Cutting, folding and joining materials
Chemistry · Key Stage 1 · The School
Three more ways to change shape
Squashing and bending change shape by pushing. Cutting, folding and joining work differently. Cutting removes a piece with scissors or a knife. Folding creases paper or fabric along a line. Joining fixes two pieces together with glue, tape or stitches.
Folding paper
Fold a flat sheet of paper in half. It now takes up less space. Fold it again and it gets smaller still. A fan is made by folding paper back and forth. Folding turns a flat sheet into a new, useful shape.
Joining two pieces
A single piece of fabric cannot become a jumper on its own. Several pieces are cut, then joined with stitches. Wood is joined with nails or glue to build a shelf. Joining lets small pieces become one bigger, useful object.
Making a paper bag
Start with one flat sheet of paper. Fold it in half, then fold the sides in to make a base. Cut two small handle holes near the top. Join a strip of paper or ribbon through the holes for a handle. Cutting, folding and joining all worked together, and none of them was squashing, bending, twisting or stretching.
Choosing the right way
Cutting is best when you need a smaller piece or a new outline. Folding is best when you need a crease or want to save space. Joining is best when one piece is not big enough on its own. Most real objects use more than one of these methods.