What in the World is a Lapbook?

Lapbooks, project packs, and file folder books – they are all referring to the same basic idea of creating a miniature book to reinforce a learning adventure. Becoming popular in the homeschooling world over the past 10 years or so, these options are also being used in classrooms and even daycare centers. The above fun LEGO lapbook was shared at Joy in the Journey.

What is a Lapbook?

Lapbooks are easy tools you can use to build around central themes and turn basic topics into unit studies. In some ways lapbooks are scrapbooks meet learning journals. But don’t be frightened, you don’t need to be a scrapbooking queen in order to master the art of lapbooking. In fact, you can be scrapbooking challenged like I am and still have success with lapbooks!

Most lapbooks are created using the following supplies:

• manila folders
• printed worksheets (on regular paper or cardstock)
  • There are tons of free resources – check out homeschoolshare.com, eduhelper.com, and more.
  • You can make your own worksheets or even use parts of worksheets from inexpensive workbooks.
• glue sticks
• color crayons/markers
• scissors
• staples/stapler

What Does a Lapbook Look Like?

The best way to really understand what a lapbook is all about is to see one, so check out these great examples that moms and dads, teachers and caregivers have used with kids of all ages, about all kinds of topics.

• Tracey’s Treasury gives great examples of lapbooks that cover different topics and age groups, as well as different styles of lapbooking.
• This is a basic single folder lapbook.
• This example is about dinosaurs and uses multiple folders attached together to form a traditional book fold.
• For some really detailed information about lapbooks, check out lapbooking.wordpress.com. There you will find everything from examples of how to create your own, as well as a newer trend – digital lapbooking.

How Do I Make a Lapbook?

Depending upon how much information you want to include in your child’s lapbook, you can use anywhere from 1 to 6 (any more than that and it gets to be too much) manila folders. If you are a visual learner like I am, there are some great tutorial videos that show you how you can create different styles of lapbooks.

• Single lapbook
• Double lapbook
• Triangle books and flip covers
• Minibooks
• An overview of lapbooks

If you’ve been looking for something that will hold your child’s attention or reinforce boring information, lapbooks can be the answer – and they are extremely inexpensive and versatile. I’ve used them to supplement books we’ve read such as the Magic Tree House series, to add extra information to a wildlife unit study, and we always incorporate them into our holiday studies.

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