Front

         Front Flap

    Center Flap

      Back

On a rare occasion we will create a very extensive or elaborate themed lap book but most the time we do something simple. This makes life easier on mommy.  The more prep work or time spent preparing can be very exhausting.

1. File folders: legal and letter size
2. Felt pens, glue sticks and scissors
3. A large basket of stickers
4. Two crates of construction paper; all different sizes.

Before I begin any project with my children I stick to three principles: Educational, Creative and  Fun.

1. Educational
a. Math
b. Grammar
c. Writing
d. Reading
e. History or Science in bite size pieces

2. Creativity
a. new ideas -a mental process involving the generation of new ideas
b. new associations between existing ideas or new concepts.
c. experience

3. Fun
a. laughter
b. touching
c. interaction
d. communication

I assist my children when they need help but I do not do it for them.  (only the younger ones.) This will help your children to see and hear your instructions.

Sample Lesson
Step 1- Open your file folder. We are going to make match box size squares out of 11” x 17” paper.  This will be easier for the smaller children to open and close.  I would like everyone to glue three across the top of the left side of the folder.  Above I will write Adjective, Noun, Verb.  This will also allow the children to catch up.

Step2- Using school in a box, each child will pick one out.  Starting with myself, I will say the name of my object, “duck”.  After everyone takes a turn, I will say “noun - duck.” Everyone will always have a turn before we move on.   I will now ask each child to go find a noun and bring it back to me.  Each person should have two nouns.  We will write one on the front of our match box and the other one in the inside.  Anytime we work on lap books I am the walking talking dictionary.  I do not want anyone stressed about spelling.  My younger children do everything verbally and someone else writes for them.


  Adjectives                          Nouns                             Verbs
                                      Duck (written outside)          
                                      Marble (written inside)
         
Step 3- We are now going to put some action to our noun.  I will pick up my duck and say, “verb-quack”.  We will all take turns doing this with both our objects. While rolling my  marble I will say, ” verb-roll”.  Write your verbs on the match box. 

      Adjectives                          Nouns                             Verbs
                                      Duck (written outside)           quack (written outside)
                                      Marble (written inside)          roll (written inside)

Step 4 - Adjectives-our describing words. Picking up my duck. I will say, “adjective-yellow”.  And so on. We will continue the rest of the match boxes later, another day, or on our own.  I do not want to spend to much time or nobody will have fun.

       Adjectives                           Nouns                                Verbs
yellow (written outside)      Duck (written outside)          quack (written outside)
small (written outside)        Marble (written inside)          roll (written inside)

Step 5-  Using legal size paper or writing paper we will fold it in half, cut across the seam, fold in half. Your paper will need to be large enough to write a sentence. Glue on the right side of the file folder, lined up with the adjectives, nouns and verbs.  Each of you will now make a sentence with your words verbally before writing them.  Do not make them to complicated.  We will continue the rest of the sentences later, another day, or on our own.  I do not want to spend to much time or nobody will have fun.

The yellow duck was quacking. (written on the outside)
The boy rolled the small marble. (written on the inside)

                                            *see example below

                        Left Side                                                                      Right Side
Adjectives                           Nouns           Verbs                  Sentences
yellow (written outside)    Duck             quack        The yellow duck was quacking. (written on the outside)
small (written outside)      Marble         roll             The boy rolled the small marble (written on the inside)

Step 6 - Make a fold the size of index cards. I will bring my Great Search Books to the table.  Each child will choose the animal of choice around the edge of the book, draw picture in color on the index card, glue to top flap. Copy write the bite size information on the inside.  We will make three total for the back. 


                                                                                            Coral snake

Back of file folder
picture of coral snake (on the outside)
Coral snakes are poisonous, (written on the inside)
so animals do not eat them.

Step 7 - Everyone will use their own imagination to decorate the front.  It is very important to make a lap book with your kids.  Your participation is what makes this fun for your children.  My daughter decorated the front of our lap book.  On the inside front flap she chose to use information from Tadpoles and Frogs.

You might want to check out  The Big Book of Books by Dinah Zike

Step 8 - When the lap books are completed, we will  present them before our family. At first my children hated sharing but now they all want to go first.  The bite size pieces of facts will usually grab dads attention.