“The Shape of Things”   A lapbook suitable for K4 – 1^st grade.

Need: 3 manila file folders, construction paper, glue, printouts, and stapler

Optional: crayons or markers to color

Assemble the lapbook by cutting one folder in half and set aside.  Place the remaining two folders together (one inside the other) to form a 4 page book, add one half of remaining folder for additional page to the back, then staple along the left side to assemble.  Use ½ of the remaining piece of folder as a pocket for page 8.

Cover – write The Shape of Things by Child’s Name

            decorate with stop sign and butterfly from my file: Cutouts-1 and bird

from Shape Animal from http://www.kizclub.com/shapes.htm

Shape Pages 1 – 5: Shape folders from http://www.kizclub.com/shapes.htm

            and Shape Folder Pics(1) and (2) from http://www.kizclub.com/shapes.htm

Shape page 6 –  kite and the Pentagon building from my file: Cutouts-1

hot air balloon www.school.ws_t_ap_balloon_colors_shapes.html.pdf

Shape page 7 – make cat from Shape Animal from

http://www.kizclub.com/shapes.htm and honeycomb and flower (draw

stem with green marker) can be decorated with bee stickers if you have them from my file Cutouts-1

Shape page 8 – add a pocket to hold book Color Farm from

http://www.kizclub.com/stories2.htm  Have child identify each shape and

animal, then mount the picture and corresponding words to construction

paper, finally staple to make a book.

Back-cover – glue shape picture definition page on and with pen complete the semicircle from my file: Shape Definition Page

Additional Shape Links not used in lapbook:

http://www.uen.org/Lessonplan/preview.cgi?LPid=18827

1^st grade shape unit

http://www.firstschoolyears.com/numeracy/shape/shape.html

Several worksheets

http://www.kidport.com/grade1/math/MeasureGeo/G1-M-MG2-1-2.htm

on-line matching game rated 1^st grade

http://www.teachingideas.co.uk/maths/shapes.htm

geared to children ages 5 to 11

http://www.dft.gov.uk/think/teachers/lessonplans/primary/plan?id=16

Primary (Level 1 and 2) Shape Street

www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks1bitesize/numeracy/shapes/fs.shtml on-line game through the BBC

Additional Shape pages most for older children

www.softschools.com/math/geometry/shapes

http://www.funmaths.com/worksheets/math_geometry_02.htm

High School pages

http://www.numeracyworld.com/Shape%20and%20Space%20Worksheets.html

Lots of worksheets/reference sheets including a more advanced naming 2D shapes worksheet with answer key

I didn't really share this before because I didn't know if it was worth it; BUT I attended Cindy Rushton's Ultimate Homeschool Expo. and it literally was the Ultimate!  I loved it and am still loving it!

For a limited time, Cindy is still offering the $40 membership, once the site is completely up and running -- that price will be gone. 

You see one of the neat things about the Ultimate Homeschool Expo is that everything is ONLINE. Cindy builds a private, exclusive Membership Site that includes everything from the UHSE in one place--it has audios (from all of the sessions and from the bonus gifts that her speakers give to us), ebooks, complete unit study guides, articles, printable notebooking pages, cookbooks, on and on. I can't believe all of the things that we received for only $40. It is truly ULTIMATE!

Anyway, back to the reason that I am posting...

Cindy just gave me permission to give you a sampler of one of her free gifts that is included on the Membership Site. I am so excited to give it to you! It is a audio and ebook set that she actually sells on her website, but she is giving away on the Membership Site. Here is the link:

I'm still learning -- but, if I am doing this right you should see a photo of two clay horses modelled by my guys DS5 and DS12.

Please post if you see this picture -- thanks!

Here are some links for eBooks/articles concerning the topic: Handicrafts for Boys:

(Links were current at time of posting)

http://www.amblesideonline.org/Handicrafts.shtml

Article on handicrafts

http://www.archive.org/details/handicraftforboy00colliala

Handicraft for boys ([c1918])   Author: Collins, A. Frederick (Archie Frederick), 1869-

http://www.archive.org/details/carpentrymechani00hall

Carpentry & mechanics for boys : up-to-the-minute handicraft ([c1918])  Author: Hall, A. Neely (Albert Neely), b. 1883

http://www.archive.org/details/boymechanicbook200chic2

The boy mechanic : book 2: 1000 things for boys to do (c1915)

http://www.archive.org/details/everyboysbookcom00routrich

Every boy's book : a complete encyclopaedia of sports and amusements ([1868])  Author: Routledge, Edmund, 1843-1899

http://www.archive.org/details/purposefulhandwo00mckerich

Purposeful handwork (1922)  Author: Mckee, Jane (Wright) 1894-

http://www.archive.org/details/toymakinginschoo00polkrich

Toy-making in school and home (1916)  Author: Polkinghorne, Ruby Kathleen, 1883-

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=980CE5D7153BE533A25750C1A9629C94619ED7CF   Article on handicrafts for boys – published April 13, 1890, Wednesday

http://www.inquiry.net/traditional/beard/abhb/index.htm

About ¼ of Dan Beard’s American Boys Handy Book

http://www.inquiry.net/traditional/beard/ohb/index.htm

A portion of Dan Beard’s Outdoor Handy Book

http://www.inquiry.net/traditional/beard/ffhb/index.htm

A portion of Field and Forest Handy Book

Please post any additional free items in the comment section.

• Build and Grow Kid’s Clinic at Lowe’s:     We’ve gone to Lowe’s Build and Grow Kid’s Clinics off and on now for about 4 years starting out at a store in Myrtle Beach then Conway SC, and now we attend one right here in Georgia.  My boys (ages 5 and 12) both enjoy them.  Lowe’s supplies an apron, safety goggles, kit and tools all for free.  When the child is done they receive a patch for their apron.  The clinic is the 2^nd and now the 4^th Saturday of the month from 10 – 11 AM.  For more information and to sign-up go to: https://www.lowesbuildandgrow.com/
• Home Depot:     I’ve found that Home Depot runs a similar program on the first Saturday of the month. We have not been to one; but you can check it out if you have a Home Depot in your area.  http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ContentView?pn=Kids_Workshops&langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053
• The Knack at Michaels:     Michael’s occasionally offers Free Family Crafts, usually the details are in their weekly ad; but if you don’t get the paper you can sign up (free) for The Knack (link below) and check its event page to know when the free events will take place.  We have only been to one in SC and then one here in GA; since we do not have a store where we live.  So we have not made a special trip just for the craft.  However, if we are going to be in the area shopping, it makes a great diversion for the children.  http://www.theknackkids.com/LandingPage.aspx?cm_ven=2008HomePage&cm_ite=The+Knack

I am so excited!

I just found out that our family won a package from http://www.homeschoolradioshows.com/ by posting a comment (MzRenaissance is from  my other blog http://LadyRenaissance.blogspot.com).  How cool is that?

I actually joined the Premium Member Site; but you can get a free MP3 story each week without joining anything.  Some shows are educational, some just plain silly; but our boys (5 and just recently 12) love them!

You have a chance to win the same package!  Get all the details at their blog:

http://www.livingbooksfortheears.com/

I’ve been homeschooling now for 6 years; but this is our first year doing lapbooks.  My oldest DS thinks the lapbooks are cool; but, is not generally interested in making any himself; so he is working on a History Notebook this year (6^th) that will hopefully be done at the end of 8^th grade.  So once I learn how to up-load pictures and documents, I’ll post some of the lapbooks we’ve done with our DS (kindergarten).  Potentially there are a slew of back posts a-coming!  With the hope, that in this way, maybe we can encourage via cyberspace or at least shorten your cyber search time.

Until then here are some links for Classical Music study.  I chose to do a linking post for Classical Music because this past Friday, March 14^th , our Homeschool group was blessed to greatly enjoy the Young People’s Concert put on by the Macon Symphony Orchestra and I am offering this as sort of a follow-up.

Each link is a free resource and followed by a short description -- links were checked at posting time.

http://www.classicsforkids.com/teachers/lessonplans/

This is an awesome site (geared to elementary students) where you can download PDF handouts and lesson guides for the radio show Classics for Kids – which you can listen to on-line.

http://www.kids.gov/k_5/k_5_arts_music.shtml

http://www.kids.gov/6_8/6_8_art_music.shtml

From our government – divided by grades K-5 and 6-8

http://www.si.edu/Encyclopedia_SI/History_and_Culture/Music_History.htm

For us teachers

http://www.squidoo.com/musiclapbook

A free classical music lapbook by Jimmie of http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Jimmie

http://www.harmonyfinearts.com/section/freedownloads/

At the time of this post, Harmony Fine Arts is giving away free Classical Music Study Plans for 9 – 12 grade written by http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/HarmonyArtMom/

http://www.kiddierecords.com/

Browse this awesome site for more children’s classical music and orchestra introduction all in MP3 format

http://amblesideonline.org/

Has a study schedule for years 0 - 12 of composers, hymns, and folksongs all nicely scheduled some with links

Please add any FREE links you enjoy – topic: Classical Music -- in the comment section so we all can benefit.  Thanks!

We are starting this blog for two purposes:

1.  To showcase the children's work and projects for motivational purposes and for the viewing pleasure of the very far-away Grands.

2.  In hopes to give back  to the virtual homeschool community, from which we have gleaned so much, in the areas of : ideas, encouragement, and conversation.