Catch a Cootie!

This is a quick articulation activity I use that the kids love and when I send it home, I know they practice!  It also has the added benefit of aiding in carry-over, because cooties are fun to share!  It’s a good old fashioned cootie catcher, but in this case it catches good speech productions as well.  When used as a home activity for Spinner Speech for Categories, simply write a category on each flap and have the child list 3-5 items within the category OR open/shut for each item they name within a set time (10-20 seconds).

1.  You need a square piece of paper.  I take a sheet of computer paper and fold one corner to the opposite edge, making a neat triangle, and either cut or rip off the “extra” rectangle strip that is left on the side.  Unfold back to square.
2. Fold each corner into the middle.  Now you are looking at a small square made up of four triangles.  Flip it over.
3. Same thing—fold each corner to center.  Again, you’ll end up with a smaller square this time made up of four split triangles.  Keep this side facing up.
4. Fold in half one way, then unfold.  Fold in half the other way and pick up.
5. Pinch the bottom fold on each end between your thumbs and index fingers, kind of tucking your fingers beneath the triangles.
6. Gently push your fingers together.  You are shooting for a cone type shape.
7. Write a target word and number (for # of trials) on each outside triangle.
8. Open, and write another target word and number on each triangle.  Close.  Open the other direction and fill those triangles in as well.
9. Now, lay the square flat.  Lift each “double” triangle and write two fortunes beneath it.  I angle each fortune in a different direction so it “belongs” to the target above it.  Refold to cone shape.
10. Time to play!  The child chooses a word on an outside triangle.  As he repeats it (based on the number of trials listed) open and close the cone.
11. He choose an inside triangle word (and number of trials).  As he repeats the target, open and close the cone again.
12. Now the child chooses a final target word.  I don’t typically ask for repetitions here.  Lift to reveal the fortune.

Good Fortune Ideas

1. Your P.E. team will win.
2. A teacher will smile at you.
3. You will stay up past your bedtime in the near future.
4. You will visit a friend’s house.
5. Your sister/brother will lend you a hand.
6. A friend thinks you are funny.
7. You will lose your wiggly tooth.
8. You will hear a silly joke.
9. You will win a board game soon.
10. Your (handwriting/spelling/basketball shot) will improve.
11. You will giggle soon.
12. A classmate will share something with you.
13. You will have a fun weekend.
14. Someone will pay you a compliment.
15. Your (reading/artistic/athletic) talents are unsurpassed.
16. You have many admirers.
17. Your favorite dinner is coming soon.
18. A special treat is in your future.
19. You will get a “high 5” soon.
20. Your speech therapist will ask you to work hard!
21. There is a cookie in your future.
22. A sunny day is coming.
23. The (sports team) will win a game soon.
24. You will see a silly picture.
25. You will hear “good job”.
26. You will find something you’ve lost.
27. You will have exciting news.
28. Success is in your future.
29. You are someone’s hero.
30. You are awesome inside and out!