Morgan Herrera 10

Foldables
What is a foldable?
A Foldable is a 3-D, student-made, interactive graphic organizer based upon a
skill. Making a Foldable gives students a fast, kinesthetic activity that helps them
organize and retain information.- Dinah Zike

Why use foldables?

help quickly organize, display and arrange data

result in student-made study guides
provide a multitude of creative formats in which students can present their learning
incorporate many skills such as: comparing and contrasting, cause and effect, similarities
and differences
provide a sense of student ownership
foldables are a great strategy because they are so versatile and can be used for a variety
of subjects and topics
teaches students how to take notes

Who can use foldable?

ELLs- clarify ideas using minimal words and improve higher order thinking
LD- help students comprehend content area material, to organize information,
and to retain and recall content
All students! because foldables are so versatile and offer so many options,
there is one out there for every learner.

How to use foldables

Morgan Herrera 10

Pick the design you think will work best for your students and
topic or offer options
Teach students how to make foldable (there are many different
kinds so be sure to research each individual foldable)
Show the students how to categorize information
Model with students how to use foldable and what information
should go on it
Show students plenty of examples
Use foldables for notes, assessments or projects!
Have paper out with examples so students can make a foldable
when they need it
There are many different kinds of foldables!

Two-tab
Four-tab
Envelope fold
Three-quarter book
Bound book
Pocket book
Pyramid
Zip strip
And many more!

References:
http://www.ride.ri.gov/Portals/0/Uploads/Documents/Instruction-and-Assessment-World-ClassStandards/Transition/EIA-CCSS/ScarpelliD-Toolbox_Foldables.pdf
Casteel, D. B., & Narkawicz, M. G. (2006). Effectiveness of Foldables Versus Lecture/Worksheet In Teaching
Social Studies in Third Grade Classrooms. In Efficacy study. The Forum on Public Policy.
Herrera, Socorro G.; Holmes, Melissa A.; Kavimandan, Shabina K.. Bringing Theory to Life: Strategies that Make
Culturally Responsive Pedagogy a Reality in Diverse Secondary Classrooms. International Journal of Multicultural
Education, [S.l.], v. 14, n. 3, dec. 2012. ISSN 1934-5267.
Hoover, A. M. (2009). An Investigation of Teaching Cause and Effect Relationships (Doctoral dissertation, Sierra
Nevada College).
Maynard, K. L., & Miller, S. E. (n.d.). Making Thinking Visible: Three Essential Elements No Class Can Be
Without. Educational Practice and Reform.
Vivian, R. M., & Wisker, N. F. Using Foldables in the Classroom.