Sadako Sasaki was 2 years old when the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. She lived close to the site and would later die from radiation poisoning at the age of 12.
Sadako believed that if she folded 1000 origami cranes, she wouldn’t die. (You see, the story of the crane is important in Japanese culture- symbolizing loyalty, grace and beauty and it is thought that if one were to fold 1000 cranes the person will be granted their greatest wish).
Sadako’s story has found it’s way around the globe- acting as a call to end such horrors.
*Currently children from all over the world fold and send cranes to be strung on the Sadako memorial in Hiroshima**************
As an assignment for class I am building a lesson plan around this story. (This is already a developed project- which I think is very potent and relevant) ……
I am attracted to the multi disciplinary possibilities in teaching this to middle school aged children. The subject matter is dark yes- but I believe that the culture of violence children are exposed to – or rather immersed in often times has no face- and the idea of consequence or empathy is lost.
This lesson integrates art, social studies, history…. and teaches leadership- as the children will eventually be expected to teach the story and the origami folding to their fellow students.
-Ewan and I are origami novices. Just started- three days ago.