I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but it’s been pretty quiet at Mommy Maleta this past month. Our family’s upcoming move to Peru is approaching and I’ll just say, WOW, there is a lot to do. I’ll post more on those details soon, but let me quick quiz you. On which continent is Peru located?
If you or your kids don’t know, maybe it’s time to brush up on your world geography. A fun way to do that is by playing Continent Fortune Teller. It is just one of the amazing educational activities you can find in the newly released book called 100 Fun and Easy Learning Games for Kids written by the dynamic duo Amanda Boyarshinov and Kim Vij.
Let me show you how to play…
Continent Fortune Teller
This activity has been reprinted with permission from the publisher of 100 FUN & EASY LEARNING GAMES FOR KIDS. I received a complimentary copy for review purposes.
Grab a partner and go global with this paper-folding fortune teller game. Make your game board, then count and move for your challenge. Locate the continents on the map, refold the game board back together and count again! We know you will soon be able to identify all seven continents.
Focus Skill: identifying the seven continents
Materials
Square piece of paper
Pencil
Map or globe
Directions to Make
1. Fold the square paper in half at both diagonals. Crease and unfold. Fold the square again at each middle. Unfold.
2. Bring each corner evenly to the middle of the square.
3. Flip the square over and fold the corners evenly into the middle of the square again.
4. Fold in half and flip over.
5. Place your fingers into the slits and open.
6. Open each triangle and write one of the following on each half: Find North America, Find South America, Point to Australia, Point to Europe, Find Asia, Find Africa, Point to Antarctica, Point and Name an Ocean.
7. To complete the fortune teller, write numbers 1 to 8 on the inside triangles.
Directions to Play
1. Player one places their fingers in the fortune teller and opens to show four numbers.
2. Player two picks one of the four numbers and player one moves the fortune teller back and forth that many times.
3. Player two picks another number. Player one then opens the fortune teller to read their task.
4. Player two completes the task using the map or globe.
5. The game repeats with player two holding the fortune teller.
Game Variations
- Write famous landforms, major cities or important landmarks on the inside triangles.
- Use this game to practice math facts. Write a number sentence on each triangle for kids to solve before moving back and forth.
- Write sight words on each triangle. Move the fortune teller the number of letters in the word. Write a sentence using that word on the inside for them to read out loud.
Did You Ever Play With These Origami Contraptions?
I remember playing games with these origami contraptions backs when I was in school. I don’t think we called them fortune tellers back then. I don’t there was any educational content involved either. But I do remember that they were lots of fun.
Now that I’m a bit more mature (ahem), I appreciate the combination of fun and education. And I hope you do too! For 99 more ideas of how you can have some educational fun with your kiddos using simple, everyday household products check out this information packed post over at The Educators’ Spin On It. You’ll find out all the juicy details about the newly released 100 Fun and Easy Learning Games for Kids.