Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Leaping into Lapbooking

         
Over the holiday break I spent some time researching new ideas and activities to use in our homeschooling ~ something to add a little pizazz to our usual routine.
I found several ideas but one that I really liked was lapbooking.
I had never heard of it before but after visiting many homeschooling blogs and seeing how they used them I was hooked.
What a great way to involve kids into a "hands on" learning experience. They may not be creating an experiment with their hands (depending on the subject matter) but they are creating a collage of a lesson learned. Their interest is captured by allowing them to plan, decorate and place each piece of material. 
It reminds me of the science fair projects that we had to do as students in jr. high but on a smaller scale.
Now that I think of it my older children have never been assigned a project like that in public school and they probably don't even know what a science fair even is! :0(

Anyways if you homeschool and would like to know more about lapbooking then here are a few links to get you started.
To learn how to create them using file folders then visit
                                    A Journey Through Learning Lapbooks

For ideas, free lapbooks and notebooking pages visit
                                     Dynamic 2 Moms Free Lapbooks

                             or visit their blog HERE.

The photo at the top of this post is our very first lapbook. It's all about teeth. We will be building onto that lapbook as we discuss lessons on the layers of skin, our eyes, ears and more.
We are also beginning another lapbook for History.
It's going to be about the colonial life of the Pilgrims and how the Indians helped them. I'll post it when we get it finished.

3 comments:

Jessica said...

We love lapbooks! My kids go to public school, but when they were younger I made them from Lapbook Lessons and other lapbook sites for preschoolers to 1st grade. We also enjoy Christian lapbooks for learning about the bible and what's in it. We haven't done one in quite some time, but I still have tons of the folders.

Kids love lapbooks, I think they are great and add something different to their learning. I've seen some jam packed with information, yet still looking pleasing to the eyes, not over cluttered and confusing.

I never did science fairs, I know the schools had them though. My kids are required to participate in one for 5th grade, but it's optional from 1st grade thru 4th.

Unknown said...

This is a great tool to use. I'd love to see your History one. I'm sure it was a fun and informative activity. Thanks for sharing...I'm passing this on to a friend of mine...Have a good week! Hugs

BeautifulDees said...

Awesome idea's...God bless you for home schooling.
Hav'nt heard from you for awhile. I love MIranda....one of my new favorite song's.
Love,Debbie