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Listen and Read: Read along with the audio recording.

One of my favorite hobbies is origami or Japanese paper folding. Origami is the art of folding paper in different ways to make beautiful objects such as a crane, box, frog, or balloon. The origin of origami dates back hundreds of years, and origami is still a popular pastime today. You can either use origami paper specifically designed for paper folding, or you can use ordinary paper. There are several keys to doing origami correctly. First, you ought to use a very flat surface to create your origami shapes to get the best results. Next, you should follow the directions carefully for making any object. Otherwise, your shape or design might not turn out the correct way. Next, be sure to make strong creases in the paper with a fingernail when folding the paper. This will help make sure that the paper folds always line up. Furthermore, use scissors to cut your paper into the desired shape before beginning. I sometimes create origami objects to give away as gifts to friends and family.

Discussion

Have you ever done origami before? If so, what shapes did you make? Would you be interested in learning how to fold various shapes?

Online Investigation

Understanding the history of origami can help you appreciate it more. Use the internet to learn more about the story of a girl named Sadako Sasaki in Hiroshima, Japan. Why did she do origami? Do people do similar activities today?