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How to Make a Fortune Teller

Instructions Plus Variations to this Fun Kids Craft

May 28, 2007 Denise Oliveri

Kids have enjoyed making fortune tellers for decades. Here are instructions on how to make this paper craft, along with diagrams. Also included are some fun variations.

The fortune teller has been enjoyed by kids all over the world. Though this game can go by different names in various countries, it is still played by the same rules and kids enjoy it, no matter what you call it.

Materials:

8-1/2 x 11 in. sheet of paper (copy paper works best)
Scissors
Pencil
Ruler

Directions:

Fold an 8-1/2 x 11 in. sheet of paper to make a perfect square. See Figure 1 below. Cut off the bottom of the paper at the dotted line.
Open up the square. You will have a 12 in. fold down the center of the square. Measure 6 in. down and place a small dot on the fold. Now fold each of the 4 corners so that the point lands on the 6 in. dot that you just drew. See Figure 2 below.
Turn the square over, and you will see a 6 in. fold down the center of the square. Fold each of the 4 corners along that 6 in. line, whereas you are forming 4 triangles. See Figure 3 below.
Now fold up the bottom triangle to align with the top triangle (folding in the center). You will now have 4 flaps. Place your thumbs and index fingers forcing a fold and creating 4 points. See Figure 4 below.

Setting Up the Game - Traditional

On the 4 flaps, write out a color (Blue, Green, etc.). There should be one color name to a flap.
Turn over the flaps, so they are lying face down. You should see 4 large triangle and 8 smaller triangles. Write random numbers on each of the 8 smaller triangles.
Open up the 4 larger triangles, and you will see that there are 8 smaller triangles divided by fold lines. Write a fortune that corresponds with the 8 numbers that you just wrote.

Playing the Game - Traditional

Place your thumbs and index fingers into the 4 flaps. Have a friend choose one of the colors that you have written on the 4 flaps. Spell out that color while moving your thumbs and index fingers back and forth in alternating directions.
Have your friend choose one of the numbers that they see. Count out that number while moving your thumbs and index fingers back and forth in alternating directions.
Have your friend choose another number that they see. Open the large triangle and read the fortune that corresponds to the number that they chose.

Variations:

Place animal names on the 4 flaps, and when you open up the flap to read the fortune, have animal facts written instead of a fortune.
Place Bible character names on the 4 flaps, and when you open the flap to read the fortune, tell a Bible fact instead of a fortune.
Place numbers (in words) on the 4 flaps, when you open the flap to read the fortune, have a mathematical problem instead of a fortune.
The possibilities are endless!

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The copyright of the article How to Make a Fortune Teller in Kids Crafts is owned by Denise Oliveri. Permission to republish How to Make a Fortune Teller in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.