Materials for Activity

• Leader Resource 2, How to Fold a Paper Crane
• Leader Resource 3, Make a Paper Crane Mobile
• Origami paper in a variety of colors
• Pens and/or markers
• Four wooden chopsticks (or dowels, for a larger mobile)
• Sewing needle and thread
• Table and chairs

Preparation for Activity

• Arrange to present this activity as a congregational event, in a well-attended location in your congregation, such as a fellowship hall.
• Identify a place to display the completed mobile in your congregation and ask permission if needed.
• Work with your religious educator to publicize the event to the entire congregation.
• Print out Leader Resource 2. Practice making paper cranes so you can demonstrate and help others. You can watch a video demonstration of folding paper cranes on the Metacafe website. You may wish to print out a few copies of Leader Resource 2 for participants and others to use.
• Print out Leader Resource 3 and obtain the materials for hanging paper cranes on a mobile. See photos of a completed paper crane mobile on the Craftster website.
• Set up table(s) and chairs, and set out origami paper and pens.

Description of Activity

Use this is an opportunity for a multigenerational peace project. Invite your whole congregation to join you in creating paper cranes, a symbol of peace, and displaying them as a mobile.

Teach the group to make paper cranes using the directions on Leader Resource 2. Before folding their origami paper, invite participants to write a message of peace on the paper, and to share aloud with others at the table their message of peace.

When the cranes are completed, use the directions on Leader Resource 3 to make a paper crane mobile to hang in a public area of the congregation. You might hold a dedication ceremony when you hang the complete mobile; share peace songs from the Unitarian Universalist hymnbook, Singing the Living Tradition and/or readings about peace from the hymnbook (Readings 573-589).

Including All Participants

Participants who are not physically able to fold paper cranes can recruit adults and other participants to participate in the project.