Jan 06 2009
Learning about lapbooking
I’d read a little about lapbooking when I was first learning about homeschooling, but I didn’t really know what it was. Now that we’re starting on our first one, I feel like I have a better idea, but I’m sure I will have lots to share as we learn and experiment more.
Basically, lapbooks are folders that hold lots of mini-projects that all revolve around a certain topic. Our first one will be about dolphins. Then each project or worksheet or whatever, the child does while learning gets put inside the lapbook. I know we’ll have a diagram with the parts of a dolphin labeled on it. Probably some drawings. What makes a dolphin a mammal. That kind of thing. It’s great because they can be adapted or made for any level. We’re covering the basics because we’re doing kindergarten stuff, but a high schooler could get really in depth into dolphin behavior or communication or conservation if they were interested.
It’s also a way to have everything together if the child wants to look back over what they learned. Or if you need a work sample to show a charter school or your relatives.
I know there are a ton of resources out there, but I spent all night exploring all the neat stuff at this site: http://www.homeschoolshare.com/
Obviously you can always make up your own items to include, but the neat thing about this website is that they have all the little books and projects already ready to fit inside a lapbook perfectly. Great for beginners like us, and it’s a totally free site.
If your child has done any lapbooking, I’d love for you to leave a comment and tell me about it. I think we’re going to have a lot of fun with ours.
I have done a little bit of lapbooking with my middle child, and it was a lot of fun for her. Also, I felt like we were able to incorporate a lot of Charlotte Mason ideas in the making of them. We have done books on ancient Egypt, a recipe book, Bible which went along with weekly AWANA lessons, and even one of the multiplication tables. None of them were very fancy like some that I have seen, bu they are fun to do.
Have a Great Day!
Laurel Santiago
Hey! Is this a bit like scrapbooking, only a bit more simple for children? It sounds like a great idea!