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We enjoyed so much making our Lap Books that DD#1 mentioned I should blog about it for those that have never heard of it?
So here we go ...
What Is A Lapbook?
A lapbook is a wonderful homeschooling tool! It is a regular file folder (or folders) refolded and filled with mini books and flaps. These books and flaps can be filled with all kind of information on any topic you choose. There is no right or wrong way to lapbook. Each lapbook is an original creation and will be a treasure for years to come!
Why Lapbook?
1. Lapbooking is a wonderful tool to use to teach and learn with your children! Lapbooking is exciting! Each on is like a little adventure into learning.
2. It is a way to teach your children how to become researchers and writers! Children learn to research as well as compose what they have learned so it can be presented to others.
3. It is a great place to keep a record of their work over the years. Before we began lapbooking I really had only the workbooks that they did as far as examples of my children 's work. We use consumables, handwriting wookbooks & a report here and there I didn't have many creative examples of what they had learned.
Once we began lapbooking this quickly changed!
Suddenly we had these bright, colorful, expressive, exciting packages we could look at again and again.
We began to find ourselves saying "Wouldn't that make a wonderful lapbook?" as we read book and went on field trips. We began to "think" like lapbookers. Taking notes on topics of interest and planning out what lapbooks we would like to make.
4. They are great for reviewing what they have learned since they are so much fun to pick up and look through over and over. How many time are your children going to drag a out a report they wrote last year and re-read it? These are like scrapbooks of their education. They will get them out again and again reviewing without even realizing it.
5. They are wonderful to show what you have been doing in school, whether it be to a school official, evaluator or Grandma. In some States work samples must be shown to school officials through the year. What a impressive presentation lapbooks would be for this purpose! Even if you are only showing them to Grandma your children will be blessed to share what they have learned. Plus you will never have to dread that end of year Project Fair again!
6. Lapbooks can be done on any topic and with any age of child. Cutting, pasting, drawing, stickers, what's not to love? This has been a fun way to incorporate learning and subjects of interest into our homeschooling.
7. They are less intimidating for reluctant writers. Lapbooking takes reluctant writer's and turns them into an amazing lapbooker! Instead of being faced with reams of blank paper to be filled he learned how to break their thoughts and topics up into manageable chunks. This takes so much of the dread and intimidation out of the writing process for them. From the start they will be turning out well written, well designed works of art that will bless your heart and those you show them too, whether friends, co-workers and/or family!
8. The are compact and easy to store. Most of all they are FUN!!!
How are they created?
Besides the refolding of the folders previously mentioned, you will need to make mini-books. These can be a sheet of paper folded into mini-books, or they can be shape books. You could use some ideas for making cards into mini-books as well as folding up a worksheet so that it will open up fully as a mini-book. Little circle wheel books work great as well. I especially like those to demonstrate cycles in science. You will find a multitude of ideas on the web sites listed, as well as ideas in the book suggestions. Notice that some of the web sites have actually posted some of their student's finished books. Check out our shutter book samples as well. Nothing works for me better than seeing the finished product. Good luck on your lapbook endeavors!
Recommended Ages for Lapbooking
Lapbooking can be done from Preschool through Highschool! The topics will change over the years but it can be adapted to any age.
What You will Need - Supplies
File Folders of all colors
Adhesives (or glue)
Scissors
Ruler or paper cutter
White Cardstock
Color Paper
Color pencils, markers or crayons
Stapler
Clear packaging tape (To add on extensions.)
Optional - stickers, magazines, pictures, drawings, rubber stamps, scrapbooking supplies, etc...
The Nuts and Bolts of Lapbooking
Here is one method we have used: (Doing the research 1st.) (There are many methods, you will learn what is right for your family!)
#1. Pick a topic you are interested in.
#2. Find books, webpages, encyclopedia, dictionaries, etc that have information on your topic.
#3. Start reading the information you have and make notes on what information you want to include in your mini books.
#4. Find folds that you want to incorporate into your lapbook. Once you know what you want to include start writing the information into the books. Keep the mini books in a large ziploc bag and keep adding more of them as you do your study.
#5. Once you have completed your study lay out all the mini books you have made and decide how many folders and extentions you will need to have. Put the folders and extensions together and start gluing in your mini books.
#6. Design and decorate your cover.
#7. Add graphic, clipart, original drawings, stickers, etc.
#8. Design and decorate your cover.
#9. Sign and date the back. Include your childs name, age, grade, & date. This is also an excellent place to write up a bibliography of all your resources. Your DONE!
Here's another method we have used: (Laying out the lapbook 1st.)
#1. Pick a topic you are interested in.
#2. Fold your folders and attach as many together as you want to the particular study.
#3. Make whatever mini books you want to make and put them inside the folders.
#4. Now that you know how many books you will be making start thinking of questions to answer about your topic. You will need one question for each mini book or flap.
#5. Start researching your topics.
#6. As you find the information write it into the mini books. You will probably want to write a rough draft on notebook paper before writing the info into the books. You can also type the info out and print it then cut and past it into the books.
#7. Add graphic, clipart, original drawings, stickers, pictures you have taken or purchased, magazine pictures, etc.
#8. Design and decorate your cover. Use magnets, velcro, ties, and ribbons.
#9. Sign and date the back. (don't forget this step or later on ... you'll ... er? ... uhm, FORGET!)
Include your childs name, age, grade, & date. This is also an excellent place to write up a bibliography of all your resources.
Your DONE!
Book Sources:
Zike, Dinah, Big Book of Books and Activities, 1989-1994, Dinah-Might Activities, Inc. (The book that is the basic starting guide and the one that started all the craze for shutter books.)
Zike, Dinah, Big Book of Books and Activities Religious Supplement: New Testament, 1993, Dinah-Might Activities, Inc.
Zike, Dinah, Big Book of Books and Activities Religious Supplement: Old Testament, 1993, Dinah-Might Activities, Inc.
Zike, Dinah, How to Use Dinah Zike's Big Book of Books video, 1998, Dinah-Might Activities, Inc. (Usually I don't recommend tapes if you have the book, but she is quite impressive with her ideas. Her excitement is contagious!)
Fairfax, Barbara and Garcia, Adela, Read! Write! Publish!, 1992, Creative Teaching Press, CTP 2323, Grades 1-5 (but with some creativity, ideas can be used beyond those grades. Some neat mini-book ideas not found in Zike's books that can be used in lapbooks.)
Please enjoy the video below and if ya get the fever ... go for it!!
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