Development of paper crafts as teaching materials with shared basic shapes

Design of craft kits as teaching materials in hands-on programs

Abstract

A workshop was held at Maruyama Zoo on the theme of four birds of prey that live in Hokkaido: Blakiston’s fish owl, Ezo owl, Steller’s sea eagle, and white-tailed sea eagle. A workshop was held on the theme of the four birds of prey, which are native to Hokkaido. Paper crafts depicting the characteristics of each creature in an easy-to-understand manner were designed as teaching materials. The paper crafts consisted of simple parts: the front part of the face, a band to wear on the head, and the upper and lower beaks. Basic design requirements were the same for how to make the four types of paper crafts and the shape and layout of each part. It became clear that this would lead participants to learn to be aware of the common features of raptors’ facial configurations and how they relate to similar and different aspects of their ecology.