Folded paper joke tellers for kids are a fun holiday treat that contain no sugar, won’t clutter your home, and can be completed in just a few minutes. Surprise the kids in your life with a St Patrick’s Day joke teller this March. They are a fun (and free!) way to say Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
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Class Party = Sugar Overload
Halfway through my latest elementary school classroom party I began daydreaming that I was curled up on the sofa with a good book and a glass of wine instead of handing out candy to a noisy room full of sugar-loaded school kids.
Have you taken a gander at the St. Patrick’s Day treat ideas for kids found on Pinterest? Most are sugary sweets that are not great for growing kids, cheap plastic junk that clutters up their rooms (and eventually the landfill), or elaborate crafts that simply do not fit into busy parents’ schedules.
What’s a fun-loving mom to do?
Make a fun paper St Patrick’s Day Joke Teller for your kids!
Joke Teller, Cootie Catchers or Fortune Tellers
You may remember folding simple paper fortune tellers in elementary school. My elementary school friends and I used to make them with notebook paper and colored markers. Most of the folded paper games we made were meant to predict the number of children we would have, determine our spouses, or pinpoint careers.
When my kids hit elementary school I was reintroduced cootie catchers (sometimes called fortune teller, chatter boxes or salt cellars depending on where you live). I was amazed at the continued popularity of these simple paper crafts!
What are Joke Tellers?
I turned the fortune tellers of my past into joke tellers by replacing the silly predictions we wrote as kids with silly Saint Patrick’s Day jokes appropriate for elementary school students (and everyone else).
After sharing a few copies with my kids’ friends I know one thing for sure… JOKE TELLERS are a hug hit!
I’m not sure if the appeal of joke tellers is in the fun design, the colorful images, the silly jokes, or simply the mesmerizing way paper turns into a toy. Whatever the reason, there is something SO captivating about these folded paper crafts.
How to Make Saint Patrick’s Day Joke Tellers
These simple joke tellers are the perfect craft or St. Patrick’s Day treat for kids. The free printable project (with easy folding instructions) takes less than 5 minutes to complete. Surprise your kids this St. Patrick’s Day… no sugar or room cluttering junk needed!
Want make a St. Patrick’s Day Joke Teller for your kids? It’s as easy as 1-2-3!
- Get the free printable St. Patrick’s Day Joke Teller with folding instructions HERE.
- Save the file to your computer, then print and cut out the joke teller. (I print on matte photo paper for extra bright colors, it is also makes the joke teller extra sturdy.)
- Fold the joke teller then share the silly St. Patrick’s Day jokes with your favorite kids.
More Free Saint Patrick’s Day Printables
Looking for more St Patrick’s Day fun? Delight your kids with my free printable Saint Patrick’s Day Lunch Box Notes.
More Free Cootie Catchers
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.
- Thanksgiving Turkey Joke Tellers keep the kids busy while you cook.
- Silly Snowmen Joke Tellers are perfect for classroom parties.
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Gloria
Awesome !
I love this page for teaching English to my primary learners.
I ‘m from Spain
thank you
Meg Schiesl
I have tried to download the St. Patrick’s Day Joke Teller. Not having any luck. Is there an easy way to do it that I am not getting? I was able to print out the instructions on how to fold.
Bren
Hi Meg, it’s on the free printable page. Just scroll down to cootie catchers/ fortune teller section and then click on “download” under the joke teller picture. It’s in a seperate box from the folding instruction. It is a large file so you might have better luck on the computer (if you are using a mobile device). Email me at hello@brendid. com if you are still having problems. Good luck!
Laura - The No Pressure Life
This is great! My first grader makes these things every day, so I just printed this one out for him! He said that he would love an Easter version, too! 🙂
Bren
Thanks, Laura! I’m at work on an Easter version!
Holly
So cute but I just can’t get it to print. It won’t download either. Boo- Usually I use Google Docs for printables.
Bren
I’m sorry you are having trouble accessing the free printable. You have to enter your email address each time you access the free printables page (https://brendid.com/free-printables/). Your email address is your password to that page.
The print preview on box.com may not be loading due to your computer system or internet security. Even without the preview loading you can hover over the blank page and should see a grey rectangle at the bottom of the page that contains different controls including a printer icon. Hover over the printer icon and the words “printable version” will appear. Click on this printer icon and the PDF will automatically download a version that can be printed or saved. There is no need to create an account or pay.
Debbie
Never met a kid that didn’t like cootie catchers. Thanks so much for sharing.
Bren
Thanks Debbie!
Mackenzie
Finally, got it! I WAS using a mobile device. Thanks so much!
Mackenzie
I’ve visited the printables page a few different times but I can never find the link for the printable St. Patrick’s Day cootie catcher. Only the link showing the St. Patrick’s Day version with a link to the principals page but no printable for the cootie catcher. Help?!
Bren
The top link “St Patrick’s Day Joke Teller Post” takes you to the post. The next line “Joke Teller” will take you to the free printable download, “Instructions” will take you to the folding instructions. You may have trouble getting the PDF from a mobile device.
Lori Robinson
I am trying to download the cootie catchers but it takes me to download programs and lots of things I don’t want. It has lots of ads on the page and blurs your page. Any suggestions? Great cootie Catchers! My students loved the Christmas and snowmen ones!
Bren
Lori, there is a box to enter your email address which is your pass to get into the free library. If you’re still having trouble email me at hello @brendid.com.
Alexia
Thank you very much for sharing with us your wonderful idea! I’m sure my students will have lots of fun with it! 🙂
Bren
Thanks Alexia!
swood97
Thank you for sharing your creativity with us at the Merry Monday party. I’ve printed these for my grandchildren during the holiday season last year.
Meg
Do you know why they’re called cootie catchers? When I made them when I was little (my mother taught me this), I drew little bugs (“cooties”) on the triangles that show when the cootie catcher is opened one direction. The other triangles were blank. Opening the cootie catcher to the blank side, I’d show it to someone and say, “This is my cootie catcher. Let me see if you have any cooties.” Then I’d move it all around in their hair, open it to the cootie side, and then show them all the cooties I had caught in their hair! Then I’d pretend to “shake out” the cooties, turning it back to the blank side again. We found this enormously funny at my house.
Bren
I had never heard this Meg! Thanks for sharing!