Introduction
This week we dive deep into paper folding, particularly Origami, and technical drawing. Among other things, you’ll learn about Multiview drawing, a type of drawing engineers use to convey essential details about projects, and how to fold tessellations and fractals.
Overview of the Week
The table below outlines the ideal schedule for the week. Scheduling is most important for the Connect and Practice activities. The other activities are more flexible and can be completed at whatever time works best for you.
| When | Program Element |
|---|---|
| Sunday, 7/11 | Engage (asynchronous) |
| Monday, 7/12, 3-6p EST | Connect Monday (essential synchronous session) |
| Tuesday, 7/13 | Practice 1 (essential asynchronous) |
| Tuesday, 7/13 | Solve (asynchronous) |
| Wednesday, 7/14, 3-6p EST | Connect Wednesday (essential synchronous session) |
| Thursday, 7/15 | Practice 2 (essential asynchronous) |
| Thursday, 7/15, 4-5p EST | Connect+ (optional synchronous session) |
| Friday, 7/16, 3-6p EST | Connect Friday (essential synchronous Session) |
| Saturday, 7/17 | Practice 3 (essential asynchronous) |
| Saturday, 7/17 | Extend (asynchronous) |
Details and instructions for each program element are provided under the corresponding heading below. For example, instructions for the Engage element are under the “Engage” heading.
Engage
Check out the following sources to begin thinking about the topics we’ll be focusing on this week. The sources are provided in a variety of formats below, choose the format that works best for you. You’ll find hard copies in your NFB EQ box.
Blind STEM Professionals Share Their Experiences (video)
Blind STEM Professionals Offer Advice to Students, Parents, and Educators (video)
The Making of a Blind Maker The Making of a Blind Maker (Word) The Making of a Blind Maker (BRF)
Dr. Geerat Vermeij: Evolutionary Biologist (video)
Blind Mathematicians? Certainly! Blind Mathematicians? Certainly! (Word) Blind Mathematicians? Certainly! (BRF)
A Passion for Research A Passion for Research (Word) A Passion for Research (BRF)
Bitten by the Space Bug Bitten by the Space Bug (Word) Bitten by the Space Bug (BRF)
Connect: Monday
Zoom Information
We’ll use two Zoom links for the next four sessions. We’ll start the session in the main Zoom room. You’ll be asked to move to the secondary Zoom room at a designated time during the session.
Main Zoom Room (Join first)
https://zoom.us/j/95960444992
+13126266799,,95960444992#
Secondary Zoom Room (Join mid-session when directed)
https://zoom.us/j/94735227373
+13126266799,,94735227373#
Materials for Monday
10-15 sheets of 8x8 origami paper (Box 1)
3-6 sheets of 12x12 origami paper (Box 1)
Sensational Blackboard (Box 2)
20-30 sheets of copy paper (Box 1)
Ball point pen (Box 2)
Drawing workbook (Box 1)
Pen (pencil pouch, general envelope, Box 2)
Straight edge (Week 1 envelope, Box 2)
Ball stylus (Week 1 envelope, Box 2)
Serrated wheel (Week 1 envelope, Box 2)
Paper cup (Box 3)
Foam cone (Box 3)
Practice 1
Paper Folding
Materials Needed
Folding a Square Tessellation Nonvisually (video)
5 Pieces of 12x12 origami paper (Box 1)
Instructions
- Using what you learned in Monday’s session and from the square tessellation video, make 5 attempts at folding an 8x8 square tessellation (aka grid). The key word in the previous sentence is “attempts.” You may make 5 attempts and not complete the 8x8 square tessellation model. That is ok!
- After you make 5 attempts, answer the following questions:
a. What did you learn from each attempt? (e.g., I learned that I have to [blank] and I can do that by [blank]. I learned that doing [blank] is problematic because [blank].)
b. Which step did you find most difficult in each attempt?
c. What strategies did you use to work through that difficult step?
d. What do you notice about the progression of your work from the 1st to 5th attempt? - Keep all 5 attempts (whether you finished the model or not) and bring them to Wednesday’s session.
Drawing
Materials Needed
Sensational BlackBoard (Box 2)
Copy paper (Box 1)
Scissors (pencil pouch, general envelope, Box 2)
Glue stick (Week 1 envelope, Box 2)
Analog writing tool
One sheet of card stock (Week 3 envelope, Box 2)
Drawing workbook (Box 1)
Instructions
- Using whatever technique works best for you, label the square tessellation you made in the Paper Folding Practice as follows. Label the columns across the top with letters A through H (column 1 = A; column 8 = H). Label each row down the left hand side with numbers 1 through 8 (row 1 = 1, row 8 = 8). Keep your labels close to the edge of the paper.
a. If you are a print reader you can use the 20/20 pen to label your grid. If you are a Braille reader you can use your slate and stylus directly on the grid or you can write the number and letter designations on a separate sheet of paper and then cut them out and glue them onto your grid. - Draw something! Use your Sensational BlackBoard, blank copy paper, and pen to draw anything that interests you. You could draw a piece of fruit or even your phone.
- This is a thought experiment. Analyze three different objects in your world from three different points of perception—the top, front side, and right side. Remember what we did in the Connect session with the cup? First, analyze the outline of your object from each different position and then note the details on that side.
- Select 1 of the 3 objects you analyzed and bring it to Wednesday’s Connect session with you.
Solve
Materials Needed
3D Crystal Puzzle (Box 1)
Instructions
Exercise your spatial thinking muscles to assemble this three-dimensional puzzle.
Connect: Wednesday
Zoom Information
We’ll start the session in the main Zoom room. You’ll be asked to move to the secondary Zoom room at a designated time during the session.
Main Zoom Room (Join first)
https://zoom.us/j/95960444992
+13126266799,,95960444992#
Secondary Zoom Room (Join mid-session when directed)
https://zoom.us/j/94735227373
+13126266799,,94735227373#
Materials for Wednesday
5 square tessellation attempts from Practice 1
1 pack of index cards (Week 2 envelope in Box 2)
Menger Sponge Example: It looks like two index cards folded around one another to form a flat square with flaps on the outside (Week 2 envelope in Box 2)
Sensational BlackBoard (Box 2)
Copy paper (Box 1)
Pen (pencil pouch, general envelope, Box 2)
Square tessellation from Practice 1
Washi tape (Week 2 envelope, Box 2)
Sheet of sticky back foam squares (Week 2 envelope, Box 2)
Snap cubes (Week 4 envelope, box 2)
Scissors (pencil pouch, general envelope, Box 2)
Glue stick (Week 1 envelope, Box 2)
Analog writing tool
One sheet of card stock (Week 3 envelope, Box 2)
Practice 2
Paper Folding
Materials Needed
48+ index cards (Week 2 envelope in Box 2)
Menger Sponge Assembly Directions (video)
Instructions
- Fold 8 cubes from 6 index cards as we did in class. (Video time stamps 00:00-6:50)
- Connect 2 cubes together using the flaps.
- What can you create from your 8 cubes? You can almost make one side of a level-1 Menger Sponge, but what else can you make?
- Optional: If you’re having fun making cubes out of index cards, make 20 cubes and assemble a level-1 Menger Sponge.
Drawing
Materials Needed
Snap cubes (Week 4 envelope, Box 2)
Your labeled square tessellation (grid)
Sheet of sticky back foam squares (Week 2 envelope, Box 2)
Instructions
Create a simple model out of the snap cubes and illustrate it.
- Use 4 snap cubes to create your model. Do not have more than 3 cubes connected in any one direction.
- Using the foam squares, illustrate your model on the three quadrants of the grid to show the top view, front, and right side view.
- Write down the grid pattern to share with another student in class. For example: Right side (A1, B1, B2, C2)
- Carefully remove your foam squares from the grid. You can fit them back on to the sheet of paper they came on if they are still sticky enough to use again.
Connect+
Drop in to get additional support from NFB EQ instructors or to hang out with your peers.
Zoom Information
https://zoom.us/j/95960444992
+13126266799,,95960444992#
Connect: Friday
Zoom Information
We’ll start the session in the main Zoom room. You’ll be asked to move to the secondary Zoom room at a designated time during the session.
Main Zoom Room (Join first)
https://zoom.us/j/95960444992
+13126266799,,95960444992#
Secondary Zoom Room (Join mid-session when directed)
https://zoom.us/j/94735227373
+13126266799,,94735227373#
Materials for Friday
Your soundmoji
8 folded index card boxes from Practice 2
Folded Masu Box Example (Week 2 envelope in Box 2)
Masu Box Instruction Board (Box 3)
5 pieces of 8x8 origami paper (Box 1)
Your labeled square tessellation (grid)
Snap cube model directions from Practice 2
Snap cubes (Week 4 envelope, Box 2)
Sheet of sticky back foam squares (Week 2 envelope, Box 2)
Sensational BlackBoard (Box 2)
Pen (pencil pouch, general envelope, Box 2)
Copy paper (Box 1)
Practice 3
Paper Folding
Materials Needed
Masu Box Text Instructions (Week 2 envelope in Box 2)
Masu Box Instruction Board (Box 3)
Means for writing down your ideas digitally or on paper
Instructions
- Develop a systematic way to use text alone (no visual or tactile pictures or models) to explain how to fold a Masu Box. You’ll need ways of describing the following:
a. The various types of folds (you could use the vocabulary we’ve learned)
b. Locations on the model
c. How to orient the model for different steps
d. What other spatial information will you need words to describe? - To kick start your idea generation, think about how we’ve communicated paper folding instructions in our sessions. Re-watch the Menger Sponge video and pay attention to the words Natalie uses to describe spatial information.
- After you have developed your text-only instructions compare them to Lindy's Masu Box Instructions. How are your instructions similar and different from this blind crafter's instructions?
Drawing
Materials Needed
Drawing workbook page 3 (Box 1)
Sensational BlackBoard (Box 2)
Copy paper (Box 1)
1 sheet of 4x4 origami paper (Box 1)
Pen (pencil pouch, general envelope, Box 2)
Ball stylus (Week 1 envelope, Box 2)
Bone folder (Week 3 envelope, Box 2)
Straight edge (Week 1 envelope, Box 2)
Chipboard templates (Week 2 envelope, Box 2)
3 Binder clips (Week 3 envelope, Box 2)
Instructions
- Draw a flat sheet of paper: I would like you to use the correct lines to draw a flat sheet of origami paper. Please find a square template to use as guide.
a. Use your Sensational BlackBoard with copy paper and position a square template on top of your paper. Use binder clips to hold it in place.
b. Use the large ball stylus to trace around the outside of the square to illustrate a raw edge. - Draw a folded sheet of paper: Next I would like you to find the rectangle template that is half the width of your first square and use that to draw a folded sheet of origami paper.
a. Position the template over your paper and drawing board and clip it into place.
b. Use the large ball stylus to illustrate the one long and two short raw edges of your illustration. Use the pen to finish this image with a thin line that represents a folded edge. - Draw mountain and valley folds:
a. Draw a square with raw edges.
b. Using your straight edge draw a straight vertical mountain fold on the left half of your square.
c. Use the straight edge to draw a Valley fold on the right half of the same square. - Draw a crease: Finish this exercise by drawing a crease diagonally from one corner to the opposite corner of any size square you would like to draw. You can use a template or free hand draw this illustration.
Extend
Materials Needed
Ocean Pop-Up Book (Week 3 envelope in Box 2)
Home-made Pop-Up Example (Week 3 envelope in Box 2)
Card stock (Week 3 envelope in Box 2)
Bone folder (Week 3 envelope, Box 2)
Scissors (pencil pouch, general envelope, box 2)
Glue stick (week 1 envelope, Box 2)
Pop-Up instructions (Word) Pop-Up instructions (Video)
Instructions
- Examine the commercially made pop-up book and the home-made pop-up example.
- Watch the Pop-Up tutorial linked above.
- Recreate the home-made pop-up example:
a. Recreate the converging angle fold (this feels like a nose) and the parallel fold (this feels like a box).
b. Cut a sheet of card stock in half to make two pieces approximately 8 inches wide and five and a half inches high.
c. Fold both pieces of paper in half and back on itself a couple of times. Use the bone folder to smooth the fold very flat.
d. Select one folded piece of paper and using your scissors cut one line part way into the middle card starting at the folded edge. Cut about half way through the card on this first try. You can adjust things later.
e. Fold the paper from the end of your cut back to the folded edge. You will create a triangle with your fold. Using the bone folder to smooth the folds, fold it back and forth several times.
f. Open the card and push the bottom of the nose so that it folds in the opposite direction of the card. You have made your first pop up!
g. Take the second folded card and cut two parallel lines from the folded edge into the middle of the card. Try to cut the lines approximately the same length. Don’t cut too close to the far edge.
h. Fold the paper between the cuts at the end of the cuts. Use the bone folder and fold back and forth.
i. Open the card and push the cut part forward. You have now made the two fundamental folds that govern all popup book mechanics. - Deconstruct the book and home-made example to figure out how they work. What strategies did the creators use to get the shapes to pop out of the book?
- What kind of pop-up shapes can you create?
- Make a book, card, or other artifact using what you’ve discovered. All the popups in the OCEAN book were made using the two folds you just practiced in different combinations. See if you can recreate one of the pages.
Other NFB EQ Instructional Web Pages
Weekly pages will become available on the preceding Friday evening.