I am in the process of updating a reading and activity list I share at literacy workshops and professional development opportunities.  I thought it might be helpful to share as I go.  I have really enjoyed sharing on instagram and seeing how many resonate with the books and want to "have a go" with the origami.


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READING LIST AND ACTIVITIES FOR ORIGAMI AS A COMPANION TO       STORYTELLING, PICTURE BOOKS AND CREATIVE WRITING

The hands lead the way to learning.    – Aristotle

Story :   The Blessing Cup by Patricia Polacco

Model:  Traditional paper cup

Activities:

Allow each child to make a paper cup, pour water in each one and drink. (Note: for children younger than 6 years old, provide prefolded models that the children can decorate with crayons, markers, stickers etc.

Make paper cups of different sizes and colors.

Talk about the differences. 

Ask, “ Do you have a favorite one or do you like them all the same?

Tell me more about that.”

The cup is a simple model with great return of engagement and student centered and student generated activities.  These include counting, sorting, colors, patterns, numbers, etc.

I would love to hear and see of your experiences with this idea.

You can find the diagrams, my fold-and-tell, and detailed activities for the paper cup in my Teachers Pay Teachers Store.  Just click on the shopping cart.

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Mary Chloe Schoolcraft Saunders

Student engagement is a hot topic now and ever important.  Not only is this automatic with origami because of the nature of origami, but it is also paper engineering...a facet of STEM! Math, science, vocabulary, art are also present automatically.
I have made some periscopes (@schoolsaunders ) you can get to with Twitter.
  https://katch.me/Schoolsaunders/v/6cd4dded-d57e-3cb1-9ebc-38933688b978
 Just copy and paste above link in the search bar.
I have a few little (rough cut) origami lessons.  You will find a few variations using this model.  It can also be a CONTAINER and PICTURE FRAME and/or MESSAGE HOLDER. I am learning to do periscope and have been encouraged by Jen Jones of Hello Literacy to "come as I am...natural and authentic" and be #redbarbrave.  You will definitely see the unpolished, but CONTENT rich version.

I am showing you this particular model because it is ALREADY in the school culture and has been for many, many, many (you get the gist) years.  I was taught by another student when I was in 3rd grade (long, long ago and far, far away).  So heads up 3rd grade teachers.  These seem to appear out of nowhere in the Spring so get ready.  How many have you already "relocated" in previous years of teaching?  I would really like to know as this is an ongoing research topic for me.  This is a great opportunity handed to you (literally) by your students.  It is engaging, student-centered and student-generated.
Have your students come up with suggestions about turning them into a lesson.

Here is a suggestion that I share in my periscope link above:

Turn the fortune teller upside down and you have a container.
Ask students,"What can this hold?" (paperclips, erasers, candy etc)  This is actually an ancient and traditional origami model called the "salt cellar".  It has been used to hold salt.  Oh here is an opportunity for some research with a potential "Genius Hour" project.  

Pop over to my "scope" to see how to transform this same model into a picture frame and/or message holder.  

Please keep in touch and share your experience this. As I said this opportunity is literally handed to you by your students.  

P.S.  Thank you for your compassion in regard to my "rough cuts" with periscope and my blogs.  I am still learning.

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Mary Chloe Schoolcraft Saunders

Hello dear teachers,
I still have class sets available. Purchase the yellow cover copy of "Spread Your Wings and Fly". Then all you need to do is contact me and share how you shared it on social media.
Let me know how many are in your class.  All you need to pay is shipping and handling.  We'll discuss the particulars when you contact me. You will then receive copies of the award winning (Writers Digest) first edition purple copies.

Teachers have used this book in their art centers and made available in their classroom libraries.

Another teacher shared that she uses it for #growthmindset and to teach figurative language.

Although this is a picture book, it is for ALL AGES: children and adults.

Whether or not you choose to fold the flapping bird model, you will be inspired by the fold and tell story.

Before I even thought this would be a book, I did a storytelling/fold and tell presentation of "Spread Your Wings and Fly" to a group of senior citizens.  After my presentation, a woman came up to me and said, " What you did with the paper was nice, but I REALLY LIKED that story".  That is when I knew that this would be a story that could fly on it's own.

                                                                             Creatively yours,
                                                                                            Mary

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Mary Chloe Schoolcraft Saunders

#wings16  Will you help me relaunch this book?

I would appreciate your sharing it out on any and all social media.
                                  THANK YOU!
Did you know I am also on Twitter @schoolsaunders 

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Mary Chloe Schoolcraft Saunders

Hello. I am making this offer while supplies last. Purchase "yellow cover" of "Spread Your Wings and Fly" from your favorite bookstore, Amazon...wherever you buy books. Tweet a photo of it in your classroom and on any other social media. Then for just the cost of shipping ($20) you will receive 36 signed copies of first edition, award winning (Writer's Digest Self Publishing) "purple cover" "Spread Your Wings and Fly". I look forward to hearing from you.

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Mary Chloe Schoolcraft Saunders