Tag Archives: origami

Spinning Origami Dreidel

Posted on 12/20/2014 | 1 comment

Paul Jackson's "Dreidl" made by 3 generations

Spinning “Dreidl” models

A 3-D paper dreidel that spins can attract kids who normally run the other way when they see origami on offer. It moves. Continue reading →

1 Comment

Posted in Activity, Crafts, Hanukkah

Tagged dreidel, origami

Origami Sukkah for Kids (easy tabletop toy)

Posted on 10/05/2014 | 2 comments

One piece of paper, folded. Add herbs for fragrant roof.

Kids can make a quick, mini sukkah from a single piece of construction paper. Quick doesn’t mean without context: you can teach the rules of sukkah-building (how many walls, type of roof, schach, etc.) and give an overview of the holiday while kids work. Continue reading →

2 Comments

Posted in Crafts, Sukkot

Tagged activity, Lego, origami, polymer clay, sukkah

Jonah and the Whale (origami storytelling prop)

Posted on 09/28/2014 | Comments Off

model closed

I told the story of Jonah and the Dag Gadol (a.k.a. the Whale) today using one simple origami prop: the paper boat that, with a sleight of hand, becomes a giant pair of jaws (the Whale). Jonah was a pompom, which the sailors tossed into the sea (the floor), and which was then swallowed by the whale, only to be spewed later onto Dry Land. I had SO much fun with this. Continue reading →

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Posted in Activity, Crafts, Rosh Hashanah / Yom Kippur

Tagged Jonah, origami, whale

Origami Shofar

Posted on 09/10/2014 | 1 comment

paper shofar for placecard, toy, or greeting card

Kids can make an origami shofar to play with, to set on the table as a place-card or decoration, or to glue to the front of a Rosh Hashanah greeting card. This pattern is taken directly from Florence Temko’s book Jewish Origami.

Ideally, of course, kids make a paper shofar in the presence of a real one, but if you don’t keep a ram’s horn in the china cabinet like I do, the Internet is full of Continue reading →

1 Comment

Posted in Activity, Crafts, Rosh Hashanah / Yom Kippur

Tagged origami, shofar

Index Card Origami Frogs that hop: Passover placecards, game, plague

Posted on 03/15/2013 | 7 comments

several years of old placecards

Have an index card? You have a frog. And a placecard, an afikomen clue, a keep-hands-busy-activity, a plague, and a jumping frog game. Continue reading →

7 Comments

Posted in Activity, Passover

Tagged frog, origami, seder

Jewish Origami: What Not to Make

Posted on 07/12/2012 | 5 comments

No.

You’ve heard of Jewish Origami. I’m a fan. You may have heard of Dollar Bill Origami, in which dollar bills replace traditional, square paper. I’ve made dollar models—animals, a ring, wee clothing— but there is one famous origami dollar pattern I will never make in public: the Jewish Star. Come on, a Jewish Star made out of CASH? It looks like clipart from Origami of the Elders of Zion. Continue reading →

5 Comments

Posted in Activity, Crafts

Tagged origami

Shavuot Origami for Kids: Ten Commandments (printable)

Posted on 05/29/2011 | 10 comments

Easy 10 commandments origami

This simple paper-folding craft is a fun way to prepare for and celebrate Shavuot, the holiday that commemorates the giving of the Ten Commandments, and by extension the whole Torah.

With your help, even a young child can fold and decorate the “Tablets.” The finished product can stand up on a table or lie flat as a card. Continue reading →

10 Comments

Posted in Jewish parenting, Shavuot

Tagged craft, Hebrew, origami, Shavuot, Tablets, Ten Commandments, Torah

Origami Mishloach Manot for kids (with video)

Posted on 03/13/2011 | 4 comments

origami cup + handle

Just about any origami box, bag, envelope or basket can be a Mishloach Manot container, but this one is actually easy enough that little kids can make it.

Remember the origami paper cup pattern? It’s pretty common in schools and scouts and whatnot. This is it, plus a stapled handle. (The cup can actually hold water, as long as you don’t need it to hold water for very long…) Continue reading →

4 Comments

Posted in Jewish parenting, Purim

Tagged Mishloach Manot, origami, purim

Origami Dreidels

Posted on 12/13/2010 | 4 comments

Origami Dreidel station at a Hanukkah carnival

This is a classic design, and fairly easy to teach to little kids. It comes from Florence Temko’s book Jewish Origami (still in print). Continue reading →