File folder games are a great way to teach children about a variety of subjects. It is easy to make a file folder game using a few household items.
To make file folder games, you will need to find some of the following materials:
• Computer with printer
• Velcro with adhesive strips
• Cardstock paper
• Scissors
• Laminator or laminating paper
• Manila or colored file folders
• Double-stick tape
File folder games are manila folder with different games inside that can teach math skills, reading, colors, shapes and other things. Usually a file folder game will include a game of your choice, Velcro, and paper cut-outs that can be put into a zip-lock bag that is located on the back of the folder. File folder games are preferred by many teachers and parents because they don’t take up a lot of room and they teach several subjects. You can download templates for file folder games online or you can purchase books with cut-outs at your local craft store.
Here are some easy ways to make file folder games:
Find the Rhymes
This is a fun game to teach children how to find words that rhyme. Use words that rhyme such as “duck/truck, kite/light, chair/bear, bee/tree, etc.” You will need a manila file folder, paper, a printer, glue stick or Elmer’s glue, hot glue, yarn, scissors, Velcro, marker, and laminate paper. You can find pictures of the rhyming items online and print them off, or you can draw your own.
You will need to create two pages of rhyming items and glue them onto both sides on the manila folder. The items they are rhyming with need to be apart from each other to make the matching game a little challenging. You can color the items that your child is rhyming or you can leave them black and white and let your child color them.
Now, you will need to laminate the two pieces of paper to the manila folder to make the game sturdy for a lot of use. Once you have finished this, cut out 8 pieces of yarn and hot glue one end of each piece to the picture on the left on both sides of the manila folder. Tie the other end of the yarn into a small circle that can wrap around a button. Using your hot glue gun, glue buttons next to the sides of the pictures on the right. This will allow your child to use the string and attach it to the appropriate button. If you don’t want to use buttons, you can use Velcro and glue a Velcro button to one side of the yarn and the other next to the picture. Create an answer page and glue it to the back of the manila folder so your child can compare their answers when they finish the game. Be sure to place a label on the file folders tab that states what it is so you know how to identify it from other file folder games you create.
You can also use this same method to create a matching game. Using animals or other things you will glue the pictures to the left side and the word to the right side, then have your child match the appropriate animal with their name. You can make this a bit more challenging by having the animal matched with the food they eat or where they sleep. For example, you can have a picture of a dog house or dog food and your child will need to match the dog to its dog house or dog food.