District News

Fourth grade students at Bedwell Elementary School have been working on a volunteer project called Origami for Others where they create origami with inspirational messages for people in the community. Students' origami projects are donated to local organizations with the intention of spreading joy to others with every folded project. 

In the fall, students learned polyhedral origami (origami with multiple folded units that are put together like a puzzle) through their enrichment unit that focused on the mathematics of origami. Geometry lessons included parallel and perpendicular lines, types of angles and transformations of shapes as students fold. They also developed their understanding of fractional parts and symmetry since origami helps blend these more challenging concepts into a fun hands-on activity. Over time the children created a hexahedron, transforming pinwheel, and truncated tetrahedron. Each project took multiple classes and through their careful folds, students built a growth mindset and strengthened their patience and focus through the repetitive nature of the steps. 

Enrichment teacher Melissa Leonard introduced Origami for Others at the beginning of December, however it was an idea she has brought to life each year since 2018. She and her students discuss empathy, and the impact and joy this project brings to others. These concepts were revisited each class as students were offered the opportunity to come in for recess once a week to fold for Origami for Others if they were interested.

“I think Origami for Others is fun because you get to make origami for other people, and I think about their reactions when they see the origami and thoughtful notes. I think their reaction would be really happy and excited! It makes me feel really great that I’ve made over 100 origami projects to bring other people joy,” shared BES student Lana Jebara.

The project concluded at the end of January and hundreds of origami creations and messages have been donated to the Matheny School, Holly Manor Nursing Home, The Residence Assisted Living and Nursing Home, Meals on Wheels of Morristown, and Heartworks (who will distribute the origami to local veterans).

“Through Origami for Others, students build empathy and discover that their creativity and hard work can serve a greater purpose. It’s been wonderful to see students so enthusiastic about contributing to this project by folding origami, adding uplifting messages and helping organize the donations,” said Leonard. “This project also reinforces ‘The Power of Yet’ and a growth mindset, which are ongoing themes in our Bedwell Enrichment classes. Students are reminded that if they make a mistake or find an origami fold challenging they can improve with continued perseverance and effort.”