Yesterday, ninth-grade students in Freshman Seminar started an examination of non-fiction text structures. They reviewed descriptive, sequential, or chronological text, and compare and contrast. As an extension of this lesson students participated in an origami art activity.

First, students were provided with a 4-inch square piece of paper and step-by-step photo instructions. Very few students were able to complete the origami butterfly with just the images. After this attempt students were given a printed copy of the written instructions along with the photos. More students were successful this time! If students were having trouble completing this project after being given the printed instructions they were shown a live step-by-step tutorial that visually demonstrated each step. In the end, almost all students had successfully completed the origami butterfly.

This tie-in between the arts and ELA allowed students to think about how to structure a sequential text and how words can add meaning to photos when creating a sequential guide for a task. It also allowed students to examine how they best learn. We had students realize that they learn best when they read, others realized they do better when they participate in a live demonstration or study pictures. All in all our freshmen persevered, created, and made a connection to the arts as well.

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