Sacrament meeting can be a long haul for most kids. Parents want to keep their kids reverent and teach them at the same time. Is that too much to ask for? Introduce the file folder game. A simple activity game made from laminated paper cutouts and Velcro all tucked neatly into an ordinary file folder. The file folder games keep the kids occupied so they don't cause disruptions and teach simple lessons from the story of Noah's Ark to learning shapes. Mormonchic wanted to try our hand at making some file folder games of our own. We've created some easy file folder games that are simple as download, print, cut and laminate. We hope you'll enjoy these soon-to-be classics in your family.

By Lori Garcia, editor-in-chief

 


There are some basic supplies you'll need to create most file folder games. Here is a good list of items.

   
      What You'll Need:
• computer, printer (preferably color, but not necessary as you could color your own) • Adobe Acrobat Reader -- Don't have Acrobat Reader? > Download it for free
• adhesive Velcro strips • Laminator (or copy center that will laminate the folder and games.)
• scissors • file folders
• cardstock • double-stick tape

Basic Instructions:

Usually when you purchase a file folder book, you'll find activity sheets and cutouts that you must photocopy, color and cut out. Our file folder projects are already colored for you, so all you have to do is download the files and print them off on any color printer. We hope this time-saver will help you create file folder games more quickly and easily.

Each file folder game has an activity sheet and coordinating cut-outs.

FIGURE A
FIGURE B

 

Activity Sheets - Are the sheets that will be left whole. All that is needed is to print them out. (SEE FIGURE A)

Cutouts - Are sheets that contain the cut-out pieces for the activity sheets. You will need to trim out the shapes to use them. (SEE FIGURE B)

Noah's Ark
Your children will have fun adding the animals to Noah's Ark, two by two.

Step-by-Step

1. Download the activity sheet for Noah's Ark. (SEE FIGURE A)

(Note, you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader. Don't have Reader? > Download it for free. )

2. Print page with color printer and set aside. You can print it on cardstock or regular 20 lb paper, depending on your preference.

3. Download the cutout sheet for Noah's Ark. (SEE FIGURE B)

4. Print the cutouts and trim around them.

5. Laminate the cutouts and trim around them again. (Note, it's good not to trim too closely around the cutouts as your lamination could come undone.)

6. Laminate the activity sheet as well.

7. Make sure the adhesive Velcro is put together so that the hook (pointy side) and the loop (fuzzy side) are joined. Cut a small square out of combined Velcro tape.

8. Unpeel the paper backing off the loop side, revealing the adhesive. Stick it in the center of one of the ark's windows on the activity sheet. Place the hook side of the Velcro on top of the loop side to join the Velcro.

9. Peel the paper backing off the hook side while it is still attached to the loop side.

10. Place one of the animal cutouts on top of the Velcro so that it is centered on the window of the activity sheet.

11. Unhook the Velcro pieces, and the animal cutout will now have one side of the Velcro on it and the activity page's window will have the other.

12. Repeat these steps for subsequent windows and cutouts until all windows and all cutouts have Velcro attached. Make sure the windows on the activity sheet has the loop side of the Velcro and the cutouts all have the hook side.

13. Cut out a six inch by five inch rectangle out of cardstock or paper. Laminate it.

14. Tape the rectangle to the left-hand side of the opened file folder, leaving the top side open. This will be the pocket in which you will store the cutouts.

15. Tape the activity sheet to the right-hand side of the file folder with double-stick tape.

16. Now you're ready to store your cutouts in the pocket and play with the Noah's Ark File Folder, attaching the animals to the different windows of the ark.

Don't have a color printer? No problem. Print the following pages in black and white and color them yourself:
> activity sheet

> cut-out sheet

Dress the Bear
A fun take on an old-time favorite, paper dolls. Dress up Mr. Bear with fun outfits from a baseball uniform to a clown suit to pajamas.

Step-by-Step

1. Download the activity sheet for Dress the Bear. (SEE FIGURE C)

(Note, you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader. Don't have Reader? > Download it for free. )

2. Print page with color printer and set aside. You can print it on cardstock or regular 20 lb paper, depending on your preference.

3. Download the cutout sheets for Dress the Bear below: (SEE FIGURE D)

> Doctor's Outfit > Pajamas
> Missionary Shirt & Tie > Baseball Uniform
> Clown Suit > Military Fatigues

FIGURE C
FIGURE D

4. Print the cutouts and trim around them.

5. Laminate the cutouts and trim around them again. (Note, it's good not to trim too closely around the cutouts as your lamination could come undone.)

6. Laminate the activity sheet as well.

7. Make sure the adhesive Velcro is put together so that the hook (pointy side) and the loop (fuzzy side) are joined. Cut a small square out of combined Velcro tape.

8. Unpeel the paper backing off the loop side, revealing the adhesive. Stick it in the center of Mr. Bear's T-shirt on the activity sheet. Place the hook side of the Velcro on top of the loop side to join the Velcro.

9. Peel the paper backing off the hook side while it is still attached to the loop side.

10. Place one of the shirt cutouts on top of the Velcro so that it is centered on the T-shirt of the activity sheet.

11. Unhook the Velcro pieces, and the shirt cutout will now have one side of the Velcro on it and the activity page will have the other.

12. Repeat these steps so that all of the shirts have the hook side of Velcro on them. Continue the process for the pants and the hats, making sure the activity sheet has the loop side of the Velcro and the cutouts all have the hook side.

13. Cut out a six inch by five inch rectangle out of cardstock or paper. Laminate it.

14. Tape the rectangle to the left-hand side of the opened file folder, leaving the top side open. This will be the pocket in which you will store the cutouts.

15. Tape the activity sheet to the right-hand side of the file folder with double-stick tape.

16. Now you're ready to store your cutouts in the pocket and play with the Dress the Bear File Folder.

Don't have a color printer? No problem. Print the following pages in black and white and color them yourself:
> activity sheet

> Doctor's Outfit > Pajamas
> Missionary Shirt & Tie > Baseball Uniform
> Clown Suit > Military Fatigues

My Family Tree
Personalize this file folder game by typing in the names of your own family members. With many cutouts to choose from, we're sure there's a cutout that resembles your family members.

Step-by-Step

1. Download the activity sheet for My Family Tree. (SEE FIGURE E)

(Note, you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader. Don't have Reader? > Download it for free. )

2. Print page with color printer and set aside. You can print it on cardstock or regular 20 lb paper, depending on your preference.

3. Download the cutout sheets for My Family Tree below: (SEE FIGURE F)

> Family Tree Cutouts 1 > Family Tree Cutouts2

FIGURE E
FIGURE F

4. Open the cutouts in Adobe Acrobat Reader.

5. Select the cutout you would like to use and highlight the name on the cutout using the Text tool.

6. Type the name you would like to use. For example, if you have a brunette, fair-skinned daughter named Sophie, select the cutout of the "sister" that is brunette and has fair skin. Highlight the word "sister" on the cutout and type in "Sophie." Repeat these steps for every cutout on the page you would like to include in your family tree.

7. Print the cutouts and trim around them.

8. Laminate the cutouts and trim around them again. (Note, it's good not to trim too closely around the cutouts as your lamination could come undone.)

9. Laminate the activity sheet as well.

10. Make sure the adhesive Velcro is put together so that the hook (pointy side) and the loop (fuzzy side) are joined. Cut a small square out of combined Velcro tape.

11. Unpeel the paper backing off the loop side, revealing the adhesive. Stick it somewhere on the tree on the activity sheet. Place the hook side of the Velcro on top of the loop side to join the Velcro.

12. Peel the paper backing off the hook side while it is still attached to the loop side.

13. Place one of the family member cutouts on top of the Velcro so that it is centered on the cutout.

14. Unhook the Velcro pieces, and the cutout will now have one side of the Velcro on it and the activity page will have the other.

15. Repeat these steps so that all of the family members have the hook side of Velcro on them and the activity sheet has the loop side of the Velcro. Make sure to space out the Velcro on the activity sheet so family member cutouts won't overlap during play.

16. Cut out a six inch by five inch rectangle out of cardstock or paper. Laminate it.

17. Tape the rectangle to the left-hand side of the opened file folder, leaving the top side open. This will be the pocket in which you will store the cutouts.

18. Tape the activity sheet to the right-hand side of the file folder with double-stick tape.

19. Now you're ready to store your cutouts in the pocket and play with the My Family Tree File Folder.

Don't have a color printer? No problem. Print the following pages in black and white and color them yourself:
> activity sheet

> cut-out sheet

> cut-out sheet 2

Flower Garden
Dress up the garden with colorful flowers, clouds, sun and a butterfly.

Step-by-step

1. Download the activity sheet for Flower Garden. (SEE FIGURE F)

(Note, you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader. Don't have Reader? > Download it for free. )

2. Print page with color printer and set aside. You can print it on cardstock or regular 20 LB paper, depending on your preference.

3. Download the cutout sheet for Flower Garden. (SEE FIGURE G)


FIGURE F
FIGURE G

4. Print the cutouts and trim around them.

5. Laminate the cutouts and trim around them again. (Note, it's good not to trim too closely around the cutouts as your lamination could come undone.)

6. Laminate the activity sheet as well.

7. Make sure the adhesive Velcro is put together so that the hook (pointy side) and the loop (fuzzy side) are joined. Cut a small square out of combined Velcro tape.

8. Unpeel the paper backing off the loop side, revealing the adhesive. Stick it on top of one of the stems on the activity sheet. Place the hook side of the Velcro on top of the loop side to join the Velcro.

9. Peel the paper backing off the hook side while it is still attached to the loop side.

10. Place one of the flower head cutouts on top of the Velcro so that it is centered on top of the stem of the activity sheet.

11. Unhook the Velcro pieces, and the flower head cutout will now have one side of the Velcro on it and the activity page will have the other.

12. Repeat these steps so that all of the flower heads have the hook side of Velcro on them and the stems have the loop side of the Velcro. Also repeat the steps for sun, clouds and butterfly in the sky.

13. Cut out a six inch by five inch rectangle out of cardstock or paper. Laminate it.

14. Tape the rectangle to the left-hand side of the opened file folder, leaving the top side open. This will be the pocket in which you will store the cutouts.

15. Tape the activity sheet to the right-hand side of the file folder with double-stick tape.

16. Now you're ready to store your cutouts in the pocket and play with the Flower Garden File Folder.

Don't have a color printer? No problem. Print the following pages in black and white and color them yourself:
> activity sheet

> cut-out sheet

Match the Opposites
Use this file folder game to help children learn about opposites. Match the "brother" with its opposite "sister," "daddy" with its opposite "mommy" and so on.

Step-by-step

1. Download the activity sheet for Flower Garden. (SEE FIGURE H)

(Note, you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader. Don't have Reader? > Download it for free. )

2. Print page with color printer and set aside. You can print it on cardstock or regular 20 LB paper, depending on your preference.

3. Download the cutout sheet for Match the Opposites. (SEE FIGURE I)

 

FIGURE H
FIGURE I

4. Print the cutouts and trim around them.

5. Laminate the cutouts and trim around them again. (Note, it's good not to trim too closely around the cutouts as your lamination could come undone.)

6. Laminate the activity sheet as well.

7. Make sure the adhesive Velcro is put together so that the hook (pointy side) and the loop (fuzzy side) are joined. Cut a small square out of combined Velcro tape.

8. Unpeel the paper backing off the loop side, revealing the adhesive. Stick it below one of the faces in the circles on the activity sheet. Place the hook side of the Velcro on top of the loop side to join the Velcro.

9. Peel the paper backing off the hook side while it is still attached to the loop side.

10. Place its opposite cutout on top of the Velcro so that it is centered with the circle on the activity sheet.

11. Unhook the Velcro pieces, and the cutout will now have one side of the Velcro on it and the activity page will have the other.

12. Repeat these steps so that all of the pairs have Velcro, making sure the cutouts have the hook side of the Velcro and the activity sheet has the loop side.

13. Cut out a six inch by five inch rectangle out of cardstock or paper. Laminate it.

14. Tape the rectangle to the left-hand side of the opened file folder, leaving the top side open. This will be the pocket in which you will store the cutouts.

15. Tape the activity sheet to the right-hand side of the file folder with double-stick tape.

16. Now you're ready to store your cutouts in the pocket and play with the Match the Opposite File Folder.

Don't have a color printer? No problem. Print the following pages in black and white and color them yourself:
> activity sheet

> cut-out sheet

Match the Mittens
Children will learn colors as they match the mittens.

Step-by-step

With this file folder game, the activity sheet and the cutout sheet are one in the same.

1. Download the activity sheet/cutout sheet for Match the Mittens.

(Note, you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader. Don't have Reader? > Download it for free. )

2. Print two copies of this page with color printer. Set one copy aside. This will be your activity sheet. You can print it on cardstock or regular 20 LB paper, depending on your preference.

3. Trim around the mittens on the other copy of the sheet.

4. Laminate the cutouts and trim around them again. (Note, it's good not to trim too closely around the cutouts as your lamination could come undone.)

5. Make sure the adhesive Velcro is put together so that the hook (pointy side) and the loop (fuzzy side) are joined. Cut a small square out of combined Velcro tape.

6. Unpeel the paper backing off the loop side, revealing the adhesive. Stick it on the center of one of the mittens on the activity sheet. Place the hook side of the Velcro on top of the loop side to join the Velcro.

7. Peel the paper backing off the hook side while it is still attached to the loop side.

8. Place one of the coordinating mitten cutout on top of the Velcro so that it is centered on top of the mitten on the activity sheet.

9. Unhook the Velcro pieces, and the mitten cutout will now have one side of the Velcro on it and the activity page will have the other.

10. Repeat these steps for the additional mittens, making sure the cutouts have the hook side of the Velcro and the activity sheet has the loop side.

11. Cut out a six inch by five inch rectangle out of cardstock or paper. Laminate it.

12. Tape the rectangle to the left-hand side of the opened file folder, leaving the top side open. This will be the pocket in which you will store the cutouts.

13. Tape the activity sheet to the right-hand side of the file folder with double-stick tape.

14. Now you're ready to store your cutouts in the pocket and play with the Match the Mitten File Folder.

Don't have a color printer? No problem. Print the following pages in black and white and color them yourself:
> activity & cut-out sheet

Match the Shapes
Children will learn shapes as they match the cutouts.

Step-by-step

With this file folder game, the activity sheet and the cutout sheet are one in the same.

1. Download the activity sheet/cutout sheet for Match the Shapes.

(Note, you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader. Don't have Reader? > Download it for free. )

2. Print two copies of this page with color printer. Set one copy aside. This will be your activity sheet. You can print it on cardstock or regular 20 LB paper, depending on your preference.

3. Trim around the shapes on the other copy of the sheet.

4. Laminate the cutouts and trim around them again. (Note, it's good not to trim too closely around the cutouts as your lamination could come undone.)

5. Make sure the adhesive Velcro is put together so that the hook (pointy side) and the loop (fuzzy side) are joined. Cut a small square out of combined Velcro tape.

6. Unpeel the paper backing off the loop side, revealing the adhesive. Stick it on the center of one of the shapes on the activity sheet. Place the hook side of the Velcro on top of the loop side to join the Velcro.

7. Peel the paper backing off the hook side while it is still attached to the loop side.

8. Place one of the coordinating shape cutout on top of the Velcro so that it is centered on top of the mitten on the activity sheet.

9. Unhook the Velcro pieces, and the shape cutout will now have one side of the Velcro on it and the activity page will have the other.

10. Repeat these steps for the additional shapes, making sure the cutouts have the hook side of the Velcro and the activity sheet has the loop side.

11. Cut out a six inch by five inch rectangle out of cardstock or paper. Laminate it.

12. Tape the rectangle to the left-hand side of the opened file folder, leaving the top side open. This will be the pocket in which you will store the cutouts.

13. Tape the activity sheet to the right-hand side of the file folder with double-stick tape.

14. Now you're ready to store your cutouts in the pocket and play with the Match the Shapes File Folder.

Don't have a color printer? No problem. Print the following pages in black and white and color them yourself:
> activity sheet

File Folder Game Books

> Instant File Folder Games for Reading

> Instant File Folder Games for Math

> Carson Dellosa's File Folder Games

> BusyTeachersCafe.com

> Finch Family Favorites - The Best of LDS File Folder Fun

> File Folder Fun for Little Latter-Day Saints - Vol 3 & 4

You can also buy volumes 1-4 at Deseret Book

> More Finch Family Favorites LDS File Folder Fun

 

 

Free Download more
File Folder Games

Preschool Printables

> Butterflies

> Sunny Letters

> Falling for Shapes

> Fire Safety

> Gingerbread Boys

> Graduation Colors

> Hearts

> Igloo Alphabet

> Numbers in Bloom

> Perfect Pies

> Pizza Number Party

> Pumpkin Patch

> Scarecrow Colors

> Shamrocks

> Ship Shape

> Snowflake Numbers

> Turkey Lurkey

> Watermelon Numbers

> More File Folder Games from EnchantedLearning.com

 

Related Mormonchic Article:

> Quiet Book Ideas

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