Guest Post by Jolene Campbell

“Simply put, it is a file folder with a few funny folds. But it is so much more than that!!

It is a super- learning enhancer which becomes an incredibly creative tool for parents and teachers. It integrates reading and writing, math and science, literature and critical thinking. Classical learner, text bookers, and unit studiers alike find these projects easy to make and a joy to use with ALL ages and ANY curriculum.

The file folder becomes the “house” into which little Fold-its are arranged and glued. What’s a Fold-it you are wondering? A Fold-it is a piece of paper your child has folded in an interesting way, and added diagrams, writing, stickers, a title….whatever. It is almost like a little booklet. As your child studies a topic, he or she makes a number of these Fold-its for the different aspects learned. Look at these images of a lovely Lap Book on the orchestra. There are fancy folded pages for the seating arrangement to the composers. They were made during this child’s study of the orchestra. At the end of the study, all the Fold-its were creatively arranged in the Lap Book. This can now easily be stored on a favorite book shelf to be enjoyed again and again.

The concept is simple, but the possibilities are endless.

Simple versions can be crafted by a five year-old. Intricate layouts with more flips and folds can be put together by a sixteen year old. (and many other levels in between)

Any topic can be accommodated by this process from Outer Space to Microscopic Organisms, from a report on the North Pole to a project on the South Pole (and every place in between!)

Whatever curriculum your child is involved with in his or her education, Lap Books can reflect the learning. Homeschool, private school and public school material….any of this can be the basis for a Lap Book project

Type of Fold-its, diagrams included, embellishments, layout, cover design….al these factors mean that each and every Lap Book is a unique creation. As unique as the child who fashioned it!”

This excerpt comes from the lapbook ladies.

My name is Jolene and I’m a South African lapbook making, file folder game playing, homeschooling mom of 3 amazing children, Duncan, Corbin and Kate-Lynne and wife to Steven.

We started homeschooling in January 2009 and I realized Duncan is gifted in certain areas and is already 6 months ahead of his peers. Duncan is a kinesthetic learner and I found that he was getting bored with his lessons and was seeking more visually and physically stimulating ways to learn. After doing allot of research, I found a site dedicated to lapbooks and since I started making lapbooks for both my boys, we haven’t looked back. Lapbooks, in my humble opinion, add something interesting to our lessons and Duncan looks forward to that section of our “school” day.

The Lapbook and File Folder Games websites I use
1+1+1=1
Lapbook Lessons
Joyful Songs
Lapbooking 101
File Folder Fun