Customer Reviews

Math in Motion: Origami in the Classroom K-8

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When I was in elementary school I hated math. Perhaps I would have had a different experience if Barbara Pearl's Math in Motion program had been available. Fortunately for kids today, Math in Motion can help make this often-unapproachable subject fun.

Barbara Pearl uses the ancient art of Japanese origami (paper folding) to demonstrate such fundamental mathematical concepts as number sense, patterns, fractions, angles, congruence, symmetry, spatial relationships, and polygons--all potential stumbling blocks for children learning math. The beauty of this approach is that the learning is embedded in fun projects.

Ms. Pearl also relates the exercises to language arts, social studies and science. These may be the only math exercises that kids are reluctant to end.

This is not a do it yourself book for kids. It is aimed at parents who want to participate in their children's learning and at teachers who are looking for innovative and creative ideas for the classroom. The projects range from simple enough for kindergartners to challenging enough for junior high.

An intuitive understanding of basic mathematical concepts is critical for all kids entering today's technical society. Math in Motion can be an invaluable tool in helping kids make it.

Charles B. Kreitzberg, Ph.D.

CEO, Cognetics Corporation

Until I saw Barbara Pearl's book, my only brush with origami had been making paper airplanes and launching them out the 2nd floor window of my math class. Math was my least favorite subject, as it is for my son Benjy, a brilliant 9th grader with a blind spot for numbers, but not for their importance. We have been working hard together, and in this effort, "Math in Motion" has been a great panacea. Even though it is meant for grades K-8, Benjy delved into it with an enthusiasm previously reserved for Shakespeare comedies and Stephen King novels. What works for him is the opportunity this book offers to combine 2- and 3-dimensional thinking, explore basic and advanced concepts, and integrate mathematical and non-math subjects. What works for me is a chance to relate closely with my son in new and unexpected ways, and the rare pleasure afforded a parent in seeing his child's joy and satisfaction as his horizons widen and his understanding deepens. Among the countless guides and self-help books available in bookstores and catalogs today,"Math in Motion" is a unique, one-of-a-kind contribution.

Shlomo Shyovitz, AIA, Architect and Urban Designer (M.Arch.UD, Harvard, 1977)shlomo_shyovitz@gensler.com

Several years ago I never would have bought a book or attended a workshop like Math in Motion because I did not think it was relevant. But from the moment we started, Ms. Pearl made us all feel so comfortable-an ideal environment for learning, especially a subject like mathematics, which may be stressful. I wanted to create the same atmosphere and remove the fear element from learning mathematics. The workshop experience made us feel like we were a team. I felt like I could do anything. And it gave me the motivation to try more. Ms. Pearl's book outlines lesson plans that support NCTM Standards and has teaching scripts and tips for developing a warm and inviting hands-on learning environment that is educational and fun. The multidisciplinary approach connects math to other subjects including reading, science, and social studies. The step-by-step directions are clear and easy to follow. Multicultural activities teach an appreciation of other cultures from exploring tangrams to writing Haiku. The three most exciting words from my students were, "I did it!" I think this is also great for building kids' self-esteem. The book encourages you to have students write down on their paper manipulatives math vocabulary that helps them to remember it--younger kids can trace the place with their fingers as they say it. Now, I know that math is not BAD. When adults feel good about what they are teaching, children will feel better too. I know this book will help you create a room where children (and adults too) will love to come to learn and grow.

This is a great book for all teachers to use to teach geometry to students. I teach it to fifth graders when their regular teacher is out and now they only want her to be absent. Once we begin with the basics from the book we take it further. Our school district bought them for every elementary school.

Math in Motion is just the kind of book I wish I'd had in school. It encourages participation in a way that few of my teachers knew how to do. Each chapter covers a single subject, and can be taught independently of the others, once you have done the basic lessons which introduce the types of folds.

Each chapter is full of little hints on how to achieve its educational goals. This simplifies the presentation and lessens any math fear the students (or teacher!!) may have.

I don't know where I heard that the sense of touch is well suited for the teaching of math, especially geometry, but it is certainly evident when you work with this volume. Ms. Pearl has done well by bringing so many "into the fold".

Although I am neither a teacher nor a grade schooler, I found exceeding pleasure, while reading "Math in Motion," in brushing up on aspects of math that I had long ago forgotten. But beyond the math, I thoroughly enjoyed making the origamis depicted in the book. While using this book to create each of the origamis, I found the instructions easy to both read and follow. (Of course, the spiral binding is yet another much-appreciated feature.) I had never been successful in Japanese paper folding before in my 60+ years, even though I had attempted it several times, and so it was exciting for me to complete my very first origami!
Written primarily as a teacher's guide, I still highly recommend "Math in Motion" for anyone between the ages of 5 and 105! If you are looking for a way to spend a marvelous afternoon at home, I suggest purchasing, reading, and using "Math in Motion." The author, Barbara Pearl, is a jewel! Thank you, Barbara, for this wonderful gift - a book to treasure, to use, and to share with friends and family alike.

Every kid in my school wants to learn origami. My mom and I did some activities in this book and I learned how to make a lot of origami. It works well with teaching geometry, measuring and symmetry. So it would help out with learning and having a lot of fun while doing it. I think this is a great book for learning math and other stuff for my class.

Math in Motion is so popular-I can't keep the origami books on the shelves. Your workshop stimulated even more interest at our school. I enjoyed the way you integrated the history and the culture of paper folding.

My three kids loved your Math in Motion workshop. They did every origami activity in your book and talked about nothing else but you and origami for the 6 hour ride home! Taylor, age 9, Morgan, 12, Mackensie, 14

Barbara Pearl: Last June I attended a Creative Cornerstone workshop in Cleveland, Ohio. You were our 'presenter' and introduced us to Origami. Beginning in the fall I used it in my classroom. I teach second grade in a Parochial School. My students love it! We started with the box. We made Origami Church ornaments in an orgami box for their parents for Christmas. (As a Churstmas gift one of my students even gave me a package of origami paper) We made origami cats at Halloween. It was the 75th Anniversary of our church this year and the students made origami nuns and origami nun earrings for the teachers to wear. We made orgami frogs when we studied measurement and measured how high they jumped. We made origami boats, flowers, butterflies, whales and so on. Symmetry is one of the last lessons in our Math books. We give the Iowa Basic Test in March so they usually don't do well on this part of the test. I can't wait to see the results ( we don't receive them till May) to see if the origami helped with these questions. Whenever I get my origami binder out the students get excited. They can't wait for each new project. I just wanted to say Thank you from both myself and my students. We have really had fun with it this school year. Patti Horner