This is a quick articulation activity I use that the kids love and when I send it home, I know they practice! It also has the added benefit of aiding in carry-over, because cooties are fun to share! It’s a good old fashioned cootie catcher, but in this case it catches good speech productions as well.
- You need a square piece of paper. I take a sheet of computer paper and fold one corner to the opposite edge, making a neat triangle, and either cut or rip off the “extra” rectangle strip that is left on the side. Unfold back to square.
- Fold each corner into the middle. Now you are looking at a small square made up of four triangles. Flip it over.
- Same thing—fold each corner to center. Again, you’ll end up with a smaller square this time made up of four split triangles. Keep this side facing up.
- Fold in half one way, then unfold. Fold in half the other way and pick up.
- Pinch the bottom fold on each end between your thumbs and index fingers, kind of tucking your fingers beneath the triangles.
- Gently push your fingers together. You are shooting for a cone type shape.
- Write a target word and number (for # of trials) on each outside triangle.
- Open, and write another target word and number on each triangle. Close. Open the other direction and fill those triangles in as well.
- Now, lay the square flat. Lift each “double” triangle and write two fortunes beneath it. I angle each fortune in a different direction so it “belongs” to the target above it. Refold to cone shape.
- Time to play! The child chooses a word on an outside triangle. As he repeats it (based on the number of trials listed) open and close the cone.
- He choose an inside triangle word (and number of trials). As he repeats the target, open and close the cone again.
- Now the child chooses a final target word. I don’t typically ask for repetitions here. Lift to reveal the fortune.
For a list of thirty “Good Fortunes” that would work with most K-Gr. 5 students, pick up my free download in my TpT store and follow me while you’re there!