By Jayashree Krishnan
In teaching and curriculum, we often treat art as art and science as science—two separate worlds. But there is beauty in science, and science in beauty. The best learning happens not when we divide them, but when we let their edges fold into one another.
For me, that connection came through origami. I’ve always loved the art form—and it struck me that just as there is symmetry in cells, there is structure and precision in each delicate fold of paper.
Blending art and biology through hands-on paper-folding activities is a fun and unique way to engage students at the elementary level. Working with children from Grades 1–6 and across different levels of cognitive development, I’ve seen how these in-class crafts foster deeper understanding and promote critical thinking and creativity through exploration.
I would like to share a few such activities that my students particularly enjoy.
Parts of a Flower: Origami Hibiscus (2D Model)
As part of the elementary curriculum, children learn about parts of a flower by dissecting a real specimen (for example, hibiscus), while also utilizing online resources and activity worksheets. As an extension to these activities, I like to have my students create their own origami flowers.
By following step-by step instructions, students use square sheets of paper to make a 2-dimensional hibiscus. Pink sheets are used for petals, green sheets for the leaves and sepal, yellow for the anther of the flower, and a red marker to color the edges of the anther to represent the stigma. The folded papers are then assembled together using tape.
This activity allows students to not only investigate and learn about the parts of a hibiscus flower in a creative way, but also helps to enhance their paper-folding and fine motor skills, as well as their concentration.
Once the 2D model of the hibiscus is complete, students can refer to a hibiscus nomenclature card for better understanding of the plant anatomy. As a follow-up activity, the students can also complete a worksheet to learn the vocabulary of each part of the flower and its function.
Celebrate the Fall Season with a 3D Pumpkin
Fall is the perfect time to teach students about the different parts of the pumpkin and its life journey: from seed to sprout, vine, blossom, and finally the squash itself. To make this lesson more interactive, students can make a 3D pumpkin by either creating their own template using a black marker pen on orange cardstock, or by using a pre-printed template of a pumpkin on orange cardstock.
They cut and fold the pumpkin templates and glue them using double sided tape or a hot glue gun to seal the folds properly. They can then draw and cut out leaves from green colored paper and roll a small strip of brown construction paper to form the pumpkin’s stem. Finally, the stem and leaf get attached to the top part of the pumpkin, thus creating a 3D model.
Students especially enjoy this hands-on activity if they get to decorate their classroom with the resulting 3D pumpkins at the end of the lesson!
Life Cycle of a Ladybug: Optical Illusion Using an Agamograph
An agamograph is an art form that uses optical illusions to create an image that changes when viewed from different angles. This activity uses the agamograph to illustrate the different stages of a ladybug’s life cycle.
Students can color two printed templates of the ladybug’s life cycle: template 1 should have images of stage 1 (eggs) and stage 2 (larvae); and template 2 should have images of stage 3 (the pupa) and stage 4 (adult ladybug). (Make sure the two templates are attached to each other. I like to stick both to a bi-folded sturdy cardstock using tape.)
Then, have students cut and fold the templates using the accordion folding technique in order to create the agamograph effect. When the students tilt or rotate the cardstock, they’ll see the different stages of a ladybug’s development.
This activity not only combines art and biology, but most importantly helps students to learn about metamorphosis and the life cycle of a ladybug in an interactive way. As a follow-up activity, students can complete a worksheet to gain in-depth knowledge about each stage in the life cycle. This creative craft is sure to certainly instill curiosity about nature in students.
For children with diverse interests and learning styles, these activities will be critical in helping them understand biological concepts in a creative way.
Jayashree Krishnan is a design technology educator based in Dallas, TX. She received a Master of Arts in Teaching from the Dallas Baptist University, and has completed the specialization course MACAR (Montessori Applied to Children at Risk). She has also written several educational articles for magazines published in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia.
