Jul. 13, 2007 - Apologia Lapbooks -- Comparison Between Live and Learn Lapbook Knowledge Box Central Lapbook.
Apologia Lapbooks
Comparison Between Live and Learn lapbooks and Knowledge Box Central's lapbooks
This review was written by Beth for an e-mail group we are in; and I asked her if I could share it with everyone on my blog. Thank you Beth!
Live and Learn
Points to consider
• You buy one unit that has 5 files for easier downloading. Ebook an CD are the same price..$25
• You use 8½ X 11 card stock that you 3 hole punch and place in your notebook to attach the booklets to. It all neatly laid out with each lesson and its booklets all together. Each lesson has an intro page for your notebook that you can easily put a tab on to separate the lessons. Then it's followed by that lesson's layout guide, then the assembly and study guide...telling how to cut and fold each booklet and where to find the answers in the Apologia book, followed by the actual booklets that you will print out.
• Each booklet’s directions tells the type of booklet it is and they have videos on their website that shows how to fold many of the booklets.
• This had much more information, it’s clear and concise and easy to use.
Knowledge Box Central
• You purchase 2 files the first covers lessons 1-6 and the second is lessons 7-14. Each ebook is $18.49 ($36.98 to cover the whole book) There is extra cost for CDs and preprinted.
• You use 4 file folders fastened together for the Lessons 1-6 lapbook and another 4 file folders fastened together for the Lessons 7-14 lapbook.
• The layout guide is at the beginning of each file. The booklets are scattered though out the folders where they fit not necessarily in lesson order. You could have a booklet from lesson 1 on the first page of the file folder and another one on another page later on. You have to search the file to find which booklet goes with which lesson.
• I do like that they have links to go with each lessons for more information but you also get that with Apologia book.
Live and Learn - Fist Chapter minibooks
1 1 What is astronomy?
2 Psalms 91:1
3 Why did God create the universe?
4 How do gravity...fasten the earth…?
5 Planet Mnemonic
6 Astronomers
7 NASA
8 Define Gravity
Knowledge Box Central -- First Chapter minibooks
1 What is astronomy?
2 A Star as a sign
3 Name the Planets
4 Copernicus & Galileo
5 Lessons 1-4 Vocabulary
6 Copywork
For chapter Two,
Live and Learn has 17 minibooklets
Knowledge Box has 5 minibooklets + vocabulary from above
For Chapter Three,
Live and Learn has 13 minibooklets
Knowledge Box has 3 minibooklets + vocabulary from above
For Chapter Four
Live and Learn has 12 minibooklets
Knowledge Box has 4 minibooklets + vocabulary from above
For Chapter Five
Live and Learn has 17 minibooklets
Knowledge Box has 4 minibooklets includes lesson 5-6 vocab.
For Chapter Six
Live and Learn has 13 minibooklets
Knowledge Box has 6 minibooklets + lesson 5-6 vocab.
For Chapter Seven
Live and Learn has 12 minibooklets
Knowledge Box has 3 minibooklets
For Chapter Eight
Live and Learn has 13 minibooklets
Knowledge Box has 4 minibooklets
For Chapter Nine
Live and Learn has 10 minibooklets
Knowledge Box has 5 minibooklets
For Chapter Ten
Live and Learn has 9 minibooklets
Knowledge Box has 3 minibooklets
For Chapter Eleven
Live and Learn has 11 minibooklets
Knowledge Box has 3 minibooklets
For Chapter Twelve
Live and Learn has 12 minibooklets
Knowledge Box has 2 minibooklets
For Chapter Thirteen
Live and Learn has 20 minibooklets
Knowledge Box has 5 minibooklets
For Chapter Fourteen
Live and Learn has 8 minibooklets
Knowledge Box has 3 minibooklets
That pretty much sums it up for me! Please tell your friend thank you very much for taking the time to compile this information and writing a review. I GREATLY appreciate it! And thanks for hosting it on your blog.
for sharing this. I didn't know that another company had made lapbooks for the apologia. We are using the one from Knowledge Box Central for Zoo I but I will definitely look at the other company when we do the next book.
Thank you so much for posting this! I had been wondering about the differences.
I really would like more detailed information and personal thoughts. Such as Which one did you like better? One has more minibooks-Did you find them to be to much or did you like less busy work? Is one more colorful that the other? Is the important information better laid out in one? You probably didn't choose for your kids to do both so which one did you use? I guess I just like details and I would remember that it is just personal taste and what fits for your home school. I realize they are probably both good.
Wow...thank you for this article. It was really helpful and it's a great idea! By the way, your blog looks great..I love all the links.....I just started mine. I am still trying to figure out how to do all of it. Visit me at http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/MINE
I love seeing this comparison! Thanks, Beth! I'm not surprised, though. I have not been impressed at all with Knowledge Box Central. I've found many errors in their products (missing info, spelling errors, grammar errors, etc). After reviewing my copy of a Composers lapbook, I even offered to help them proofread, but didn't get anywhere. I like Live and Learn quite well, but my favorite company for quality and consistency is Hands of a Child. They have a free sample download every quarter at handsofachild.com.
I recieved this anonymous comment via e-loop; and thought it added further to the review:
Thanks for this link. I have both versions for Zoo 2 and agree with all the points your friend made.
I would add that the booklet shapes in the KBC version tend to be a little more creative ... wider variety of booklet styles. But the Live and Learn version is typo-free (KBC is not). All of the booklet outlines, folds, and headings are clear and set up perfectly in the L&L version ... no headings slightly overlapping the outer border or no booklet fronts and backs slightly offset from each other. Personally, I like having more booklets from which to choose. The L&L website says that they'd rather have too many booklets than too few so the moms can pick and choose.
Either way, we love Zoo 2 (our first Apologia course!) and love doing lapbooks!!!
I wanted to add that Knowledge Box Central has sales occasionally that allow you to get the lapbook for half price which makes it less than $10 per lapbook (less than $20 for the two needed per book.)
The bottom line is; We try not to insist on parent-led learning or gravitate toward child-led learning. We try instead to focus on God-led learning and ask for His input and perspective on every aspect of our home school. That way, when others fuss about what Dan and I are doing and make me second guess our decisions -- I can go back to our decision process and find God's fingerprints, reminding me that this is His way.
