PAPER STEAM - Fold. Learn. Explore.

// Our Story

PAPER STEAM started with a simple idea: turn paper into a playground for curious minds. We mix craft, culture, and science into hands-on projects that spark wonder, letting children learn by doing, experimenting, and discovering at their own pace.

// Insight

Learning sticks when it’s playful.

Children remember what they can touch, fold, and tinker with — especially when it connects to the stories, history, and culture around them. Paper becomes more than a material; it becomes a bridge to curiosity. Paper — simple, affordable, and flexible — becomes a medium for exploration, allowing low-cost, high-impact learning experiences that spark imagination and problem-solving.

// Social Impact

We believe every child deserves a chance to explore and experiment. By making STEAM learning portable & accessible, PAPER STEAM empowers kids from all backgrounds to cultivate curiosity, critical thinking, and confidence 
— the tools for lifelong learning.

// Concept

Our PAPER STEAM kits combine storytelling, step-by-step prototypes, and mini experiments that link science and culture. The Mini STEAM series condenses the experience into bite-sized, portable fun. Bilingual guides, workshops, and customizable school programs extend learning beyond the page, turning paper into a launchpad for discovery.

Bamboo Theatre

// Building culture, light, and sound from paper

The Bamboo Theatre model invites children to follow the traditional construction flow of a real bamboo opera theatre — from the foundation to the rooftop flower boards (台基 > 後臺 > 舞臺 > 旁寮 > 棚頂 > 花牌).

Each step mirrors the craftsmanship behind Hong Kong’s cultural icon, transforming architectural sequence into a tactile learning experience.

//Design Thinking

To simulate retractable roofs and zinc-textured walls, the model introduces V-pleats with flip folds, teaching paper prototyping and structural logic through playful design. Open side panels allow children to experiment with natural lighting, observing how performers once used sunlight to illuminate the stage.

Through the process, students learn about indoor sound transmission, Sun Kung Hei and Yue Opera, and paper engineering techniques such as retractable roofs and V-fold spans — blending cultural history with STEAM discovery.

Pinhole Camera

// Capture light, fold by fold

This model gives children full control: 
the pinhole lens, projection screen, and zoom ring are all adjustable. 

Kids can experiment with focal length, lens size, and projection materials, learning how each factor changes the image and exploring the principles behind pinhole photography.

//Vintage Culture

The camera’s retro design mimics the era of classic pinhole photography while introducing the history of old-school photo studios (影樓). Children experience both the science and the cultural story behind photography, connecting past and present through hands-on play.

// Paper Engineering

Box spiral pleats, scoring, mountain-valley folds, and tape binding teach children paper engineering fundamentals. These techniques show how simple materials can model complex mechanisms, combining creative design with scientific exploration.

Robot Hand

Exploring flexor tendons 
through paper joints and V-pleats

The Robot Hand turns anatomy into motion. 
Using folded joints and multiple V-pleats, this paper model mimics how flexor tendons pull to move our fingers — transforming a complex biological system into something children can build, see, and feel in action.

It uses only paper and string to explain how muscles and tendons work together. Children not only learn about the robot hand mechanism, but also discover how structure, tension, and movement connect — a hands-on introduction to bio-inspired design thinking.

2022 Good Seed SIE AWARDEE
2021 POLYU MICRO FUND AWARDEE

MingPao 明報常識學堂 第305期 2024/05/20

i-cable HOY 家國天下 第9集 2024/3/3