Maker Projects for Kids Who Love Paper Engineering
TIME TO How do simple sheets of paper transform into three dimensional 3 D objects Makers get their hands on them With a little creativity there are almost no limits to what you can do with paper Form it into a new shape by folding rolling or layering it Carve a stack of paper into a one of a kind sculpture Design parts that pop up or move in other cool ways Keep reading to explore innovations or new ideas in paper engineering and art Get inspired and try it for yourself YOU CAN DO IT Do you like to think outside of the box and experiment with the world around you These skills are core to being a maker Makers use their imaginations to find new ways of doing things They take the lead in developing ideas Original thinking pushes them to try things no one has considered before Makers take risks and learn from their failures They carry on until they discover solutions to problems Put these skills together when you work with paper and you are on your way to making something amazing In Have you ever read a pop up book These books are fun examples of paper engineering P SPECTACLES YOU FOR
MAKER MOVEMENT Paper engineering is a great activity for people who love art technology and math The maker movement also includes many other areas of interest The movement includes everything from woodworking to games and fashion design Makers often look for ways to connect different fields They might mix paper engineering with graphic design for example Maybe you will combine your own paper projects with animation making stop motion movies photography or other subjects Join other makers by always keeping your mind open to new possibilities MAKE TOGETHER Getting hands on experience is essential for makers Makerspaces allow makers to meet and collaborate As makers work together they communicate ideas and learn from one another They share their dreams and their expertise They may also share resources such as materials and tools Check with your local library or community center to see if they run a makerspace You could also ask a teacher about starting one at your school Another option is to try new ideas at home with friends and create your very own makerspace One way to make your own 3 D paper designs more interesting is to use contrasting papers colors and
HISTORY Chinese inventors created paper more than 2 000 years ago They spread a pulp made of mashed hemp plants and water over a woven cloth The pulp dried and became a sheet of rough paper Papermaking continued to develop in China over centuries In the 4th century papermaking spread across Asia Each region experimented with its own materials and methods When paper reached Europe in the 10th century it was rare and valuable Paper became widespread after Johannes Gutenberg created the printing press around 1440 EARLY PAPER ART Have you ever seen an origami crane This kind of paper folding goes back to the 6th century in Japan Origami started appearing soon after paper arrived in Japan Paper was expensive People saved it to make origami for important events such as weddings Older Chinese paper folding may have inspired origami It is difficult to know for sure since most ancient paper has broken down into pieces over time Another ancient art form from China is paper cutting People cut intricate designs from paper to create an image It is still a traditional part of Chinese culture Origami such as this crane begins with a flat square sheet of colored paper A series of folds creates the 3 D
EUROPEAN PAPER ENGINEERING Paper engineering began appearing in Europe with handmade volvelles in the 1200s Volvelles are two or more paper wheels that users turn to combine different sets of data They had various uses including making calculations and tracking the Moon as it seemed to grow and shrink Tabs flaps and pop ups were other early movable parts They were usually found in instruction books Paper engineering for entertainment came later Pop up books for children were not made until the 1800s Tunnel books also became popular around that time Tunnel books featured layered cutout designs Accordion folded paper sides held each sheet apart Viewed from the front they created a scene that appeared to be 3 D This modern tunnel book has the traditional accordion folded sides More complex tunnel books have many layers a Be a Maker Early examples of paper engineering had clear functions or purposes For example some medical books used moving parts to reveal the insides of the human body Their makers educated people by using innovative designs How does an object s function affect its form or
