Cootie Catcher Template (Free Printable)
A print-and-fold fortune teller with the fortunes already written in. The fold lines print right on the sheet — cut, fold, and play in five minutes. Free, no sign-up.
- Cut out the square.
- Fold corner to corner both ways; unfold (crease guides).
- Fold all four corners into the middle. Flip, repeat.
- Open the four pockets, pick a color, spell it out, pick a number, lift a flap!
PNG version — the exact file Download PNG saves
What is a cootie catcher?
A cootie catcher — most of the world calls it a paper fortune teller — is a folded paper game that has been passing notes on playgrounds for generations. Four colors on the outside, numbers one through eight on the flaps, and a hidden fortune under each corner. One kid holds the catcher open and shut while a friend picks a color and a number, and whatever flap they land on “tells their fortune.”
This template prints the whole game on one sheet: the color words, the numbers one through eight, and four fortunes already filled in, with the fold lines drawn right on the paper. You only need scissors and about five minutes. If your printer only does black and white, nothing breaks — the color words are the game tokens, so a gray-scale sheet plays exactly the same.
Teachers use cootie catchers for more than fortunes: they double as icebreakers, story starters, and brain breaks. The folding itself is a fine-motor workout, and the call-and-response rhythm keeps a whole small group engaged with one sheet. Once your students can fold one, they can fold a thousand — which is when the blank corners come in handy for writing their own.
Teaching tips
Icebreaker round
First week of school: partners fold one catcher and take turns reading fortunes to each other. Two shy kids get a script and a reason to talk.
Brain break
Keep two or three folded catchers in a “quiet bucket.” A one-minute turn with a fortune resets a wiggly table faster than free play.
Write-your-own
Print the blank corners version and let students write their own fortunes or vocabulary words — folding + writing in one center.
Take-home craft
Cheap, flat, and indestructible enough for a backpack: an easy take-home craft that parents will actually find on the fridge, not the floor.
Frequently asked questions
What is a cootie catcher?
A folded paper game also known as a paper fortune teller. You pick a color, spell it out while the catcher opens and closes, pick a number, then lift a flap to read the fortune written underneath.
Why is it called a fortune teller if it’s a cootie catcher?
Same toy, two names. “Fortune teller” describes what it does; “cootie catcher” is the playground nickname — “cooties” being the imaginary germs kids have joked about for about a century. This page uses both so you can find it either way.
What age is this good for?
Kindergarten and up can play with a pre-folded catcher; second and third graders can usually fold their own following the printed steps. For K–1, fold one ahead of time and let them run the game.
Does it work in black and white?
Yes. The four color words are the game tokens — players “pick a color” by reading the word. The sheet plays identically on a grayscale printer.
Can I write my own fortunes?
That’s the classic move. Fold it first, then lift each flap and write on the inside corners with a fine marker — or print the fortunes page and copy your favorites in.