No, it isn’t exactly developing video games, but it’s a great way to develop some engineering skills using a tool with a major *cool* factor!   

Now, onto Kate's wonderful series.......

 Beginning Lapbooking

Part 3

As a co-owner and writer/researcher for In the Hands of a Child, the Premier Supplier of Ready-to-Assemble Lapbooks, I am asked a lot of questions about lapbooking.   Many people have heard the term “lapbooking” but have no idea what it is or are overwhelmed by the entire concept of hands-on activities and unit studies.  Lapbooks are great ways to include hands-on activities to your student’s curriculum!  This week, I am going to answer three more of the most frequently asked questions I hear about lapbooking.

1. How do my students complete the lapbooks?  After you have prepared everything needed to complete the lapbook, it is up to your students to work on the activities and put them in their lapbooks.  As a student completes his or her research, have him or her record it in the correct mini book.  For younger students, you may want to cut the majority of the mini books and projects out ahead of time.   

For all age groups, it is important for you to be prepared and organized when it is time for them to begin the lapbook.  If the parent or teacher does not have everything ready to go, the student can quickly lose interest while waiting.  When completing lapbooks with my Pre-K child, I cut the majority of items out first and store in a zip-top bag.  When we sit down to work on the lapbook, everything is ready at our fingertips.  This eliminates her frustration when faced with twenty different things to cut out (or waiting for Mom to do it all).

Students can either put their mini books into their lapbooks as they go or save everything and put it on all together.  In my family, we assemble our lapbooks as we go.  If we are working on a large unit study, then we usually wait until the end to fit it all together.

2. How do we fold the file folder to make a lapbook?  That’s easy!  Just open the folder up and lay flat.  Next, fold each side into the middle fold so it looks like two shutters.  Mini books and projects will be attached to the sides and inside to complete the lapbook. 

3. What if all the mini books we have made do not fit into one file folder?  Simply fold two file folders and attach them together to make a double-folder.  Or you can add extensions to file folders by placing a sheet of cardstock, colored paper, or even scrapbook paper in the middle that can lift up.

Katie Kubesh is co-owner and writer/researcher for In the Hands of a Child.  Recognizing that hands-on projects are essential to the learning experience, In the Hands of a Child has created Project Packs that go beyond the hands-on aspect.   They have taken the preparation time out of the parent/teacher job description with Complete Ready to Assemble Lapbook-style units that are available in printed book or ebook formats.    Please visit their website at www.handsofachild.com.

To get your free moon lapbook, enter TOSMOON in the box for the coupon code and hit “update”, select check or money order as your payment type,  and you will receive a The Moon Project Pack absolutely free ($12.00 value)!