Folded Flap Books

							                   Folded Flap Books

 These folded books proceed in a clock-wise unfolding pattern.
They can be used for reading, language arts, science, and/or social
studies. The final page unfolds into a large drawing.

You will need two or three large sheets of construction paper,
scissors, tape, colored pencils, crayons and/or markers. If students
are in grades 2-4, you may only want to use two pieces of
construction paper. Lay the pieces of construction paper on top of
each other, and fold lengthwise, and then crosswise, so there will
be four squares. Unfold and cut through the two/three pieces from
the left edges to the center along the fold. Stop cutting at the
center. Fold only the top left square over to the right. Then fold
the two squares from the top right downward. After these two
folds have been made, tape the bottom left square to the top left
square of the second layer. Then continue to fold squares, left, up,
right, down. I f you have three layers of paper, when you get to the
third layer, tape the bottom left square of the second layer to the
top right square of the third layer before you finish folding.

Use the square that is now on top as tour cover. Open the book and
number the inside of the cover #1, and the square to the right #2.
Unfold the book once and write #3 on the top right square. Do not
number the top left square , but unfold down and number that
square #4. Continue unfolding and numbering each square in a
counter-clockwise direction. Now students can draw or write on
the refolded pages, they can decorate the cover, and on the large
unfolded inside, the can draw an illustration that can act as a
conclusion, or summary. If you wish, you can cut small lined
pieces of paper that can be glued to the pages of construction paper
to make it easier for the students to write.

Suggestions for use. Design a time line about a story or event in
history, or directions to make something, or steps in a science
experiment, or even a math problem. Each step, or event can be
drawn or written about on each succeeding page of the “book.”
Use large inside page for the conclusion, summary, picture of final
product, or examples, etc. Describe or illustrate important events,
or people. An important writer, illustrator, scientist, artist,
musician, etc. can be described on the pages (his/her life or works,
accomplishments). The inside page can illustrate one event, piece
of work, or accomplishment. “Mystery Guest”: students can write
clues about themselves, or a famous person, or event on each page,
and reveal answer in a picture and/or words on final inside page.