One Wish, 1,000 Paper Cranes

students are folding their way to one wish.

In the wake of the tragic disaster left by a tsunami and earthquake in Japan, first grade teacher Amanda Blocklinger became inspired to have her school make a difference.

After reading the children’s book “Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes,” Blocklinger and her class learned of an ancient Japanese saying: one that creates 1,000 origami paper cranes would be granted a wish by a crane.

Blocklinger passed the idea along to her peers to have students make 1,000 paper cranes and offer the chance for the 600-some students to donate 50 cents toward each sheet of origami paper that will eventually be sent to Japan.

There is a holiday in Japan called Obon Day, where the Japanese people remember the spirits of one’s ancestors. On this day, the people also leave paper cranes near the statue of Sadako Sasaki, the namesake of the children’s book who died from leukemia from radiation after the bombing of Hiroshima.

Sadako began making 1,000 cranes to have the one wish to live.

She folded 644 cranes before she became too weak and died at age 12.

Her friends and family finished her dream by folding the rest of the cranes, and they were buried with her.

A statue was also built in Hiroshima Peace Park, with a plaque: "This is our cry. This is our prayer. Peace on Earth."

Inside Blocklinger’s classroom Friday afternoon – just one of many classrooms taking part in the fundraiser – first grade and fifth grade students sat at clusters of desks and followed along with Blocklinger as she led them through the making of a paper crane.

“The next part is the most challenging,” Blocklinger said, following along with an Internet video guide. “Take your rhombus and pull the triangle out and flatten it.”

“That’s so hard,” responded one student.

Blocklinger, along with fifth grade teacher Kristin Mellon and the help of cohorts, went around to each student to help them flatten out their papers.

The idea is that all of the cranes would then be displayed at the school in the coming week – and with it, a wish to the Japanese victims. From there, the cranes will be sent to Japan.

“Why did we make our cranes today?” asked Blocklinger at the end of the session.

One student, Lily Huber, raised her hand.

“Because of the sad thing in Japan,” Huber said. “The legend says if you make 1,000 paper cranes, you will have one wish.”

Blocklinger asked what wish is usually granted according to the legend.

“That they will have homes again,” said one student.

“That’s our wish,” said Blocklinger. “What’s the legend say?”

“We’re hoping the Japanese people who are searching for family can find them again,” said another student.

Blocklinger said that’s right: the wish is for Japanese people to be safe.

“We want them to recover from illness or injury is what the legend says,” Blocklinger said. “We are hoping that our cranes will help and our wish for the Japanese victims will be granted.”

A flyer was sent home to parents to inform them of the fundraiser.

“I’d say the students are more than excited,” said Mellon. “They want to do something to help out.”

Blocklinger said she really wanted to do something for the victims to go along with the compassion she was feeling following the disaster.

“I shared the book with the staff and they were really excited to help and take part in learning about another culture,” Blocklinger said.

On Friday, many students brought in money to donate toward the cause.

“Many students came in and asked for origami to take home to make with their families,” she said.

Blocklinger hoped to see donations exceed more than $300. Proceeds will be sent to American Red Cross, Blocklinger said.

She said the students are aware of the disaster in Japan and its effects on the culture.

“We have been talking a lot about natural disasters and what is going on in Japan,” she said. “We talk with them about how they are feeling and alleviating their fears.”

She said the paper crane project has only strengthened the goal of getting that one wish.

“It’s unfortunate that it happened, but there is something real we can do to make a difference,” she said.