Re: [Origami] Recommednations for simple models.

Mon, 26 Jan 2026 00:09:18 -0800

This is a long response…

On Jan 23, 2026, at 7:13 PM, John R. S. Mascio <[email protected]> wrote:
 what other models have you taught to kids/adults with success, especially when you have a large volume and not in a class settings. 


Hey John,

If you go to this YouTube channel and scroll down through to videos of some public teaching and demos, it might give you some ideas and inspiration:


Before getting to model suggestions, I want to share that I’ve found a lot of success by first being a showman (I think I’ve gotten a bit better since the last time I was filmed).  It may not be for everyone, but try to be an entertainer.  Study how comedians and magicians interact and engage with an audience.  Have some built-in one-liners.  

I have a typical crowd routine where I might start with an origami warmup that involves silly stretching; leading into a physical test/trick of a person’s ability to focus (emphasizing how important that is for paperfolding).  

I then like to start with a paper banger as a simple warmup model.  I don’t tell the audience what we are about to fold.  Just that I want to test their ability to focus and follow directions; and if they pass the test, we will fold something special.  

So amidst some jokes (one of them being a simple mountain fold and pretending we are done with a successful origami tent), we will fold a paper banger and I have them guess what we just made.  Someone usually guesses it’s a book and I’ll tell the person “correct; but this book you don’t have to read.  It talks to you.”  I’ll then distract the person and then swing the banger when he’s not looking at me, startling everyone.  Then everyone- kids and adults alike- turn into a child, delighting in trying out their noise maker.  

So we pass the warmup test and get to the meat:  my favorite for the past decade has been to teach the Thai tulip and a gay merril gross or Toshie Takahama vase (pretty close to the same thing).  It also involves a stem with leaf- so ultimately a 3-piece complete model.  I joke that I just need 3 hours of their time (or something along those lines).  The beauty of this model is that i can cycle through each of the 3 pieces with a new audience.  Meaning, new bystanders don’t have to wait for us to finish all 3 pieces of the model.  Once I finish one piece, people who just arrived can jump in and fold the next two pieces; and then fold the first piece they had missed earlier as I just keep cycling back around between the 3 parts.  

The other thing I like about this model is the two of the pieces- the Thai tulip and the vase- both respectively involves the preliminary or waterbomb base.  And here I employ what I’ve come to call the ancient secret folding technique invented by Yami Yamauchi two weeks ago (I keep repeating the emphasis that this is a secret ancient technique but also change the fib about how long ago it was invented- a week, a month, a year… it constantly changes in the retelling just to keep them laughing).  I’ve had so many great moments with this.  The idea did originate with Yami, who would give the paper a simple karate chop or use his knee to pop the center of the paper to change the preliminary base creases into a waterbomb base; or vice versa.  I’ve taken that idea and added more build up, suspense and drama to it- emphasizing to the folders not to share this with anyone or it will no longer be an ancient secret.  

The vase is the most complicated piece but I’ve found it really isn’t that bad.  It’s all in how you present it.  Also, take advantage of encouraging those who get it to help their neighbors who may be struggling.  (And I joke with them that if they are the person who isn’t getting it to please don’t help their neighbors.  Yeah, that can be rude and insulting but it’s all in the delivery.  Everything should be light-hearted and in good spirits).  

My go-to model two decades ago at the Long Beach Origami Festival was the 16 or 20 piece modular origami lotus flower with green pipe cleaner to hold it together.  I think this is it (plenty of other video instructions):


This was my lazy method of teaching where anyone can jump in.  They just have to repeat the same unit over and over after being taught once; then shown how to tie them together; then how to open the petals.  And it is very easy to have someone else show a newcomer any one of these steps- the unit fold, the pipe cleaner wrap, and how to open the petals.  Keeps everyone busy.  

Action models are often a huge hit.  So I like to also teach boomerang cicada paper glider,





 leaping Willy/polypopagon- not pure origami but tons of fun:


How to:

Heinz Strobel Surprise model (I think it has another name as well)
This is pretty easy but probably works better with a smaller group due to making sure they understand the simple intricacies of putting it together without glue- and easily done with any leftover strips from cutting an 8.5 x 11 into a square- the units do not have to be folded from a perfect 1 x 4 strip.  Example of action:


There’s so much more- like storigami/teaching tales:


but hopefully this stimulates some ideas.   I wish I did a presentation of this material at last year’s PCOC.  My inspirations for how I present origami to the general public have been Jeremy Shafer and Joel Bauer; and my work alongside Yami Yamauchi and Joe Hamamoto.  


Michael

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