how to make a lapbook - fun and free!

We have made lapbooks, mainly on history topics, for the last year and they are great for the following reasons. You don't have to store worksheets that nobody wants to look at once they're done. You have something to show the grandparents (and the inspector!). You have something your child is proud of.

I've found that there is a method to it; once you've got yourself sorted, you don't need to spend on bought-in products, certainly if your child is young. It really hardly takes longer to do than preparing any history topic you don't know that well.

1. Decide what to teach! If a lapbook takes 3 weeks, choose 15 topics. You'll probably not do them all in detail, or every day. We seem to miss some completely! For instance, an Egypt lapbook might include:-
Geography of Egypt
The Nile
The Great Pyramid at Giza
Mummification
Daily life
Famous Pharaohs...etc
Use the headings of your textbook as a quick guide.

2. Plan the lapbook. I use two simple UK foolscap folders and interleave them for a triptych effect, plus a pocket at the back (you'll need to stick the sides and bottom of the back pocket down). This means there are 5 pages to fill (including the cover).

Sketch out on a piece of paper what type of mini-book etc will deliver what information. The web is full of info on this, but this site is really useful:-

http://www.homeschoolshare.com/lapbooking_resources.php

Choose by number/type of facts. If there are four seasons, choose a four section book. Then decide where these go on the lapbook. This sounds complex, but it's very quick and simple. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE ARTY. This is mind-mapping - information delivery at its best.

3. Pre-print your images. I've learnt this by bitter experience. For less stress, and with a young child, print images/clip-art etc for the whole lapbook and put it in a ziploc bag for the child to cut out later.

4. Type up a task list. I find this keeps us on target. Eg 'Session 1. Geography of Egypt. Find Egypt on a globe, a map. Read pages... of '....'. Colour the fertile areas of the outline map green and the desert yellow.'

Once you've completed a snippet of work, put it in the ziploc bag for later. That map has its place in the lapbook, but only assemble the book right at the end (and I do it myself for my 5yo). Our lapbooks never end up how they were meant to - but that's fun!

And that's it. Give it a go! Photos to follow, when I can work the technology...