Christmas Joke Teller (Fortune Teller) for Kids

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 17^th 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 I used as a child 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.

I've gotten a little addicted to making holiday fortune tellers! Grab all of these free versions for your kids:

• Snowman Joke Teller
• Christmas Kindness
• New Year's Eve Fortune Teller
• Valentine Joke Teller
• St Patrick's Day Joke Teller
• Mother's Day Fortune Teller
• Father's Day Joke Teller
• Family Movie Night Movie Picker
• Back to School Fortune Teller
• Back to School Joke Teller
• Halloween Joke Teller
• Thanksgiving Gratitude Cootie Catcher
• Thanksgiving Joke Teller

How to Make a Paper Fortune Teller

Fortune tellers are made by folding a square of paper into 8 flaps that you label with messages, fortunes, or jokes.

Follow the directions below to create your own fortune teller that you can fill with your own messages and designs. (These instructions are also available to download and print in the free printable library.)

How to Make Christmas Joke Tellers

My premade Christmas joke teller craft is as easy peasy!

1. Grab the free printable joke teller in the free printable library and save it to your computer
2. Print the file on matte photo paper for extra bright colors (it is also extra sturdy).
3. 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.

Silly Christmas Jokes for Kids

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.)

Grab your favorite version in the free printable library and share these 8 silly jokes with your kids.

1. What do elves do after school? Their gnome work!
2. What does a gingerbread man use to make the bed? A cookie sheet!
3. Why is Santa good at karate? He has a black belt!
4. What do you call an elf who sings? A wrapper!
5. What’s different about the Christmas alphabet? It has has no L (noel)
6. What do you call a reindeer with bad manners? RUDE-olph.
7. Why are Christmas trees bad at sewing? They always drop their needles!
8. What's the best thing to put into Christmas cookies? Your teeth!

More Jokes for Kids

Want more winter jokes for kids? Grab these fun snowman joke tellers.

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