Children's File Folder Activities
Children need to learn and understand a broad range of concepts throughout their school careers. File folder activities and games are educational tools for teaching children important new concepts and for reviewing those previously taught. File folder activities and games are made from either colored or plain manila file folders. Game boards can be teacher-made or downloaded from the Internet. Game pieces are placed in plastic zipper bags and stored in the folder along with instructions.
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Enrichment
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Folder games can be created for teaching required subject areas. Language arts, social studies, science, reading and math concepts are easily taught through the use of carefully-prepared file folder activities and games. Elementary students can learn math concepts, such as number operations using addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, through different types of folder activities. For example, a simple math folder activity for teaching "even and odd concepts" includes a game board with two pictures of boys raking leaves with the word "odd" printed on one boy's rake and and the word "even" on the other. Plastic bags inside the folder contain a set of numbers from 1 to 20. Students play the game by placing all "odd" or "even" numbers on the correct side.
Motivation
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According to John Keller's ARCS model of motivational design, students are more motivated to learn when the learning is attention-getting, when the activity is relevant to content and information learned, when they feel they can be successful and when the learning is rewarding in some way. File folder activities and games motivate students to extend their learning. They provide independent learning activities that match skill abilities and learning styles. When teachers create folders with a purpose and explain the expectations for completing the activities appropriately, children will benefit through practicing and applying skills learned in class in real-life situations. For instance, a math folder activity on measurement includes hands-on materials such as a ruler, scale, thermometer and items to measure.
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Differentiation
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File folder activities provide a different avenue for acquiring content. In education, differentiation refers to how a student masters a concept. This can be accomplished and displayed when his specific needs are met. File folder activities and games demonstrate mastery of a specific concept through a hands-on independent learning modality. According to veteran educator Professor Carol Ann Tomlinson, differentiation is just a teacher acknowledging that students learn in different ways and adapting content and process in response.
Positive Consequences
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File folder games and activities give children an opportunity to gain confidence in their skills. These activities challenge students to try a new concept they might otherwise not attempt. When students are working to accomplish a goal, they feel success upon completion. Carefully-designed file folder activities allow students to practice skills in a non-threatening setting. For example, math folders provide correct answers, but allow for different methods to accomplish the task. Individual student conferences, following the completion of such activities, provide immediate feedback and reinforcement. Praise for attempting the task and suggestions for success sustain desired behaviors. Praise may be oral or some tangible reward, such as a sticker for younger children.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit file folders image by Chad McDermott from Fotolia.com
