Finding Patterns in the Folds

Overview

Students tape multiple strips into the book and investigate how different page positions affect the resulting folds. In one experiment, most of the pop-ups are asymmetric (different page positions on either side) while in the other they are all symmetric (same distance on each side). Through these experiments, the students discover the answers to these questions:

If a pop-up is asymmetric, on which side will the fold will the fold be?
If two strips are taped symmetrically, but at different page positions from each other, how will the resulting pop-ups be different?

Materials

For each student:

Scissors and tape
Ball-point pen and ruler for making sharp folds. The pens don’t have to write
Two Parallel-fold templates, printed or photocopied on 8 ½″ x 11″ cardstock
Worksheet: Near & Far
Worksheet: High & Low
Science notebooks
Folder for saving pop-ups

Procedure

1. Near & Far: Provide each student with a template, other materials for making pop-ups, and a "Near & Far" Worksheet. Then demonstrate how to assemble the template for the "Near & Far" experiment. Ask students to predict what pop-ups will look like after they close the book and then open it. See a video showing what happens.

Outcome: The pop-up will make the fold on the side farther from the gutter, unless it is symmetric. In case it is symmetric, the fold will happen in the center.

2. High & Low: Provide each student with a new template and a "High & Low" Worksheet. Demonstrate how to assemble the template for "High & Low."
Ask students to predict what pop-ups will look like after they close the book and then open it. See a video showing what happens.