The fan has been used as a tool to drive away heat by making a cool breeze. They were first used centuries ago, before there was air conditioning but they are just as popular today in many cultures in Asia.
The ancient Chinese loved fans and the earliest ones were made of feathers. Over the years fans were made of all kinds of material like straw and wood.
The Chinese did not invent the folded paper fan. This invention arrived from Korea and Japan. Once the folded fan became popular in China it was adorned with embroidery and painted symbols and scenery.
Here are 3 styles you can make to keep you cool while watching the Beijing Olympics.
Decorated Flat Fan: (Easiest)
Even though this first fan is easy to make, if you spend some time drawing an interesting picture, it will stand out. Use your imagination.
Stiff paper like cardstock is the best to use as it will make a good breeze when you fan yourself.
Supplies:
- Cardstock
- Crayons and markers
- Tape
- Popsicle stick or chopsticks
Instructions:
- Cut out a circle or a square with rounded corners from the cardstock. Decorate both sides with crayons or markers.
- Attach a Popsicle stick or wooden chopstick to the bottom. It is ready to cool you down.
Folded Fan: (Harder)
Supplies:
- Printed paper that is easy to fold. (Ideal size is 20 cm. or 8 inches by 15 cm. or 6 inches)
- Tape
- Curly ribbon
Instructions:
- Starting at the short end, accordion-fold it all the way to the end. Accordion folds are made by making a fold at the short end and then flipping the paper over and folding again. Continue flipping and folding.
- Pinch the bottom of the fan of the fan and attach a few pieces of curly ribbon for a decoration and handle.
- Tape the bottom of the folds and the ribbon together.
Circle Fan: (Hardest)
As this requires a long sheet of paper, I used wrapping paper.
Supplies:
- Paper that measures 60 cm. or 24 inches by 15 cm or 6 inches.
- Two Popsicle sticks
- White glue
- Tape
- Markers
Instructions:
- If your paper isn’t already patterned, decorate with flowers and butterflies or even symbols from the Olympics.
- Pleat the paper so it folds like an accordion. (See how to do this in the pattern for the folded fan.)
- Glue a Popsicle stick on each end of the paper. They should stick out about 2 cm. or an inch above the top of the paper.
- Tape the bottom of the folded pleats together.
- To open your fan, bring the Popsicle sticks all the way around so they meet and form a circle.
Try turning down the air conditioner and cool down with a paper fan instead. Environmentalists will thank you for your efforts.
[Photograph by Linda Dunbar. Reproduction prohibited]
