How to fold a note like in middle school

The fold was half the message. Here are the three classics, the same three folds in Do Not Read, plus the paper airplane. These are the most common ways people folded them; every school had its own twist.

The triangle

1. Fold the sheet in half the long way, then in half the long way again, so you have a long strip.
2. Fold one bottom corner up to the opposite edge to make a triangle at the end of the strip.
3. Fold that triangle up along the strip, again and again, like folding a flag.
4. When you reach the end, tuck the short leftover tail into the pocket of the last triangle.
5. Write who it's for on the outside. To open it, untuck the tail and unroll the triangles.

The pull tab

1. Fold the sheet in half the long way, then in half the long way again, to make a long strip.
2. Fold the left end down at an angle so it points straight down, and the right end up at an angle so it points up.
3. Fold the angled ends inward so the middle of the strip forms a neat rectangle.
4. Tuck one end under the folded edge on the opposite side, leaving a short piece sticking out: that's the pull tab.
5. To open it, tug the tab and the whole note comes undone.

The square envelope

1. Make the sheet square: fold one top corner down to the opposite side and fold the leftover strip at the bottom underneath.
2. Unfold it, then fold all four corners in to meet in the middle, like an envelope.
3. Fold the new corners in to the middle once more for a smaller, thicker square.
4. Tuck the last flap under its neighbor so it holds shut.
5. Write the name and a warning on top. To open it, lift the corners one at a time.

The paper airplane (for long distances)

1. Fold the sheet in half the long way, crease it, and unfold it.
2. Fold both top corners down to meet the center crease, making a point.
3. Fold the new slanted edges in to the center crease again, for a sharper point.
4. Fold the whole thing in half along the center crease, with the folds on the outside.
5. Fold each side down to make the wings, lining the top edge of each wing up with the bottom of the body.
6. Write the name on a wing, and wait until the teacher turns around.

What to write on the outside

"TO: SAM" and a warning: DO NOT READ!!!, TOP SECRET, OPEN IN PRIVATE or S.W.A.K. See what all the abbreviations meant.