what are lapbooks? I thought it was a specific program but now I think I'm wrong! Can someone enlighten me?
Hey there! "LapBooks" are simply manilla file folders (Like you find in a file cabinet) that are folded like shutters and decorated with things the children have learned. Think: "Scrapbooking what you learn" People pick a theme, say "The Human Body" Then they do whatever they do normally, to learn about the topic (Such as read books and go to museums). Then they use creative ideas to "Scrapbook" what they learned and then glue them into a file folder. It is called a "Lap"book because the children sit and "Read" through them on their laps. Mine love looking over their books they made from last year! The reason they are so popular is that children get more involved in the learning process because they get to "Own" the learning process. They are interactively learning the material and rememebr soooo much more of it than they would with just worksheets all the time. :lol: Here are photos of our most recent lapbooks, and the links to where we get our ideas and or supplies can be found by clicking on the photo of that particular item. http://www.myhomeschoolplace.com/jennifererix Once you try it, you will get hooked!
Wow- I can see how kids would love that! Can you create them on your own or do you need to order a kit? I'm not sure if I understand how you do the shutter?
We did a lapbook for our unit on primates last year. Dd was in 5th grade and we had a blast! The lapbook is something you can keep but not something that will take up a lot of space.
I am going to make a "How to fold a lapbook" post on my blog tonight..... The materials... For about $5 at walmart, I get a pack of 100 manilla file folders. Then, you bring them home and take one out. Open a folder on the table flat. Notice that it has a left side and a right side and a FOLD or SEAM going down the middle of the file folder. Take the right side and left side in each hand and fold it to the middle. I will show photos..... http://www.myhomeschoolplace.com/jennifererix Give me a few moments to get it up.
I almost forgot... WHERE do we get the stuff to make for the lapbooks... Some people buy kits already made up. This is best for when you start out, because you learn from others. And some of them are simply really good kits.... A great website for this is The HomeschoolEStore.com. Otherwise, make them yourself with templates. One good site for that is: http://www.homeschoolshare.com But there are others.... Or you can also copy/scan and print things out of books. Or you can get things off google, by typing in your search, then when the results come in, look at the tip of the GOGGLE logo for the word "IMAGES". Click that and it will show you photos and other images that match your search! Bu be warned! Google search images may bring up things you do not want seen in mixed company! Ok more in the article.... Give me a moment to get it up.
there is no dumb question in my book, how do we learn... yes, Jen explain them all well.. I have seen some where they were made out of contrustion paper and then they put something on each page things like that... it depends on who you are talking too...
Jen, thanks so much for all the detailed explanation. I'm also unfamilar with lapbooks and wasn't brave enough to ask.
To me, the lapbooks look too intricate and hard to put together. I'd have liked to do one on Africa, but it looked too involved. There's too many components for my simple mind.
Becky has a point. (Not that she has a simple mind, because she doesn't) But, that they are NOT for everyone. And those who do work with lapbooks all have their different ways of making them. Some people do them all in one day marathon. Some, like us, work on them as a side-project, when we have finished our regular school work. And we add to the lapbooks simply AS we finish each little part. I also do not make a lapbook for every subject and every topic. I am sure there may be people who do so, but we can only manage one topic a week.... And I only do Bible, or History or Science.. never grammar or math.. again, some people do. I honestly used to think that lapbooks were stupid until I gave in and tried one about the solar system with my kids. They not only had a blast, but from working on the project they remembered EVERYTHING. So, it worked for us.... Anyway, here is my HOW TO LAPBOOK post... http://www.myhomeschoolplace.com/jennifererix
Hi! We LOVE lapbooks! You've already gotten a lot of help, but I want to throw some more stuff at ya to look at! Here is the page at Homeschool Share with the FREE!! Templates Here is a very helpful Lapbooking Squidoo Lens done by a homeschooling mom named Jimmie Also, if you want to keep it SIMPLE, I suggest just making simple folds (squares/rectangles folded in half) and matchbook folds. If you view this youtube video, you will see that lapbooks don't have to be complicated. More than happy to help answer questions! ami*
Great minds think alike! hahha! I had those links at the end of the post as well! (The blog post, that is) hahahaha! You're cool!
Wow!! Thanks for all of the cool info!! I'm so glad i asked now! I think I will be doing some this year!
We did one on planets though not nearly as cool looking as Jennifer's! Those are awsome! I have pictures of our posted in my blog. We've only done one. Though with that first website that Jennifer posted I think I may do one for music history.
That sounds cool. Perhaps we will try a more simplified one to start and move on from there if they like it.
Hey Jen, when I googled "creation lapbook", to get more printables, your page come up in the search results
