How to Make Circular Paper Fans for Kids

A circular paper fan collapses neatly when not in use.

The Chinese have awed the world with their elegantly constructed fans for over 3,000 years. One type of Chinese fan, the collapsible circular fan, is a favorite among children who enjoy watching the it transform from a compact compilation of paper folds into a beautiful circular fan right before their eyes. Buying these Asian fans from a store is fascinating enough, but children enjoy constructing their own circular paper fans even more.

Things You'll Need

• 40-by-8-inch fax paper
• Velcro dots
• Coloring utensils
• 2 wide wooden craft sticks
• Glue
• Tape

Instructions

1. Draw decorations of your choice onto a 40-by-8-inch sheet of fax paper. You may also print designs onto the paper using a computer, if you do not want to draw your designs. Oriental floral patterns work especially well with this craft, but any type of design you choose will work.

2. Fold the paper into 1/2-inch zigzag pleats, until you compress the entire width of the paper.

3. Glue one wide wooden craft stick to each end of the paper, allowing each craft stick to extend about 1 inch from the bottom of the paper, so 1 inch of the top of the paper is not glued to the craft stick. Allow the glue to dry.

4. Collapse the pleats and hold them firmly, by pressing both craft sticks together with the thumb and index finger of one hand. While still holding the pleats firmly together, wrap several layers of tape around the inch of paper that extends past the craft sticks.

5. Glue two complementary Velcro dots on the outside, upper tips of each craft stick. Open the fan by pulling the craft sticks in opposite directions until they come full-circle and touch once again. The Velcro on the sticks holds the fan in its circular shape until you decide to collapse the fan once again.

References

• Activity Village.co.uk: Chinese Fan Craft
• China.org.cn: The Cool Story of Chinese Fans