I actually meant to upload this post awhile back, but then State Testing madness and prep hit... so I didn't get a chance to post this.

My students were studying Animal Classification Systems and I decided to have them make this foldable that would help them practice seeing and using the 8 levels of classification!

I started out by using an animal they were all familiar with - the average house cat.  I pulled up the official classification levels for a house cat as my prep to the lesson.

To start, I told them the quick story of "Sparky" my mom's cat that she rescued from death... who repaid her kindness by peeing all over my parents house.  They all loved to hear about Sparky!  Then, we started folding.  I did a common flap fold - this time separating the fold into eight "windows."



Actual directions:

1. Fold in half - Hot Dog Style
2. Place one finger on the paper and fold your top flap back... up to your fingertip.  This will leave a small unfolded/uncut section for your title.  You can see in the pic to the left - this section is where you put your title!
3. Cut!  In half, in half again and so on, until you have four bottom flaps.  Then repeat to the top section.  I numbered my flaps, which helped them see what they needed to end up with.
   
   (I always model each one of these steps in front of the class before my students fold or start to cut.  Then I walk the room to make sure they are folding/cutting correctly.  Usually, I'm able to fix the problems before they mess it up so badly they need a new paper.)