Paper fortune teller facts for kids
A fortune teller (also known as a cootie catcher or chatterbox) is a cool paper toy. Kids often use it for games. It's a type of origami, which is the art of paper folding.
This paper toy has different parts. Some parts show colors or numbers. Players choose one of these options. Inside, there are eight secret flaps. Each flap hides a message. The person holding the fortune teller moves it based on the player's choices. Finally, one of the secret messages is shown. These messages might answer questions, which is why it's called a "fortune teller." They can also be fun activities for the player to do.
How to Make a Fortune Teller
Making a paper fortune teller is easy and fun! Just follow these steps:
- First, get a square piece of paper. If your paper isn't square, fold one corner up to the opposite side. Then, cut off the extra paper at the top. This will give you a perfect square. You will see diagonal creases on your paper.
- Next, fold each of the four corners into the very center of the square. This creates a smaller square shape. It's sometimes called a "blintz base" in origami.
- Now, flip the smaller square over. Fold all four corners into the center again.
- Finally, fold all four corners up so their points meet in the middle. Put your fingers into the paper pockets at each of the four corners. Now your fortune teller is ready to play!
How to Play
Playing with a fortune teller is simple and exciting!
- The person holding the fortune teller puts their index fingers and thumbs into the four paper corners. They keep two pairs of corners together and the other two pairs open. This way, you can see half of the inside sections.
- The player asks a question. The fortune teller will "answer" this question.
- Then, the holder asks the player to pick a number or a color.
- Once a choice is made, the holder uses their fingers to move the fortune teller. They switch between the two groups of colors and numbers inside.
- The holder moves the fortune teller a certain number of times. This number can be based on the letters in the chosen color. It can also be the number the player picked. Sometimes, it's the total of both!
- After the holder finishes moving the fortune teller, the player chooses one of the flaps that are showing. These flaps often have colors or numbers on them.
- The holder then lifts that flap. The secret fortune or message underneath is revealed! You can repeat these steps to play again and again.
Other Cool Uses
Besides telling fortunes, these paper shapes have other interesting uses!
- They can be used like small pincers. Kids sometimes pretend to catch tiny insects, like "cooties," with them. This is how the name "cootie catcher" came about!
- The name "salt cellar" comes from another use. You can stand the paper shape on a table with its four points facing down. The four open pockets can then hold small snacks or candies.
- In 2018, people in Olot, Spain, used over 10,000 of these paper shapes! They created an amazing art display called "ORIGAMI LAVA." It looked like lava pouring out of a building window for a festival.
