Working with origami models of geometric 2D and 3D objects provides a practical starting point for exploring mathematics and a visual means of inspiring and exciting learners. Creating and reverse engineering models to uncover their properties helps to develop understanding about symmetry and fractions and leads naturally on to proof through extending mathematical reasoning about them.

The paper folding acts as a focus for discussion and development of mathematical language as well as providing a manipulative which supports understanding by linking an otherwise abstract concept to a concrete representation. In this extended session we will work from a number of different starting points, identify key questions which can be used to assess conceptual understanding and hone what it means to work as a mathematician.