Jun. 28, 2008
Mini-Office
There's been a lot of talk lately on one of the Yahoo groups I'm signed up for. The topic has been mini offices. What is a mini office you ask? Good question! A mini office is similar to a lapbook, but it's made by Mom and it holds information that we eventually want our kids to remember, but for now they need reminders. Personally, I think it should be called a mini bulletin board because that it what it is most like to me. When you walk into a public school classroom, the walls are covered with bulletin boards that display whatever the kids are currently learning about. It's a great way for the kids to help themselves when they get stuck and can't remember how to spell a basic word or how to write a paragraph, ect.
Now, at our house the walls are covered with maps, timelines, bulletin boards, ect right in the main areas because we see our house as a school and we're fine with it looking like one in this stage of our lives. But, I understand that some families don't want to be looking at Africa and seeing when Columbus sailed the ocean blue all the time.
So a mini office might be just what you need. Your kids can keep them with their notebook and pull them out whenever they need a little boost. Another great benefit is that the folders make a great little personal space for the kids when they're stood up on end.
I made Taylor's writing office sometime last year. I'm surprised I didn't blog about it yet. I just made the math one today. The printables came from http://www.busyteacherscafe.com/teacher_resources/mini_offices.htm . And some of them I just made myself using Open Office.
So, without further ado, here are our mini offices!
front covers
first opening on writing office (vowel sounds and parts of speech)
writing office open all the way
left section (organizers for paragraphs and stories)
middle section (more organizers, how to write a paragraph, punctuation chart, and cursive alphabet sticker)
right section (editing checklist, spelling help)
back (blends and digraphs)
Now the math office is not as nice looking as the writing office and I just made it today so I haven't decorated it yet, but you will get the general idea.
first opening (time, days of week, months of year, time facts, money chart, shapes, and order words)
open all the way
left side (number words and math symbols)
middle (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division facts)
right side (how to solve word problems, word problem key words, skip counting chart)
back (hundred chart)
Well, that's it! I hope it will spur some ideas of your own!
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May. 6, 2008
Free Grandfather's Wisdom Lapbook
This week CurrClick is giving away a lapbook by Knowledge Box Central. It's called Grandfather's Wisdom and is part of their Interview Series. It's a $25 value! I can just see Taylor interviewing her Papaw with a little tape recorder and a clipboard. How cute! Not to mention, it would be a great way to get the family involved in your school. So, go check it out and remember it's only available this week for free.
http://www.currclick.com/product_info.php?products_id=21417&it=1
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May. 2, 2008
Character Lapbook
Sorry I haven't been blogging this week. I am so behind, but I am sick, sick, sick. Hopefully I'll be better really soon, but until then I just had to share this new free lapbook from Homeschoolshare. It's all about character traits. There is a section that can be used for any trait and there is also individual sections about lots of different character traits. I particularly liked the character quotes. They would make great copywork.
http://www.homeschoolshare.com/character_lapbook.php
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Apr. 29, 2008
Civil War Lapbook
Would you like to see something really cool? I have been working with Ami over at homeschoolshare and we have put together some really cool templates to make a Civil War lapbook. Please go check it out and then leave me a comment to let me know what you think. I've never done anything like this before and it was really neat to see it coming together. Thanks Ami for making the books look so great and thanks Charity for making the handouts.
http://www.homeschoolshare.com/civil_war_lapbook_templates.php
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Apr. 23, 2008
LapNotebooking
No, that wasn't a misprint. LapNotebooking is putting together lapbooks and notebooking so that your whole study is in one handy book. I find myself merging toward doing our lapbook mini books onto cardstock that is 3 hole punched instead of an actual lapbook base because you have full sheets to work with instead of small sections. That gives you more options for how you want to lay out your mini books. Plus this way, you can keep the lapbook in the regular binder that houses all the rest of your kid's work for the year.
Molly at Homeschool with Index Cards has come up with another great combination for LapNotebooking. She is attaching a regularly folded lapbook base onto one of those cheap 3 pronged folder thingies that you can get at Back to School Sales for 5 cents each. Here is a link to her blog post about them. She has taken pictures of each step so that you will have no problem putting your own together!
http://www.homeschoolwithindexcards.com/LapNotebook.html
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Apr. 1, 2008
Homeschool Share's New Contest
Homeschoolshare is one of my very favorite online resources for homeschooling. They offer tons of literature based unit studies and lapbooks all for free. Each unit study or lapbook is created by Moms just like you who are willing to donate their work to help serve other homeschoolers.
If you've ever thought that you could come up with a unit study or lapbook, now's the time to do it! They are offering great prizes to winners in several different categories. I can't wait to see all the new lapbooks!
Click here to find out more information.
http://www.homeschoolshare.com/blast_2008_guide.php
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Mar. 20, 2008
Easter Lapbook
Just in time for Easter Taylor has finished her Easter lapbook from In the Hands of a Child. This is only the 2nd lapbook that I've actually paid for. HOAC is my very favorite lapbook company. She did all but 2 of the mini books. She did them almost all by herself too! She would cut out 1 or 2 books a day while I read from the research guide and the Bible. Then we would review what we read and she would put her answers in. I did some of the writing, but she did a lot of it herself. I was very proud of her. This is the most independent she has worked on a lapbook yet!
My camera batteries did not charge correctly so I only got a few pictures. Hopefully you can see good enough to tell what the books are. We had a big empty page so I found a cool Resurrection game online. It's simple enough for Isaac to play also, but I make it a little harder for Taylor by having her say what each symbol means or reading the verse that goes with it.
Also, Jamin has a really cute Resurrection lapbook over on her blog.
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Jan. 22, 2008
Civil War Lapbook Weeks 4 and 5
**Edited on 4-29-08
**Click this link to see nice, ready made templates for a Civil War Lapbook. http://www.homeschoolshare.com/civil_war_lapbook_templates.php **
Week 4 DirectionsVocabulary-
Siege warfare- battles that lasted for long stretches—sometimes months at a time—where armies dug and stayed in trenches, didn’t engage in active fighting very often, and waited out their enemy.
Trench- a long, narrow ditch dug by a soldier to hide and protect him during war
Lean-to- a simple shelter built with fallen logs, branches, and whatever materials were found
15. A new way of fighting- periscopes
Use the rectangle petal book. Fold the petals in toward the center. Open back up. Put a picture in the center and write your information on the petals. Fold back up and decorate the cover.
Petal Book
16. At camp-
Part of this book will be done next week using the recipes. Use the 3 book side by side. Use one book to tell about your shelter of choice. Use the other 2 books next week for recipes of hardtack, johnny cakes or taffy. Close the book, title it, and decorate.
Side by Side Book
Vocabulary-
Wig-wag- a system of using signal flags to communicate battle commands
17. 3 Types of Signal flags-
Use the ¾ book. Which color flags were used when? Use each open section for a color of flag.
3/4 Book
18. Wig Wag (flag signals)
Simply fold up the print out from class and attach to your book. You can fold it in quarters or as an accordion. Or you can glue it down as-is.
19. Telegraphs
Use the octagon tri-fold book. One section can be about the inventor of the telegraph, one about the job of a telegrapher, and one about why it’s use was important in the war.
Octagon Tri-fold Book
20. Morse code
Use the handout from class. Paste onto a square piece of paper and Fold into a four triangle shaped book.
Begin with a square piece of paper. Fold in quarters, then unfold; these will be guidelines for the next fold. Fold each corner to the center point of the square. You now have four triangular flaps to open.
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Jan. 15, 2008
Civil War Lapbook Weeks 2 and 3
**Edited on 4-29-08
**Click this link to see nice, ready made templates for a Civil War Lapbook. http://www.homeschoolshare.com/civil_war_lapbook_templates.php **
Week 2 Directions*Don’t forget to keep adding vocabulary cards as you come across new words.
Vocabulary-
Regimental flags- Flags used to represent different groups of soldiers
Color Guard- group of men who carried the flags into battle
8. Why flags were used
Use a simple matchbook for this book. Put the title and possibly a picture on the outside and write your answer on the inside.
Matchbook
9. Flag protocol
Use the flag shaped fan book for this. You will cut out the individual fans and use a brad to fasten them together. The top page will be the title page with the inside pages containing the info that Charity taught this week. To attach to the lapbook, you can either glue down the last page or put the brad all the way through the folder. For now, you will put in in the Ziploc bag with the rest of the mini books you’ve made.
Flag Book
10. Different Flags
This book would work well as a tab book or a popup book. If you use the tab book, try to print on colored paper. It just looks nicer! Label the tabs with the different types of flag and draw or paste a picture of that flag along with some info about it. If you’d like to use a pop-up book there are directions at this link. You will want to make the book smaller than shown to best fit your lapbook. To make it multi page, make several popups and slip them inside each other. Staple at the top.
Tab Book
*Don’t forget to keep adding vocabulary cards as you come across new words.
Vocabulary-
Recruit- to get people to join the military
Abolitionist- a person who was involved in doing away with slavery
Fugitive- a person who is running away
Slavery- being bound to serve as property of another person
11. Underground Railroad
See directions for booklet on the next page. You can use some of the clipart I’ve provided or use your own. You can also add pages as necessary.- just repeat steps 3 and 4.
12. Uniforms- who wore what
You can use the template for a twice folded book or you can make a popup book (see the link above). Put a picture on the union uniform on one side and the confederate on the other. Write the info about them inside.
Twice Folded Book
13. Civil War Quilts
Simply fold a piece of paper in half then cut to look like a square that is the size you need. Draw a picture of the quilt pattern on the outside. On the inside you can write directions for making the quilt or information about who made the quilts and why.
14. Civil War Dolls
Another simple fold of whatever size you need. If you wanted to, you could cut out into the shape of a person and decorate that way. Inside put the information your child would like to remember.
**If you have a teen making a lapbook to go along with the co-op, this week they will want to make a booklet on the importance of photography in the war.**
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Jan. 10, 2008
Civil War Lapbook Intro and Week 1 Directions
**Edited on 4-29-08 **Click this link to see nice, ready made templates for a Civil War Lapbook. http://www.homeschoolshare.com/civil_war_lapbook_templates.php ** Lapbook Directions for Week 1 We will be making the mini books at home between co-ops. I will supply you with templates, pictures, and directions for making your mini books. Remember, this should be fun! If it’s causing stress, take a step back, regroup, and try again another time. Save all of your mini books in a ziplock bag and when the co-op is over, you will turn all the mini books into a lapbook (or several notebook pages- whichever way you want to go). If you decide to go with notebook pages, use white or colored cardstock. Three hole punch it, and glue the mini books directly to the cardstock. It’s a combination of lap booking and note booking. This is probably what I will do. Pick the booklets that are right for your child. You don’t have to do them all. Also, feel free to add on if something else interests you or you have another idea. Keep in mind that photographs go great inside a lapbook. Take pictures of your kids with their projects and find a way to incorporate them into the lapbook. What kid doesn’t like to see a picture of themselves?! The amount of writing, coloring, cutting, gluing your child does is up to you. It is certainly fine for you to help them! I usually cut out and fold most of Taylor’s books unless they are very simple or she really wants to do it herself. Don’t try to do them all in one day. Pick one or two mini books to do at a time. Although I am giving you templates to print for most of these books, you can make a lot of them yourself with out wasting all the unused paper on each page. It’s totally up to you! Save your scraps- they make great mini books. A huge thank you to www.homeschoolshare.com ! Most of the templates I used have come from there. Supplies needed- Mini Books: 1. Map 2.Important People 3. Timeline 4. Bugles 5. Drums 6. Taps 7. Vocabulary **If you have a teen or older child doing a lapbook also, they might want to include some booklets on these topics: Don’t worry, there won’t be this many books for the other weeks! This is a link to the free book download from WOWIO. This is the book that we based our Civil War Co-op off of. The book is called Great Civil War Projects You Can Build Yourself. I will be adding links to the other weeks booklets as I get them done. Here is a link to the Civil War Lapbook Overview . Here is a link to Weeks 2 and 3. Here is a link to Weeks 4 and 5.
Scissors
Colored pencils
Crayons
Markers
Glue stick
Blank index cards (or cut up cardstock)
White paper
Colored paper
Printer
File folders
Stapler
For this you can just save the blank map the kids filled out in class. Cut it out. Fold it in half, then in half again. You will glue one small side to the folder. That way it will unfold when you want to see the map.
There is a template for this. Print it out- preferably on colored paper. Print the Important People page out on regular printer paper. Cut out the pictures and glue one to the front of each little book. On the inside of the little books you can write some info about that person or use the words that are typed on the paper with the pictures.
Side by Side Mini Book
Use the accordion fold template. Cut it out and fold back and forth like an accordion. Use each section to identify an important date in the war. On the top will be the title. This is what you will see when the book is closed. The last section will be glued to the folder. If you need more room, print another page and glue them together at the ends. If it's too much room, cut off the excess.
Accordian Book
Print out the flip book template on colored paper. Each page will be used for a different aspect of bugles-why were they used, who were the buglers, important facts, other jobs, ect)
Flip Book
Print the cylinder shape book on colored paper. Write a different fact on each page. Color cover to look like a drum. Staple together.
Cylinder Shape Book
Print the shutter fold template on color paper. Inside, paste the verses to taps and write in the notes. Write any other relevant info that you wish.
Shutterfold Booklet
This will be an ongoing mini book. For now you can print the pocket template, cut it out, and glue it together. Use the index cards to add vocabulary words as you see fit. Put the word on one side, definition on the other. Maybe the littles can draw a picture. Store the cards in the pocket. Add new words each week.
Vocabulary Pocket
-causes of the war
-Emancipation Proclamation
-Gettysburg Address
-first aid/stretchers
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Jan. 10, 2008
Civil War Lapbook Overview
**Edited on 4-29-08 **Click this link to see nice, ready made templates for a Civil War Lapbook. http://www.homeschoolshare.com/civil_war_lapbook_templates.php ** Our co-op is doing a unit study on the Civil War this semester. I've decided to do a lapbook to go along with it. I don't know if it will be helpful to anyone outside of our co-op or not. We do a lot of hands on activities in our co-op and this lapbook is based off of what we will be learning each week. I will post a new entry each time I get a section finished. This is a link to the free book download from WOWIO. This is the book that we based our Civil War Co-op off of. The book is called Great Civil War Projects You Can Build Yourself. This is pretty much just my planning page of topics and booklet ideas for each topic. I had grades K-5 in mind when designing this. I hope it will benefit someone! Civil War Lapbook Booklet Topics Week 1 1. Map (use the blank map made in class) 2. Important People (Side by Side 4 books) 3. Timeline/dates of important battles 4. Bugles (layered book; why were they used, who were the buglers, important facts, other jobs) 5. Drums (cylinder shape book) 6. Taps (shutter fold, notes and verses) 7. Vocabulary (pocket, ongoing each week) Additional options for older kids -causes of the war -Emancipation Proclamation -Gettysburg Address -first aid/stretchers Week 2 8. Why flags were used (matchbook) 9. Flag Protocol (flag shaped fan book) 10. Different flags (tab book) Older kids -importance of photography Week 3 11. Underground Railroad 12. Uniforms (who wore what? Multi page popup) 13. Civil War Quilts (simple fold decorated as quilt square with info inside) 14. Civil War dolls (simple fold) Week 4 15. A new way of fighting- periscopes 16. At camp (week 4 and 5; a recipe and a shelter; flapbook with cover) Week 5 17. Signal flags (t book) 18. Flag signals (use page from book) 19. Telegraph (flip book; inventor, telegraphers, why it’s important) 20. Morse code (simple fold, use code in book) Week 6 21. Ships (side tab book 3 divisions)
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Jan. 3, 2008
Free Winter Themed Lapbooks
I have come across several free winter themed lapbooks in the last couple of days and wanted to share them with you.
Sled Dogs The Freebie of the Week at Homeschool eStore. This is labeled for grades 3-8, but as with most things can be used for older or younger also.
Baby in a Basket (Based off a book) Summary: In 1917, Marie and her children Betty and baby Ann are leaving Alaska for the winter by sleigh, when disaster strikes during a snowstorm.
Three Snow Bears (Based off a book) This is a polar spin off of Goldilocks and the Three Bears.
Penguins This is the January Blog Meme for Little Laplinks hosted by Valerie at Little Blots of Faith.
If I come across any more, I'll add them to this post!
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Dec. 30, 2007
Election Lapbook
There is an election lapbook at homeschool share that I have been looking at doing with Taylor. I want her to understand a little bit about the election process, what a vote is, and why we should vote. I don't think I'm going to do a whole lapbook with her though.
My thoughts are to get a good book or two from the library on elections/voting and to do a few of the mini books- not all of them. Then instead of attaching them to a lapbook, we will put them on a piece of cardstock that has been hole punched and stick it in her notebook. It's the best of lapbooks and notebooks put together! I plan on spending 2 or 3 days tops on this. I just want a little something to help her know what's going on right now in our country.
If you have any good ideas or books to share, leave me a comment! When we get finished, I'll post pictures. Assuming I have my camera back by then.
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Dec. 13, 2007
Taylor's Grammar Lapbook
We worked on this lapbook for about 3 weeks off and on. Whenever we would learn a part of speech, we would do the booklets that went with it. After it was done, I made the grammar game myself and we played it a couple of times. Just so you know, I wish I had printed the game cards on sturdier paper.
I got the idea for the this through the Yahoo lapbooking group. It's a great group to join, but there are a slew of messages. Here is the link to the original pictures of the family who first made the lapbook. We changed it up just a little bit to fit us.
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Nov. 18, 2007
Little Laplinks/Thanksgiving
Well, I never actually got around to making this lapbook, but here are the links I accumulated. I hope they will be helpful to someone else who wants to do a Thanksgiving lapbook.
http://www.dltk-cards.com/dominos/index.htm dominoes
http://www.kidzone.ws/math/thanksgiving/t_math.asp?gr2d-addition.html 2 digit addition
http://www.kidzone.ws/math/thanksgiving/t_math.asp?numsentence1b.html number sentence
http://www.kidzone.ws/math/thanksgiving/t_math.asp?gr2c-addition.html 3 column addition
http://www.teachervision.fen.com/tv/printables/TCR/1576904679_180-183.pdf Thanksgiving mini book
http://www.evan-moor.com/pdf/primary_1107.pdf plant corn
http://printables.familyeducation.com/tv/printables/0876285213_Thanksgiving.pdf poem idea
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Nov. 14, 2007
Isaac's Corduroy Lapbook
I decided to go with the Corduroy lapbook for Isaac first instead of the Goodnight Moon lapbook I still really like the Goodnight Moon one, but Corduroy was a bit more simple. Simple is good- especially for a 2 year old!
As you can tell, he had a lot of 'help' with this lapbook. He did some cutting, coloring, and pasting. That was good enough for him. As we look at it together, we'll go over counting to 3 with the three bears, the letters F and B, patterns and some counting with the buttons, and his Bible verse.
The mystery toy flip book was mostly just for fun. Oh, and I glued some salt onto the letter F so that it would have a little texture when he felt it. The 3 bears, number 3, and the letter B are foam stickers.
Here is the link to all the printables for the Corduroy lapbook . I really like the Before Five in a Row resources.
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Nov. 12, 2007
Free- What is Snow Lapbook!
For all of you who love to lapbook or would like to give lapbooking a try- Homeschool eStore is giving away a free lapbook! It is made by Hands of a Child and is targeted for grades 3-6.
You have to sign up for an account, but it is free and they have a giveaway every week.
Here is the link to try it out. Enjoy!!
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Nov. 7, 2007
Lapbook Ideas?
I'm ready to do another lapbook with the kids. Especially Isaac. He absolutely loves the pumpkin lapbook we made with Little Laplinks. He is always looking at it. I'm surprised it's not ripped in two yet from all the lovin'. 
Here is the link to it.
Little Laplinks has a new theme for November- Pilgrims. I'm not sure I want to cover that topic in depth right now. Although I have been accumulating links to use if I choose.
I've been looking at the lapbooks over at www.homeschoolshare.com . I really like the one for Goodnight Moon. Oh, how I wish my printer would work! My Pastor said we could use his, but I hate to bother him everytime I need copies. And copies at the library cost 25 cents a sheet.
For Taylor I'd like to do this Grammar Lapbook that I discovered through the Yahoo group on lapbooking. The Mom who made it uploaded the templates to the files section. If you want to be a member and access the files, click here to join.
Well, that's where my thoughts have been the last couple of days. Any suggestions?
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Oct. 25, 2007
Ancient Mesopotamia
This week we finished our unit on Ancient Mesopotamia. We also studied some on Jericho, Ur, and Sumer. I think Taylor has the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers down pat. She can find them on most any map or globe and knows that Mesopotamia is the land between the two rivers.
She does not like to be told again something that she already knows. I was reminding her today that Sumer was found toward the bottom of Mesopatomia, close to where the rivers meet and flow into the Persian Gulf. I barely got, "Remember where Sumer is?" out of my mouth when she was asking me to not tell her. So what did I do? I asked her to show me if she was so sure that she knew. And she did! Well, I guess I need to give her more credit for her memory. I tend to do way too much explaining during school time and it does nothing but frustrate her. I need to work on that.
We also were able to put our first few timeline figures on.
I thought I'd post some pictures of her finished notebook pages. Most of this came from Evan-Moor's Ancient Civilizations History Pocket. We use it alongside Sonlight's Core 1. I recommend them both.
Taylor's puppets
Isaac's puppets
I am aware that Taylor is not the best colorer or drawer. I've seen the work of some 2nd graders and have felt feelings of failure and inadequacy concerning Taylor. But I also see other areas where she shines. So what if she still doesn't color in the lines and refuses to make things the colors they ought to be. Her heart is full of compassion for others and her hands are always busy with helping and kind deeds.
I post this in the hopes that another parent may be encouraged that their child is indeed normal. (If there is any such thing!) Not everyone is an artist, cares about detail, or has handwriting that is a work of art. But EVERYONE is good at something. Maybe we just haven't disovered what it is yet! While we can and should encourage neatness and doing our best. Be real about what that best is. Don't try to work against how God designed your child. It's a fight that you can't win! For me, it's at least a weekly struggle. I have to remember that Taylor is not made in MY image. She shouldn't be a mini me.
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Oct. 18, 2007
Our Pumpkin Lapbooks - Little Laplinks
Here are our finished pumpkin lapbooks. I'd like to send a big THANK YOU to Valerie over at Christian Preschool Printables for coming up with this blog meme.
These are all the links that we ended up using.
books opened up
I glued the sewing card pumpkin to a piece of cardstock to make it sturdier. Also, the pumpkin number puzzle pieces I laminated, but left them whole for now. I give him actual pumpkin seeds to put on the pictures of pumpkin seeds. We count them out that way. I only did the numbers to six. The dot to dot is also laminated so that he can do it more than once.
Isaac's favorite part by far is the sewing card.
Here is the front cover of Taylor's lapbook. She drew the pumpkins and made the fence all by herself. 
Inside
Isaac made the pumpkin puppet for Taylor at Hey Day. Taylor really enjoys the puzzle and the memory game.
Inside opened up
Here we have the pumpkin life cycle and pumpkin seed math. There are several mini math sheets with problems to solve. She also has the pumpkin seeds to use as manipulatives. Also, just a note- my daughter's handwriting is not that neat. We accidentaly put in the Draw Write Now sample that I showed her instead of the one she actually did.
If you want to get involved in the Little Laplinks blog meme please click this picture for more information.
