File folder games have been around forever. Or at least it seems that way! They certainly have been in classrooms for decades and I don’t see them leaving anytime soon. If you’ve never heard of file folder games, the name is fairly self-explanatory. They are a game that is played inside a file folder.
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Typical Classroom Centers
In classrooms across America, there are many types of centers or workstations. A typical center might be comprised of some cards with questions, and manipulatives like pattern blocks, puzzles, etc. The possibilities are endless!
With the rise of teacher-made materials being sold through sites like Teachers Pay Teachers, TES, Etsy, and the like, we have seen far more card-based centers in the last 10 years.
They may look something like this with the cards depicting a math problem where students need to solve for the missing addend in the addition sentence.
The cards are often numbered (for literacy centers) or lettered (for math centers) and have a matching recording sheet.
While these centers are fantastic, there are some downfalls to them – namely all the pieces. While most centers are going to require lots of pieces, this type of center cannot easily be stored in one place unless the pieces are designed in a specific way. For instance, these centers were created to fit inside those photo boxes you can find at Michaels or Walmart. Obviously matching worksheets or recording sheets don’t fit in those little boxes!
Another good solution I’ve found for these types of centers is using a two-pocket folder. Then you can keep the recording sheet(s) on one side of the folder and the cards for the center on the other side. There is still a chance of the cards falling out of the pocket, so I usually throw those in an envelope. If extra materials are needed like dry-erase markers, magnet letters, etc., then the folder and the manipulatives are put into a bin or basket together.
File Folder Games
As I said before, file folder games are activities that are used and stored within a typical file folder (just as the name states). They can offer the same sets of skills as other centers, but they may be presented in a different way.
A great thing about file folder games is that they are self-containing activities. There is typically an activity mat that goes on one or both sides of the inside of the folder. Then manipulative pieces can be placed in an envelope and attached to the folder.
These centers also lend themselves to on-the-go learning, so you can assign them for center work, seat work, tutoring, homework, etc. It makes it really easy to pick up the folder and send it off with the students.
One of my favorite things about file folder games is that they are typically built around a theme. This makes learning more fun and students seem to forget they’re working on skills and just enjoy their time playing the game.
Which center is right for you?
They both are! You can’t go wrong with either type of center and your students are sure to love them both. I would highly suggest trying all types of centers with your students to see what they respond to best.
I particularly like using file folder games for early finishers. You can keep a crate of games in a designated space and then your fast finishers can grab a game, take it back to their seat, and get to work.
On the other hand, I like assigning card-based games to students for center work and pairing those with hands-on manipulatives.
Creation Castle
Heather is the author of Creation Castle. She has experience with general education, special education, and ESL students in kindergarten through fifth grade. She specializes in early elementary math and literacy, as well as organization.
