Chemistry “Cootie-Catchers” or “Fortune Tellers”
by Dean Campbell, Karen Campbell, and Kristine Campbell
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Bradley University, Peoria, IL 61625

Many students are familiar with the children's folded paper structure known as a "cootie catcher" or "fortune teller", with its eight possible results, is reminiscent of the octet of valence electrons associated with most of the main group elements.  Other groupings of four or eight terms and concepts lend themselves to incorporation into these folded paper structures.  Details describing typical construction methods and the cultural impact of these toys can be found on the Internet at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paper_fortune_teller.

Templates for construction of these structures have been developed to cover the following topics (click on the description to access the template as PDF files):

• main group elements
• polyatomic ions
• hydrocarbon nomenclature
• molecular geometry
• metric units

The finished structure can be used to “randomly” select a term or concept in a similar way to how they are used as paper fortune tellers:

1) Select a word or number on the outside faces of the points (left picture).

2) Select a word or number among the exposed inside faces of the points and turn up the flap under the selected word or number for additional information (right picture).

To assemble the structure, cut out the square template and then carefully fold in the order described in the instructions on the sheet and in the description below.  Folds along the dashed lines move paper toward the center of the printed side; folds along the solid lines move paper away from the center of the printed side. The first set of folds turn away from viewer (first picture) and the second set of folds turn toward the viewer (second picture). The third set of folds (third picture) pinch the structure in half first in one direction, then at right angles to the first fold. Sliding fingers into flaps in the back of the structure (fourth picture) will make the final folds and produce the four points of the completed structure.  Many grade school children are familiar with making these structures and can assist with construction. Many instuctional videos are also available on YouTube (for example, search using the term "chemistry cootie catcher").

We welcome suggestions for modification of these structures and suggestions for new concepts to develop. A Microsoft PowerPoint version of the blank template is available upon request. My email address is campbell@bumail.bradley.edu.

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Last updated 1/3/11

Site created at the laboratory of Dean Campbell