Paper Cranes for Japan & the Power of the Arts

Last spring Robinson Rangers were inspired to action to help those who were dealing with the devastation of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Students were able to study the art of Japan and learn more about the country that was dealing with a huge loss while feeling empowered to help with a few folds of paper to create origami cranes.

DoSomething.org appealed to young people throughout the world to share their love and support for the Japanese people with “Paper Cranes for Japan.”
The task was simple:

1. Find/make and upload a photo of an origami paper crane
2. Upload that photo along with a message of support to the Facebook page “Paper Cranes for Japan.”
3. Mail your paper cranes to Students Rebuild to trigger $2 for each crane. The goal? 100,000 cranes received will raise $200,000 to support Architecture for Humanity’s plan to support the rebuilding efforts of Japanese architects.


 Why cranes? Cranes are sacred creatures in Japanese culture. According to ancient legend, anyone who folds a thousand origami cranes will be granted a wish—like long life or recovery from illness—by a crane.

Robinson Rangers met the task and set forth to learn about Japan, their art and their culture. Students were inspired to send hundreds of cranes for Japan and in the process learned how they can make a difference. Fourth grade students were so inspired that the project started showing up in their language arts classes in the form of Poetry for Japan!
The entire school was involved in the Paper Cranes for Japan and the experience had a huge impact both on the student's understanding of world events, the understanding of how students can make a difference in the world, and gaining a global understanding of other cultures.

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Today a video was shared that encapsulated the diverse use and places the cranes have gone in the last year. Take a moment to travel with our Paper Cranes for Japan: The Journey of Two Million Cranes.

I am so proud of my students for their efforts last year in this project and hope they will continued to make a difference in the world one fold at a time!

Today March 14,2012  Google has an origami inspired doodle: A doodle ode to origami master Akira Yoshizawa.
More about Yoshizawa & creating the doodle:
http://goo.gl/Hr1rK

The NY Times also wrote an article about the origami master: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/02/arts/design/02yoshizawa.html

Japan is still struggling with a recovery process that will take years to finish and for many the loss of loved ones will always leave a heavy place in their hearts. I am saddened to hear in the news this morning of another earthquake hitting the already wounded country. Please keep the people of Japan in your thoughts in these difficult times.

Here is some of the work my students created last spring in response to the events in Japan: