Origami cranes take flight to brighten school sick bay
INSPIRED by the book, Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes, five Year 4 students from Warwick West State School set about the challenge of making 1000 paper origami cranes.
With encouragement from their reading group teacher, Kerry Cook, the girls have been busily reading, folding and threading so everyone in the school can enjoy their art work and learn a little about this chapter in history.
Just like the characters in the story, the girls reached their goal in only four weeks, with the help of a few friends who contributed to the overall number.
"It's a very sad story really," said teacher-librarian Sue Higgins, "but beautifully crafted so that young readers develop a tremendous sense of compassion by knowing the true story of Sadako, a child victim of Hiroshima."
Ms Cook chose the story because she knew it was the kind of text that would extend the students' thinking.
The cranes are a bright addition to the library lounge and sick bay.
Make a wish
In Japanese tradition, whoever folds 1000 cranes will have a wish granted.
