Making origami cranes is the perfect companion activity after reading the children's picture book "Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes."

It’s been one month since a magnitude 9.0 earthquake shook Japan and caused a devastating tsunami to hit the shoreline, killing thousands, destroying towns and triggering one of the worst nuclear accidents in history.

It’s a lot of sadness and destruction for adults to take in, let alone kids! But, we are the adults, and we need to do what we can to help children cope with tragedy.

Many primary teachers have opted to reread the classic children’s book “Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes” to their students. It promotes discussion, and talking helps children process scary current events and natural disasters. It develops their vocabularies so they can express their thoughts and work through worries.

Sad, But Hope Filled

Written in 1977 by American author Eleanor Coerr, the non-fiction children’s book tells the story of Sadako Sasaki, a Japanese girl, who lived in Hiroshima in 1945 during the atomic bombing. Over time, Sadako develops cancer from radiation exposure. To cope with her overwhelming circumstances, she places her hope and energies into folding 1,000 paper cranes. Folklore said a person who created 1,000 origami cranes would be granted a wish.

Sadako worked diligently, but her illness overcame her. After her death, funds were raised to build a memorial for all the children who died as a result of the nuclear attack. In 1958, a statue of Sadako with an origami crane was dedicated at Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial. The statue’s plaque reads: “This is our cry. This is our prayer. Peace on Earth.”

 Diversity Training

 ”Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes” has been translated into many languages and is used in peace, empathy and diversity training. However, because of the subject matter, the book is generally not recommended for children younger than 8 or those who are extremely sensitive.

A third-grade teacher in Portland, Ore., organized an after-school event a few days ago based on the “thousand cranes” concept to promote compassion for Japan, her native homeland. Attendees made 1,000 cranes and are now aiming for 3,000. Sponsors are donating $2 per origami crane, which will be donated to disaster relief in Japan.

The Children’s Museum of the Upstate in Greenville, S.C., hosted a similar project to help local children express their concern for their peers across the ocean.

“Starting today, we will dedicate a space for visitors to make paper cranes and write notes to show support for the people of Japan,” said museum CEO Mary Sellers in a recent news story by TV station WYFF. “Paper cranes are an important symbol in Japan as they represent good fortune, hope, goodwill, and due to the children’s book ‘Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes,’ they have also come to symbolize peace.”

 Crane Craft Links

If you’re interested in making paper craft cranes with your children, check out these three instruction resources. (Please use recycled paper.)

• Origami-Fun.com’s crane instructions
• Wild Birds Unlimited origami crane
• Gretchen Siegchrist’s crane-folding video clip

Big Universe and Japan 

Also, consider “Japan” as a companion read. It’s a children’s picture book authored by Colleen Sexton and published by Bellwether, one of BigUniverse.Com’s publishing partners. Bellwether’s “Tsunamis,” “Bullet Trains” and “Investigating Plate Tectonics” also are featured on Big Universe and all have a Japan link. Or, read “Our Powerful Planet: The Curious Kid’s Guide to Tornadoes, Earthquakes, and Other Phenomena.”

Well Worth a Look!

I also highly recommend the expansive children’s book list for children K-8, compiled by the Japan Society of New York. It’s a 39-page PDF, but well worth a look!

Note: If the accident in Japan has prompted you to incorporate the subject during class time, you might be interested in reading the following blogs about current events, natural disasters and global citizenship.

   “10 Ways to Use Current Events in the Classroom”

    “Good Books Foster Global Citizenship”

    “Add Life to Your Teaching with Current Events”

    “Dealing with Death Through Books”