Folded paper fans were introduced in China in the tenth or eleventh century. They can be decorated with Chinese characters, traditional Chinese scenes, or can be a simple, plain piece of paper. Create your own designs by painting the paper first, or invite the kids to color it. Use heavy-duty paper for a sturdy fan, or tissue paper for a delicate look.
Cut a piece of paper so it's five times as long as it is tall. The larger the paper, the larger the fan. Use decorative paper, or paint your own designs onto the paper.
Start at one of the short ends and pleat the paper into an accordion fold. The pleats should be about ½ inch wide and all the same size.
Glue a chopstick or tongue depressor to each end fold. Leave about 2 inches of each extended from the paper.
Tape the end of the fan together at the side opposite the chopsticks or tongue depressors, or use a wide ribbon to tie it together.
Create a fan shape by grasping the top of one chopstick in each hand and pulling the sticks away from each other and around in a circular motion toward the taped end. Stop when the sticks are level with each other for a half-moon fan or continue until the sticks touch each other for a circular fan.
