Preschool File Folder Games

Math and Reading Fun and Educational Preschool Activities

Oct 26, 2008 ChristaCarol Jones

Preschoolers learn best through play. Not only are the concepts learned easy to retain, but creating a File Folder Game is cost efficient and fun to create!

File Folder Games can be a companion to any theme unit you choose to do. From holidays, feelings, seasons, animals, plants and any number of other theme lessons, the following activities will further enhance a child’s interest and knowledge in the subject.

Materials:

• Manila filing folder
• Permanent marker
• Glue
• Baggy or envelope
• Stapler
• Construction paper or print from your PC
• Contact paper (or a local teacher’s store that has inexpensive laminating service)
• Popsicle sticks (optional)
• Razor blade (optional)

Choose a Game Theme

Since Halloween is just around the corner, pumpkins will be the example theme. Most holidays like this have a plethora of fun things you can use. Pumpkins, ghosts, spiders, bats, fall leaves . . . choose something that corresponds with what theme you want or have been introducing to your preschooler.

Subject-Specific Skills

Do you want to teach math skills, reading skills, seriation skills (arranging things by size), or discrimination skills? The list could go on. Examples for math and reading are listed. Seriation and Discrimination File Folder Games are also available.

Teach Math Skills

An example of creating a File Folder Game enhancing your preschooler’s math skills is to have five to ten pumpkins numbered 1-5 or 1-10 depending on your child’s skill level. After numbering them, laminate and set aside. Print out another equal amount of pumpkins and tape or glue them on the inside of the folder.

Use your marker (or you can always use your PC paint program to do this prior to printing) and on the first pumpkin put one dot, the second pumpkin two dots, and so forth. Decorate and label the cover of your folder so your child will recognize what game this is, and laminate. Staple a baggy or an envelope to the back of the folder and place your numbered pumpkin pieces inside.

When it’s time to play, your child takes out the numbered pumpkin pieces and matches them to the dotted pumpkin pieces inside the folder. This teaches them to equate a number with how many something has. The number 1 pumpkin will go on the pumpkin with one dot, etc.

Once they master this skill you can always make a new File Folder Game with more numbers, like 1-20, or even and odd numbers. You can also invert the pieces, having the numeral pieces attached to the folders, and the dotted pieces stuffed in the envelope.

File Folder Reading Skills

To give you another approach, here is a different way to do the file folder.

With your chosen theme (pumpkins for example), print out two large pumpkins from your PC (or use a pattern with construction paper). Tape or glue one on each side of the inside of your file folder. Put the first 13 letters of the alphabet on the first pumpkin, using 3 rows (A, B, C, D on top row, and so forth), and follow this method for the second pumpkin so you have all 26 upper case letters. Underline each row, decorate and label the cover, and laminate. Using a razor blade, cut gently along your underlined rows for a small "pocket".

Now print out small (2”) pumpkins with each letter of the alphabet in lower-case and laminate. Hot glue (or regular glue) each pumpkin to a popsicle stick (cut in half). Staple a baggy or an envelope to the back of the folder for the laminated pieces, and viola! Your child now sticks the matching lower case letter-stick into the pocket in front of the correct upper case letter.

Some ways to make the game more challenging is to have pictures laminated on the folder that start with each letter of the alphabet. An apple for "A", a bear for “B”, and so on. Your preschooler will then take the separate laminated pieces and match his or her letter with the picture that begins with that sound. Other advanced ideas are: rhyming words, missing letters, etc.

This is just one example of introducing math and reading skills to your preschooler. Don’t be afraid to use your imagination. As your child’s skills grow, the games should be more challenging. File Folder Games are something that can be used through the first few years of elementary, adapting to what you’re teaching your child. Remember be creative and most of all have fun with your child while he learns through playing Games!

The copyright of the article Preschool File Folder Games in Kids Activities is owned by ChristaCarol Jones. Permission to republish Preschool File Folder Games in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

File Folder Game

Example Math File Folder Game

Example Reading File Folder Game