Many authors have associated paper folding with the discovery of paper.  Papermaking is believed to have started about 1OO AD in China, and for some 500 years papermaking remained a secret of China.  Eventually the knowledge of papermaking and paper folding spread throughout the world. Origami is a Japanese word.  Today’s creative Origami developed from what was originally called Orikatachi (fold-shapes) or Taramikani (fold-paper).  Many famous people have been interested in origami, including Lewis Carroll, author of Alice in Wonderland.
Origami is closely linked to mathematics.  Transforming a flat piece of paper into a three dimensional crane (or other origami figure) is a unique exercise in spatial reasoning.  In addition, paper-folding allows students to create and manipulate basic geometric shapes such as squares, rectangles, and triangles.

From  NOTES ON THE HISTORY OF ORIGAMI byJohn Smith      http://www.users.waitrose.com/~pureland/history.htm

Origami Help for Beginners

Click here to learn some of the basic folds such as The Valley fold, The Peak (Mountain) fold, Push here, and Unfold.
 
 

Click here to go to    This contains Origami Basics, and diagrams to construct Origami animals, dinosaurs, plants, etc.
 

Rose

Dr. O'Hanlon's Origami Page  has diagrams listed by difficulty level.  For example there is a beginning level Simple Rose. Click on the rose at the left to go directly to it. Make a bouquet for Mother's Day or Valentine's Day.

Create a Bouquet of Roses

 

Click here for instructions on How To Fold A Paper Crane: These instructions are more advanced than the instructions for the rose.
 
 
 

Click here  for instructions on how to make tiny Japanese pastel stars.
Many of these tiny stars are constructed with love and put in a jar, as a good luck gift.