After hearing the two stories listed in this activity the students will come to admire the crane. This bird and its paper version are symbols of long life and good luck to the Japanese. The students will also get a taste of origami through the fan and flower making exercise listed.

Origami is an ancient Japanese art that has been practiced for over a thousand years and is still enjoyed today by adults and children alike. Origami involves paper folding without cutting. It was believed that by not cutting the paper the spirit of the object being made would be preserved.

• The Paper Crane by Molly Bang
• Perfect Crane by Ann Laurin
• large origami paper crane
• 8"-x-20" giftwrap for each item made
• glue
• drinking straws or pipe cleaners
• rubber bands or thread

1. Prepare a large origami crane. Directions may be found in most origami books such as Origami, Japanese Paper-Folding by Florence Sakade.
2. Over a couple of days, read the two stories, The Paper Crane by Molly Bang and Perfect Crane by Anne Laurin. While reading these two stories have the paper crane available for the students to see.
3. Discuss these stories and how they show the importance of the crane to the Japanese people.
4. Tell about the art of paper folding called origami.
5. Some students may want to make a paper crane. Tell the students they need to practice paper-folding before they can make a paper crane.
6. Other items important to the Japanese are fans and flowers. With the directions below they may learn to make both a fan and a flower. They will be exposed to the art of origami through this simple exercise in paper-folding.
   • Pleat paper accordion-style from one of the 8" wide ends.
   • For a fan, tie one end with a rubber band or thread. Open the fan.
   • For a flower, tie the center of the paper with a rubber band or thread. The open the fan into a circle. This is done by spreading half the pleats up and half down. Glue the edges together.
   • Glue a straw or pipe cleaner to the back of the flower as a stem. This may be put into a paper cup if desired by balling up some foil to "plant" the flower in and placing it into the cup.

• There are many good books on the art of origami with easy instructions and ideas for the classroom. Find some ideas and teach the students in small groups. (This would be a great activity for a parent volunteer.) If the students become adept enough, they can make their own paper cranes.