Foldables and why they work

Foldables are easy to make and need minimal supplies. You can make them with construction paper to make them colorful, but if you don’t have that at home, regular white paper will work just as well. As an educator, I have used foldables with all grades up to seniors in high school. Why not make them? They do nothing but enhance learning and encourage students to be active learners.  

What is a foldable?  

A Foldable is a three-dimensional, interactive graphic organizer based upon a skill. Making a Foldable gives students a fast, kinesthetic activity that helps them organize and retain information either before, during, or after reading. Foldables are best effective if constructed by the learner.  

How do I make a foldable?  

There are a lot of websites to show you how to make a foldable. One type of foldable can be used in multiple ways and for multiple subjects. Try a site like this: https://shelleygrayteaching.com/how-tomake-foldables/ 

There is a woman Dinah Zike who has put together a book on making foldables. I will attach a link here.  https://www.robeson.k12.nc.us/site/handlers/filedownload.ashx?moduleinstanceid=78015&dataid=119717&FileName=Dinah%20Zikes%20Reading%20and%20Study%20Skills%20Foldables.pdf 

Why do foldables work? 

1. They keep information organized. No more flipping through notebook pages or back and forth in a textbook.  

2. They reduce boredom. Tactile activities, like making a foldable, enhance learning and get students active in their own learning.  

3. Any age can use them. Foldables aren’t for just the little kids. They can be excellent study guides. Just the act of making a foldable is supplementing the actual information and leads to better learning.  

4. Use them to take notes, to organize notes, or to study notes. A foldable can be used at any point in learning.