Yarn Shape Match File Folder Game

Today's file folder game is a Yarn Shape Match.  It's a super simple activity to put together, requiring almost no materials (i.e. it's also frugal).  It is great for preschool and kindergarten aged children to practice their fine motor skill development.

To Make It:

1. On the inside of your file folder, use markers to draw various shapes.  Depending on the age of your child, you will want to keep shape size and detail in mind as you draw these (younger kids=bigger, simpler shapes).

2.  Cut various sized pieces of yarn.  You will want various sizes so that it is easier to both make sharp turns on shapes (like the "cross" on letter A or when making the three sides of a triangle) and to make long, continuous shapes (like circle or squiggle marks).

Be sure to add a pocket to the front of your file folder to store your yarn pieces!

Encourage your child to line various pieces of yarn up with the shapes he sees on the file folder.  Also, as you can see in the photo above, yarn does not really like to stay where you put it (shape wise), which is another reason you may want to cut your string pieces small and have them connect strings together instead.

Don't forget to store your file folder games in a super cute up-cycled box!

Ordinal Number Match File Folder

If you are working on ordinal numbers with your kiddo, try out this file folder game to help them practice!  

To Make It:

1.  Cut out 2 each of 10 different colored triangles (or squares, circles, etc.).

2.  Use packaging tape to tape down one each of the triangles to a file folder.  

3.  Underneath the two rows of triangles, draw a long line.  Add numbers along the line to match up with the order of shapes (top row 1-5, bottom row 6-10).

4.  On the second set of triangles, write the ordinal numbers (1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc).  I made mine to match up color-wise, but you do not have to do it that way.

5.  Cut out 10 short strips of paper to fit on the lines below the triangles, and write out the names of the ordinal numbers on each (first, second, etc.).

6.  Laminate the second set of triangles and the word strips to ensure they last.

7.  On the front of your file folder, be sure to add a pocket so that your pieces can easily be stored.

This file folder is appropriate for kindergarten and first grade students / homeschoolers.