This Christmas joke teller (or fortune teller) is full of silly Christmas jokes that are perfect for elementary school students. Grab the free printable for a fun Christmas party or a simple class activity!
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The History of the Fortune Teller
Did you ever play with a paper fortune teller when you were in school? They are a simple paper game made by folding a square of paper into a moveable device with 8 flaps that are filled with messages or “fortunes.”
Never heard of fortune tellers? You may have called them cootie catchers, salt cellars, or chatterboxes depending on where you lived as a child.
The exact origin of the cootie catcher is unknown (some claim they came from 17th century Europe while others believe they are a Japanese origami invention) but it’s safe to say that they were popular with children all over the world by the early 20th century.
From Fortune Teller to Christmas Joke Teller
When I was an elementary school student my friends and I would make each other fortune tellers that “predicted” the number of children we would have, who we would marry, and what our jobs would be as adults.
I wanted to share the craft with my kiddos so I turned the fortune tellers I loved as a kid into Christmas joke tellers by replacing the fortunes with seasonal, kid appropriate jokes. (They are the same shape as the fortune tellers we used as kids but each flap contains a silly joke that elementary school kids love.)
Paper joke tellers are perfect for classroom parties, a silly activity at home, or even a special lunch box treat.
Get the Christmas Joke Teller HERE!
How to Make a Paper Fortune Teller
Fortune tellers are made by folding a square of paper into 8 movable flaps that you label with messages, fortunes, or jokes. Download and print the folding instructions with the joke teller.
How to Make Christmas Joke Tellers
My premade Christmas joke teller craft is as easy peasy!
- Grab the free printable joke teller and save it to your computer
- Print the file on matte photo paper for extra bright colors (it is also extra sturdy).
- Fold and start your own tradition of silly holiday jokes!
How to Use a Fortune Teller (Joke Teller)
To use: The person holding the joke teller asks a friend to choose from each layer of the joke teller. The choices determine which flaps are opened and which joke is told.
The Christmas Joke Teller gives students the choices of a Christmas item (Santa, tree, gifts, or deer) and the number of the joke they want to hear. The inside flaps are filled with cute Christmas pictures and the answers to the jokes.
Black & White and Full Color Versions
The joke tellers come in 2 versions: full color and black and white.
This project is popular with teachers who don’t always have the budget for color copies. The black and white version is perfect for kids to color and fold.
Silly Christmas Jokes for Kids
Grab the joke teller and folding instructions here and share these 8 silly Christmas jokes with your favorite kids.
- What do elves do after school? Their gnome work!
- What does a gingerbread man use to make the bed? A cookie sheet!
- Why is Santa good at karate? He has a black belt!
- What do you call an elf who sings? A wrapper!
- What’s different about the Christmas alphabet? It has has no L (noel)
- What do you call a reindeer with bad manners? RUDE-olph.
- Why are Christmas trees bad at sewing? They always drop their needles!
- What’s the best thing to put into Christmas cookies? Your teeth!
More Free Fortune Tellers
I’ve designed lots of fun holiday cootie catchers for kids. Check out these fun versions:
- Valentine’s Day Joke Tellers are a great non-candy classroom treat or lunchbox surprise.
- Father’s Day Joke Tellers make a perfect gift for Dad.
- Halloween Joke Tellers are full of silly jokes perfect for classroom parties or non-candy Halloween treats.
- Saint Patrick’s Day Joke Tellers are a great non-candy classroom treat or lunchbox surprise.
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Sue
Love these. I do make them by hand for my grandchildren, but these will be great for them to colour in and the different jokes will save my brain of thinking of new ones. I would appreciate it if you could email these for me please. Do you print them double sided or glue them together. Thanks for your inspiration. Sue
Bren
Sure, I have a bunch of versions on my free printables page, just scroll down to “Free Cootie Catchers” section and click “download” under the joke teller you want to print. They are single-sided so no need to print front to back or glue.
Jody
Love this, I’m going to have our elf leave these on morning for the kids! Thank you!
Connie Russell
I use to play with these things in school 50 years ago. Thanks for taking the time to add all the art work. My younger grandchildren will enjoy them.
Julie
My grandkids LOVED your Christmas cootie catchers! Looking forward to printing some of the other ones. Thank you so much for sharing!
Bren
Thanks Julie!
Tanya
How can I receive and download the Christmas joke teller?
Bren
Tanya, the joke tellers are all on the free printables page! 🙂
jessica white
Just an FYI, in the directions, Step 5 says that the questions will be facing up, but it is actually the answers that are (and should) be facing up. Thanks for this activity! Using it for a class party today in Mississippi!
Bren
Hope you have fun!
Crystal Leatherberry
Still awaiting an email for the down load
Bren
Hi Crystal! We’ve emailed it to you multiple times but it keeps getting bounced back by your server. Perhaps your workplace has a block set up. Can you please try a new email address?
Vanessa
Hi. I linked onto many different printable pictures on Pinterest that all lead to your free printable sign up but it actually does not work?
Bren
Vanessa, you can sign up using the form above or here and the joke teller will be emailed to you.
Teri
I see you say you have two versions to print out, color or black and white. I downloaded the only version you have and it’s the color version. How do I get the black and white version so my granddaughter can color the images. When I printed the project I chose black and white and received a black and white colored version, fields filled in not blank.
Bren
Hi Teri! If you scroll through the PDF you received via email there is a full color version, a black and white version, and folding instructions. 🙂 Bren
Genna
I work as an occupational therapist in a small school for kids with special needs. We are in love with all of your fortune tellers!! We just downloaded them all so we have them for the upcoming year!! We hope you continue to make them for other events like 4th of July etc.
Thanks for a great free printable and some great laughs too :]
Bren
Thanks Genna! I’m planning a 4th of July one now! 😉
Lin
Cute take on cootie catcher. Fun jokes
Bren
Thanks, Lin!