you can imagine. It was neither hot nor cold. Adam (alayhis salam) and his wife were never hungry or thirsty. This was another thing which Iblis did not like. So Iblis came to Adam (alayhis salam) and his wife and told them to eat from a certain tree. Now, Adam (alayhis salam) and his wife knew very well that Allah had told them they must not even go near that tree. So they did not listen to Iblis, but Iblis kept on and on at them. He tempted them by saying that they could live for ever if they ate from that tree and would become like angels. At last, worn down by the nagging of Iblis, Adam (alayhis salam) and his wife gave in. They came to believe what Iblis was telling them, and they ate from the tree, against Allahs command. But they soon came to regret very much their disobedience and their weakness in listening to Iblis.
 Adam and his wife were very sad and asked Allah for His forgiveness. Allah forgave them, for He is very forgiving. Allah then told Adam and his wife that they must now go down to earth and live there for some time. But He promised that they would be allowed to return to paradise as long as they and their children were obedient to Him in future. Allah also told Adam (alayhis salam) that he would be Allahs first prophet. 
Many prophets would be sent to mankind, and if man listens to the prophets words, he will come into paradise when he dies. But if he does not listen, then he will go to hell and remain there with the evil Iblis. 

So, Adam (alayhis salam) and his wife cam down to earth. On earth, they raised their children, and their children in their turn raised their children. In this way succeeding generations of mankind lived on earth and Allah sent His prophets to all of them. These prophets said: Worship only Allah. Allah has created you. Allah has made for you the plants and the animals so that you can eat them. Be grateful to Allah and always do good. This is what Adam (alayhis salam), the first prophet of Allah, told his children. After him there came many other prophets, and Muhammad is the last of the Prophets.

You may add a simple moral at the end of the story like in Prophet Adam (alayhis salam) I say that 'you know why Allah sent Hazrat Adam (AS) on earth? ----because if we don't obey Allah we cannot live in Jannah. And to live in Jannah we need to obey Allah in this world. As my audience is the group of kids from age of 4 to 5 plus, I chose the words of story carefully. I hope that this series of stories are helpful for you as well. Place your comments or suggestions (if any---). 

Useful links:
* An interactive ebook 'The story of Adam(As)'

* Story of Hazrat Adam (AS)

Origami for Skill Development Among Children

Paper crafts, paper folding or origami is one of my favourite pastime and from few years I am teaching simple and basic paper folding/origami projects in my art/crafts class. As an interactive activity children enjoy following the instructions. I found that it appeals to the creative, inventive and constructive abilities of children.
Origami is the Japanese art of paper folding. It literally translates as ori (folding) gami (paper). In Japan, Children learn origami at their mothers' knees. In the West, children are learning it at school. Research has shown that paper-folding, particularly in the elementary school years, is a unique and valuable addition to the curriculum.


Origami is not only fun, but it is also a valuable method for developing vital skills. As a teacher or parent you can adopt this creative hobby for skill development among children. 
Therapists have found that origami has a modifying affect on their patients, and they often use it as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool. This post is about the benefits you get when you keep your kids busy with these art/crafts activities.



Origami for skill development: It can be adopted by educators, teachers, Psychologists, Physicians, Parents for educational, developmental, and therapeutic aspects. Origami is good for any age: from kids, those who start learning all by themselves, to persons of mature years who don't stop developing their own individuality. Schools have begun to realize the educational value of origami.  
It is a great hands-on activity and a wonderful resource that teaches students how to follow directions.

Below is a list of partial academic and cognitive skills involving Origami.

• Listening Skills, 
• Social Studies, 
• Visual Memory, 
• Reading Skills, 
• Sequential Memory, 
• Visual-Spatial Motor Skills, 
• Writing Skills, Concentration, 
• Verbal and Visual Memory, 
• Mathematics Eye-Hand Coordination, 
• Logical Reasoning, 
• Spatial Relationship, 
• Fine Motor Skills, 
• Problem Solving. 

Origami has a therapeutic effect on children. Many  have found Origami to be an inherently relaxing activity and its use as a stress reduction technique.

"Oriland.com" has mentioned 10 reasons to be involved in origami:
1. Development of fine 'motor skills' of both hands.
2. Development of intellectual abilities.
3. Development of creative abilities.
4. Activation of the Right and Left hemispheres of the brain.
5. Development of imagination.
6. Development of attention.
7. Development of memory.
8. Development of patience.
9. Emotional and aesthetic experiences.
10. Joy, satisfaction and pride in your own work!

Useful links and Related posts:
* The educational benefits of origami
* Origami in Education and Therapy
* The Educational Benefits of Origami
* Learn origami at the internet!
* 'Benefits of origami'
* Useful links and resources for paper crafts! 
* Origami - A Great Way to Train Fine Motor and Cognitive Skills

How to accelerate fine motor skill development among children?

Fine motor activities are essential to help your child develop the skills needed for good handwriting. Parents can help the kids in development of fine motor skills  by adopting activities which can engage your child for hours and while having fun.

Fine motor activities encourage the development of eye-hand coordination and help children practice the skills required to handle or manipulate small objects with their fingers. Appropriate materials for fine motor activities for infants and toddlers are those that generally match their developing skill levels and are challenging.

Fine Motor Activities to accelerate fine motor skill development:   

• Play dough is an amazing activities which kids enjoy the most and it helps in development of eye and hand co-ordination. Molding and rolling play dough into balls - using the palms of the hands facing each other and with fingers curled slightly towards the palm. Rolling play dough into tiny balls (peas) using only the finger tips. 
• Using pegs or toothpicks to make designs in play dough. 
• Cutting play dough with a plastic knife or with a pizza wheel by holding the implement in a diagonal valor grasp. 
• Tearing newspaper into strips and then crumpling them into balls. 
• Use to stuff scarecrow or other art creation. Scrunching up 1 sheet of newspaper in one hand. This is a super strength builder. 
• Using a plant sprayer to spray plants, (indoors, outdoors) to spray snow (mix food coloring with water so that the snow can be painted), or melt "monsters". (Draw monster pictures with markers and the colors will run when sprayed.) 
• Picking up objects using large tweezers such as those found in the "Bedbugs" game. This can be adapted by picking up Cheerios, small cubes, small marshmallows, pennies, etc., in counting games. 
• Shaking dice by cupping the hands together, forming an empty air space between the palms. 
• Lacing and sewing activities such as stringing beads, Cheerios, macaroni, etc. 
• Using eye droppers to "pick up" colored water for color mixing or to make artistic designs on paper. 
• Rolling small balls out of tissue paper, then gluing the balls onto construction paper to form pictures or designs. 
• Turning over cards, coins, checkers, or buttons, without bringing them to the edge of the table. 
• Making pictures using stickers or self-sticking paper reinforcements. 
• Playing games with the "puppet fingers" -the thumb, index, and middle fingers. At circle time have each child's puppet fingers tell about what happened over the weekend, or use them in songs and finger plays.

More activities to accelerate fine motor skill development:

Most fine motor activities require children to move their hands and fingers in unfamiliar ways. The best starting place for accelerating your child’s fine motor development is to help him strengthen his pincer grip.

Consider investing in some low-cost beads of different sizes, where the largest is approximately 1 inch in diameter and the smallest bead is approximately 1/4 inch in diameter. Using a rigid cord (a pipe cleaner works well), have your child use his thumb and pointer finger to pick up a large bead and thread it on the cord. As your child gains comfort with this activity, gradually introduce smaller and smaller beads which are more challenging to hold and manipulate. 

After your child is able to easily thread the smallest beads on the rigid cord, replace the rigid cord with a floppy shoe lace or string. This floppy lace will provide your child with a “moving target” as he tries to thread the bead with his dominant hand and steady the cord with his non-dominant hand.

For older children who are already comfortable with the proper pincer grip, focus on helping your child gain a strong pencil and scissors grip. As a starting point, print some printable tracing worksheets and direct your child to trace over the lines, curves and shapes. Or, to make homemade worksheets, use a yellow marker to draw the shape and then have your child trace your lines with a blue or red marker to see the shape magically turn a different color. Tracing not only requires a strong pencil grip to hold the pencil or marker, but it also requires strong coordination of the muscles in the hand to stay on the narrow line while tracing.

After your child finishes tracing, have him use scissors to cut out the shape. Begin with simple lines and curves and then move to basic shapes, such as circles or ovals, and then to more difficult shapes such as triangles, squares, and other multi-sided shapes.

Related: www.schoolsparks.com


Useful links:

* Supporting Young Children's Motor Skill Development.

 * Activities to promote fine motor skills

* Why Proper Development of fine motor Skills is Important?

* Fine Motor Skills for Infants, Toddlers, and Children

Skill development - Importance of the Proper Scissors Grip

Like the proper pencil grip, the proper scissors grip must be actively taught to children from early years.
Cutting with scissors in properly is an important activity for helping to develop precision hand skills. In order to use scissors correctly, children need sufficient finger and hand strength and stability, sufficient development of the hand arches, hand – eye coordination, bilateral integration skills (using both hands together) and the ability to cross midline. All the same skills contribute to the development of handwriting.

Learning to use scissors properly and acquiring the skill helps to develop the necessary tools for handwriting. The three fingers of the hand controlling the scissors are the ones that are needed to grip a writing tool. The act of opening and closing the scissors helps with hand arch and web space development. The web space is the area formed when the thumb tip and index finger tip touch to form the okay sign. A closed web space can indicate potential writing problems. When children can cut across a straight line, cut out a complex shape and manipulate both the paper and scissors in a controlled manner, they will have achieved precision fine motor skills and good dexterity. Handwriting should evolve nicely as a result.



When scissors are held correctly, and when they fit a child's hand well, cutting activities will exercise the very same muscles which are needed to manipulate a pencil in a mature tripod grasp. 
The correct scissor position is with the thumb and middle finger in the handles of the scissors, the index finger on the outside of the handle to stabilize, with fingers four and five curled into the palm.



Importance of the Proper Scissors Grip

Most children explore with their hands outstretched and their palms facing downward. Or, as they get older, they default to holding small items with their thumb and pointer finger (the pincer grip!).

The proper scissors grip requires a child to rotate his hand so that the thumb faces upward and the pinky finger points at the floor. Then he must spread his thumb and pointer finger as far apart as possible while using his palm to help stabilize the scissors. As if the proper scissors grip wasn’t complicated enough, your child must also rely on his non-dominant hand to stabilize the paper while his dominant hand uses the scissors.
When first learning to use the scissors, the non-dominant hand will simply hold the paper in a stable position as the dominant hand moves the scissors forward. But, as your child begins cutting more complex designs, his non-dominant hand will be responsible for twisting and turning the paper as the dominant hand operates the scissors.

Teaching Your Child the Proper Scissors Grip
Due to the complexity of the correct scissors grip, it is common for young children to hold and try to use scissors incorrectly.
While cutting, your child will also need to learn how to use his non-dominant hand to hold the paper. Initially the non-dominant hand will just need to hold the paper still as the dominant hand moves the scissors forward in a straight line. Eventually, though, the non-dominant hand will need to move and turn the paper as the dominant hand opens and closes the scissor blades.
Most children become interested in using scissors around age two and a half or three.
Allow your child to practice holding the scissors without trying to cut paper. Since learning to simply hold the scissors correctly is a challenging task, let your child pick up and put down the scissors as many times as he wants before you actually begin teaching him how to use the scissors.        

Direct your child to spread his index finger and thumb as widely as possibly, explaining how this motion makes the blades of the scissors open really widely. Then encourage him to close the scissors in one smooth motion. This will help him to make long, smooth (efficient) cuts rather than short, choppy (inefficient) cuts.
Stay close by and provide constant feedback and guidance until the proper grip is automatic for your child.

Ask your child to shake your hand. When shaking your hand, your child will naturally rotate his hand so that his thumb goes top and his fingers extend below (pinky finger is closest to the floor). After shaking hands a few times, have your child reach out to shake your hand one last time. This time, pick up a pair of scissors by the closed metal teeth and place the end of the scissors with the finger holes into his outstretched palm. Help him put his thumb in the large circular loop on top and one or two fingers in the larger loop on the bottom.
.
Scissor Activities

• Cutting junk mail, particularly the kind of paper used in magazine subscription cards.
• Making fringe on the edge of a piece of construction paper.
• Cutting play dough with scissors. 
• Cutting straws or shredded paper 

Related: www.schoolsparks.com

  Useful links:

* 'Scissor skills and handwriting development

* Cutting Skills Printables

Prophet Stories - Prophet Younus (PBUH) and the Whale

The story of prophet Younus (pbuh) and the whale is a favorite story among children. This story of Prophet Jonah(Younus) is a parable of mercy. In our Islam curriculum for nursery class there are few prophet stories which I tell to kids. Selecting easy language is helpful in narration of stories.
In the Noble Qur'an, in chapter 28 by the name of Al-Qasas (Narratives / Stories), which itself is proof that man is in need of narratives and stories. So it is clear that kids need to listen the stories. Best option for story telling may be choice of prophet stories as there is a lot of learn from it.

In many places in the same Noble Qur'an, stories of Prophets, kings and nations have been mentioned. Prophet Younus, a great Prophet sent to the people of Nineveh (which was a city where the modern-day Iraqi city of Mosul is). Prophet Prophet Yunus/Jonah (pbuh) is also addressed by two other surnames * "Sahibil-Hot" (Companion of the Fish).


Story of Prophet Younus (PBUH) for kids:
Prophet Yunus (alayhis salam) was sent by Allah to a big town where the people had forgotten Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala)'s orders and did many things which Allah had forbidden.


"You should believe only in Allah and obey only Him", Yunus (alayhis salam) told them. "You should worship Him alone and do good, otherwise a severe punishment will come upon you!"
But Yunus (alayhis salam) soon discovered that the people did not want to listen to him. He lost patience with them and left the town in anger. Afterwards, Yunus (alayhis salam) decided to go across the sea, and boarded a ship for the voyage. But when the ship was in the middle of the ocean, Yunus (alayhis salam) suffered a great misfortune. 
He was thrown overboard and swallowed up by an enormous fish!.

Fortunately, though, the fish had swallowed Yunus (alayhis salam) in one big gulp, so he landed in its stomach unhurt. It was very dark inside the fish's stomach, and Yunus (alayhis salam) grew very fearful. In his loneliness, he started to think over what had happened in the town, and came to realize that he should not have acted so hastily and in such a quick-tempered manner. Poor Yunus (alayhis salam)was in a terrible state! He lay on the shore, weak, ill and helpless. He felt dreadfully miserable, but Allah caused a tree to grow and this tree provided Yunus (alayhis salam) with shade and nourishing fruits, alhamdulilah. Before long, Yunus (alayhis salam) had recovered his health and strength.

When he was better, Allah sent Yunus (alayhis salam) back to the town. This time, though, the people there listened to Yunus (alayhis salam) when he told them: "You should believe in Allah and worship Him alone.
You must do good."

Related: http://www.oocities.org/mutmainaa/kids/story/yunus.html

Watch YouTube story of Prophet Younus (pbuh) according to Quran Narration:

One of the distinguished feats of the Noble Qur'an is this very story of Prophet Yusuf (as), which it refers to as the 'best of the narratives', and at the end of which, it says: In these stories there is a lesson for those, who desire to take a moral and adopt the path of the Perfect Men. 

* You can find prophet stories in simple language to tell to kids at many sites like:

* 'Help for convert.net'

* 'The islamic bulletin'
* Story of Prophet Yunus/Jonah (pbuh)

Story of Prophet Jonah in Bible

Interactive way of learning doubles with origami and crafts

I love to experiment new ways to make my teaching interactive. Last week I teach them addition with doubles. Kids do the addition sums from 1-10 in different ways and doing it with doubles makes the sum solving process easier.
Thursday was our art and crafts class and my project was to teach them origami double boat. We all know that learning origami helps in development of eye and hand co-ordination. So mixing of origami with drawing and maths results in an interesting and interactive activity.

Normally the origami boat creating process is difficult to follow for my class kids (age group 4 plus) and I try to find the ways to make it easier.


How to create double boat?              

This unique dual hulled traditional boat is called 'catamaron'. If you can make origami house then you can easily make this fold. It is made by inside reverse fold. You need to learn valley and mountain-fold.

Link: 'Make traditional catamaron boat'

You can see the process of creating crafts with double boat from the pictures. First they fixed the boat at their art book. Following pictures show the cut and paste (strips of light, and deep blue color poster paper)

I asked them to add double clouds at sky. A child came up with idea of drawing a rainbow which was liked by all kids and they followed it.

My students love to work at crafts projects. I feel that they may forget the 'addition with doubles' but they won't forget making or creating 'double boat'.

I hope to share more experiences with my readers. So keep in touch and don't forget to submit your comments.

More ideas while teaching doubles:

This is simple double house fold which is easier for young kids to learn and  drawing makes this origami project more interesting.

This is also a combine work of maths and crafts. Kids loved creating this crafts and they were happy to do addition sums while doing this activity.

Finished work

Useful links:


* Learn origami for the development of creative skills

What Are the Signs of Weak Fine Motor Skills?

Fine motor skills can be defined as small muscle movements: those that occur in the finger, in coordination with the eyes. Learning fine motor skills is similar to learning other skills.

Motor skills are actions that involve the movement of muscles in the body. They are divided into two groups: gross motor skills , which include the larger movements of arms, legs, feet, or the entire body ( crawling , running, and jumping); and fine motor skills, which are smaller actions, such as grasping an object between the thumb and a finger or using the lips and tongue to taste objects. Both types of motor skills usually develop together, because many activities depend on the coordination of gross and fine motor skills.

Development of fine motor skills is important among kids because it will in turn help them to perform better academically and physically in later years. Fine motor skills involve the small muscles of the body that enable such functions as writing, grasping small objects, and fastening clothing.

Fine motor skills involve strength, fine motor control, and dexterity. Some children have great difficulty with fine motor skills. Basic things such as writing, picking up tiny objects or buttoning and zipping clothing can be a great challenge for them. If these skills are not addressed, a child with weak fine motor skills might have difficulty at school.

For some children, their hands do not seem to work together in the way that they should. This may lead to such frustration that they may resist activities that require them to coordinate all of the muscles and joints in their hands and fingers. As a result, they do not get to practise these skills correctly or develop the correct muscles. This in turn may affect the development of higher-level fine motor skills, such as writing. It is often at the stage when formal handwriting instruction has commenced that children are identified as having fine motor weakness.
Resultant commonly seen behaviours showing the signs of weak fine motor skills might include:

• Outright refusal to participate in an activity
• avoidance techniques (‘I need to get a drink of water’)
• anger outbursts (rip up paper/tantrums)
• sadness (crying)
• ‘defeatist’ behaviour (‘I’m no good, I can’t do this’).

Further, research suggests that children and adolescents with identified motor coordination weakness are at higher risk of experiencing anxiety and even depression associated with their perceived lack of competence in motor activities. Therefore, it is important for teachers and parents to be aware of the impact that fine motor skill performance, or a child’s perception of their own fine motor performance in relation to their peers, may have on the child’s overall behaviour in the classroom. Working to help children develop the best fine motor skills possible at a young age helps to set the stage for success in school and at home, and more so, contributes to them feeling good about themselves.

Signs of weak fine motor skills:
List of observable behaviors of children with fine-motor difficulties.

• Difficulty with writing; poor grasp leading to poor form, fluency, and frequent discomfort when writing.
• Difficulty controlling speed of movements leading to excessive speed and resultant untidy work, or work not being completed due to overly slow movements.
• Difficulty with precision grip and inaccurate release and therefore problems with games that involve placement of pieces; for example, dominoes.
• Difficulty with spatial relations leading to difficulties with design and copying.
• Tearing paper and/or breaking pencils due to force-control difficulties.
• Difficulty with learning to dress and undress.
• Preference for outdoor activities.
• Clumsiness and frustration: spills food; drops objects; breaks objects.
• Frustration towards and/or resistant behavior to manipulative and graphic tasks.
• Excessive muscular tension when performing fine-motor tasks.

My next post will be about activities which can help in development of fine motor skills.

Useful links:

* How to Improve a Child's Fine Motor Skills

* Fine-Motor Skill Development: Tips for Parents

* Developing Fine Motor Skills (pdf)

* Development of fine motor skills from early years

* Fine Motor Skills Games

* Children and their Fine Motor Skills Development