Name of In ClassActivity: Origami Flowers

Type of modality / Arts and Crafts
Type of play / Solitary
Interaction pattern / Extra-individual
# of participants required / 1 (although numerous people collaborated in class to create 1 flower)
Equipment/supplies /
  • Square Paper (does not need to be special origami paper)
  • Glue
  • String if you choose to string flowers together
  • Green pipe cleaners if you choose to make a stem
  • Scissors for cutting string

Facilities required/environment / A table or flat surface in any environment
Precautions / N/A

Task Analysis

To Make an Origami Flower:

  1. Start by folding your paper in half diagonally.
  1. Unfold the paper and fold it diagonally again along the other diagonal.
  1. Unfold the paper and fold any corner into the midline.
  1. Take the opposite corner and fold it into the midline.
  1. Take one of the folded portions and fold it into the midline again.
  1. Repeat step 5 on the other side.
  1. Flip it over and fold it in half along the horizontal line so that you still see a portion of white on either side.
  1. Fold it in half once more along the vertical line.
  1. Add glue along the inside of the fold to hold the petal together.
  1. Repeat steps 1-9 5 or 6 more times. (You can use the same color paper, or mix and match)
  1. Glue your 6 or 7 petals together and unfold it to reveal your origami flower.
  1. You may choose to make a stem for your flower or string multiple flowers together to create garland for decorating purposes.

To Make a Stem

  1. Take a green square piece of paper and fold it in half diagonally.
  1. Unfold the paper and fold any corner into the midline.
  1. Take the opposite corner and fold it into the midline.
  1. Take one of the folded portions and fold it into the midline 2 more times.
  1. Repeat step 16 on the other side.
  1. Fold it in half along the crease.
  1. Stick it into your flower.

Activity Analysis

Category / Skills
Primary body position / Sitting
Part of the body required / Upper Extremities (hands and arms)
Movement / Grasping: Radial-Digital, Manipulation,Picking Up/Putting Down Sheets of Paper, Glue Stick or Bottle, Turning or Twisting Hands (to make folds or to untwist/remove glue cap)
Physical / Balance: Dynamic Sitting, Bilateral Integration, Fine Muscle Coordination, Visual-Motor Integration (if watching instruction video)
Cognitive / Sustaining Attention, Simple Decision Making (to select colors you would like to use), Initiation, Reading (if reading instructions)
Calculation (possible) if counting how many petals to make, or how many you need to complete a large flower,Recognition of shape /form- knowing how to make the shape of a flower
Social / N/A
Perception / Tactile Function (to feel the paper), Visual Function (to see what you are doing and to watch or read instructions)
Communication/language / Reception to Spoken or of Written Language (depending on if you are watching the video or reading a paper for directions)
Self-care / N/A
Psychological/emotional (possible) / Joy (of creating a flower), Frustration (folding incorrectly when first learning or using glue that does not hold the petals together)

SIMPLIFYING AND COMPLICATING THIS ACTIVITY:

Ways to SIMPLIFY demands / Ways to make more COMPLEX
Cognitively / Provide several forms of instruction to the individual (print-out, video, and 1:1 instruction).
Have someone work next to the individual to help them remember each step. / Provide the individual with instructions once and have them complete the rest of the flower from memory.
Physically / If the individual is watching a video for instruction, pause the video after each step so the individual can take their time folding their petal at their own pace. / Have the individual stand up while creating the flower.
Set a timer and have the individual complete the flower in a set amount of time.
Socially / Since this is a solitary activity, there is no social interaction. / Complete this activity in a group setting by having several individuals make petals to create 1 group flower.
Have individuals teach each other how to create the petals.
Have individuals engage in conversation and learn 3 new things about each other.

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