A flip chart is a large pad of paper mounted on an easel or stand, used for writing or drawing during presentations, meetings, or brainstorming sessions. Each page can be flipped over the top when full, revealing a fresh blank sheet underneath.

Teachers use flip charts to work through math problems step by step with the class, showing each stage of solving an equation on a new page. Business teams gather around flip charts during meetings to sketch ideas, list options, or map out plans together. The big sheets make it easy for everyone in the room to see what's being written, and finished pages can be torn off and taped to walls so the group can refer back to earlier ideas.

Flip charts work especially well for collaborative thinking because anyone can grab a marker and add to the discussion. Unlike a whiteboard that gets erased, flip chart pages create a record of the conversation. You can flip back through previous pages to compare ideas or see how your thinking evolved. Many flip charts have legs that fold up, making them portable enough to wheel from room to room or store in a closet when not needed.