Submitted by Pamela Rezach

Idea posted August 7, 2006

Use folders. After you have decorated the outside and placed the questions, etc. on the inside, laminate the folders before letting the students use them. They will last FOREVER! I have many folder centers and have used them for over 15 years. They still look great! Folders are wonderful for space (or lack thereof) and filing away.

Decorate the outside of the folder for enticement. Give each activity a creative name. ("Can't Wait to Get Inside" approach.)

Example of a folder:
"Clip Your Thoughts"
Supplies: The folder and colored paper clips. (Assign a GOLD paper clip as the paper clip to hold.)
1. Questions are written on the inside of the folder.

 (Two statements per question.)

2. Students will clip the appropriately colored clip to the gold holding clip.
Ex. 1. If a whole note gets four counts, clip a blue clip.

  If a whole note gets one count, clip a yellow clip.

Ex. 2. If a quarter note is vocalized as "ta," clip a pink clip.

  If a quarter note is vocalized as "ti-ti," clip a green clip.

On the back of the folder, place a pocket, and slip an answer sheet in the pocket. (Laminate the answer sheet, too.)

Answers: GOLD, blue, pink

In the past I have taught a "make it and take it" week-long summer workshop course at Kent State University. I shared the individual, small-group, and large-group activities and folder centers I've created over the years. What fun it was! Everyone went home with hundreds of activities prepared and ready to go.