Cootie catchers are one of those classic childhood activities that never seem to go out of style. Also known as paper fortune tellers, these simple folded-paper creations combine crafting, creativity, fine motor practice, and plenty of fun.
Best of all, you only need a square piece of paper to get started. If your children have been wondering how to fold a cootie catcher, this easy activity is perfect for a homeschool break, rainy afternoon, road trip, or hands-on addition to a lesson.
Once children understand how to make a cootie catcher, they can customize it with colors, questions, facts, challenges, and even educational review activities.
If you are looking to becoming a centered, organized homeschooling parent, nurture happy, independent children and want to create smooth, successful homeschool days, then you are in the right place!
Let me know in comments what you know about this topic, what you have applied, what you have tried that worked, what you have tried that didn’t work and if you have any questions as we get into this training.
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Ooly DIY Origami Fortune Teller Kit, Cootie Catcher, 24 Designs & Stickers | Ages 6+,
Big Dot of Happiness 90’s Throwback – 1990s Party Cootie Catcher Game – Truth orOrigami Paper 50 Colors 100 Sheets 6
How to Fold a Cootie Catcher Step by Step
Learning how to fold a cootie catcher is easier once children understand that good creases make all the difference.
- Start with a square sheet of paper.
- Fold it diagonally from corner to corner, open it, and repeat in the opposite direction. You should now have two diagonal creases that meet in the center.
- Next, fold each of the four corners into the center point to create a smaller square.
- Flip the paper over and once again fold all four corners toward the center.
- Fold the finished square in half one direction, open it, and fold it in half the opposite direction.
- Finally, slide your thumbs and index fingers underneath the four flaps and gently work the paper back and forth until the cootie catcher takes shape.
We have a helpful How to Make a Cootie Catcher video tutorial that walks families through the folding process.
Cootie Catcher Instructions for Playing and Learning
Once you have followed the basic cootie catcher instructions, it is time for the fun part. Traditionally, players choose a number or color, move the paper fortune teller back and forth, make another selection, and finally lift a flap to reveal a message.
For homeschoolers, however, a cootie catcher can become much more than a playground game. Try writing math facts, spelling words, vocabulary questions, historical facts, science review questions, physical challenges, or conversation prompts underneath the flaps.
Children get the fun of playing a game while reviewing information they have been learning. Get creative! We have has so much fun with ours over the years.
Cootie catchers are also an easy way to incorporate origami into your homeschool. Paper folding can encourage children to follow sequential directions while practicing spatial reasoning, hand-eye coordination, problem-solving, and fine motor skills.
- How to Make a Cootie Catcher ~ Video Tutorial
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Turn Your Cootie Catcher Into an Educational Activity
Now that you know how to make a cootie catcher, consider using the same idea across different subjects. One especially fun option is Bible study.
The Natural Homeschool Shop offers a Books of the Bible Worksheets Old & New Testament Printable Bundle, which includes Old Testament and New Testament cootie catchers along with handwriting activities, word searches, memory games, folding booklets, and other learning materials.
You can also explore the Old Testament Printable Set or the New Testament Printable Set separately. These resources make it easy to combine hands-on fun with meaningful homeschool learning.
For seasonal learning, the 14 Printable Homeschool Summer Activities offers another way to bring this classic paper activity into your homeschool. The collection includes a summer-themed cootie catcher along with other printable activities for children.
Learning how to fold a cootie catcher is a simple activity that can lead to countless creative and educational possibilities. With easy cootie catcher instructions, children can make their own paper fortune tellers and customize them for games, homeschool lessons, Bible study, review activities, or just plain fun.
Once your children master how to make a cootie catcher, encourage them to experiment with their own questions and themes. A single square of paper can become an engaging hands-on learning tool that children will want to use again and again.
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Reusable Printable Homeschool Mini Planner (36 pages)
$18.00 $9.99
This homeschool mini planner (36 pages) includes:
- subject planner (2 pages)
- 12 month calendars (24 pages) vertical & horizontal
- weekly homeschool reflections (1 page)
- field trip reflections (3 pages)
- weekly meal planner (1 page)
- homeschool budget (3 pages)
- reading tracker (2 pages)
Sale!
12-Month Vertical AND Horizontal Homeschool Calendars
$14.99 $6.99
This homeschool calendar includes one page for each month of the year.
There is one full year (12 months) of a vertical calendar and one full year (12 months) of a horizontal calendar.
It has a total of 24 pages.
The calendars are beautiful, colorful and cactus-themed.
Both come in a PDF downloadable file.
Print one page per sheet, 2 per sheet or 4 per sheet.
FIND GOOD ONLINE RESOURCES
And last, but not least, don’t forget that a good just as a strong human connection is important for support in your homeschooling journey, so is a strong connection with great online resources.
VISIT www.TheNaturalHomeschool.com and Shop.TheNaturalHomeschool.com
“The most important work you will ever do will be within the walls of your own home.” -Harold B. Lee
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