Where The Wild Things Are Lapbook

Finally, images of our Where The Wild Things Are lapbook - warts & all

;-)



Cover



Warping

Yes.. those *are* bumpy lumpys you are seeing. It badly warped from the 'glue incident'. Despite a very thin layer of glue, warping occured, and on the folders, too, as you can see. And, naturally, it had to be on the BEGINNING of the lapbook :)  I considered (read: struggled with) scrapping this, and starting anew, then decided to just leave it be, chalk it up to experience, and go forward.

I didn't want to let the wind out of our sails :)

Another lesson learned was that, for those larger areas and when adhering multiple folders together... a glue stick doesn't always work, either:

Poor adhesion

 My plan to fix this, which I haven't done yet, is to use some Dotto scrapbook adhesive tape on these. It will definitely seal them up nicely!

So, now that we've got this out of the way, on with the rest of the lapbook!



Pages 1-2




Pages 3-4



Pages 5-6



Page 5 Close-up




Page 6 Close-up



Page 7-8

I had just a couple more images to share, the close up of pages 7 & 8, but for some reason, blogger won't let me add it. So, I will just explain that the hexagons are flaps, with answers to the questions pasted inside.

This lapbook was extremely fun... and it was FREE. If you would like to do this lapbook, click here to go straight to it. It is available thru Currclick, which has several free and low priced unit studies and lapbook project packs. I've gotten several projects here, and we can't wait to start the next one. It's a fantastic resource for lapbooks and unit studies!

Lessons Learned

Today we are finishing up our Where The Wild Things Are lapbook. This will be our second one.

We've learned about story sequence; we've learned about parts of a story; we've learned about authors, illustrators & book reports.

... And Mama has learned that we won't be using much liquid glue in the future.

This is a shame. I'd stocked up on glue sticks... but I'd also stocked up on glue, thinking, "Well, I'll get more bang for my buck here. We can use this when I've got the time to deal with extra clean up." Another reason I went for the glue is that I'd read that glue would be ok to use.

Ehhh... not so much.

I oversaw the application of the glue, so we could put just the thinnest coating on the paper. The goal, of course, was to avoid buckling of the paper.

It didn't work.  :-/

Not only did it buckle the copy paper we used for the inner components, but it also buckled the folder, itself, where the liquid glue had been used.

I was really disappointed about this.

But, *sigh*. It's just a lapbook. It's not like it's a SCRAPBOOK PAGE (which must be perfection, you know). These lapbooks will be made by my little girl's little hands, so much about them will be imperfect - and that lends to much of their charm, right? So, I made the necessary adjustment by switching to a glue stick. (And, if we are gonna lapbook much, then I'm gonna need more glue sticks before the year is half over, I bet).

Although, I am thoroughly stocked on a large variety of scrapbooky fasteners. I also have the tools, & I know how to use 'em. ;-)  So, using those will give me a little bit of a break on the glue stick stockpile. Where possible, I will also use (and highly recommend) scrapbook adhesive. This will be the priciest of the adhesive options, and I won't use it on any and every component. But, for some of the bigger ones, I am thinking this will be a GREAT option. A strip down each side, and one down the middle, will work amazing well, I'd imagine.  I may also choose this to use when I have to adhere multiple folders to complete a lapbook (like the Wild Thing lapbook).

There are two types, actually, that I'd recommend and use: The EK Sucess Dotto Dots Permanent Adhesive. There is a dispenser you can purchase (that comes with adhesive) and also, you can purchase refills for it. While there are other adhesives and dispensers, a lot of dispensers are not refillable. What I like about these is that you CAN refill them.

And, you don't *have* to have a dispenser to use the refills. As long as you've got a place to keep the roll, when not in use, where it won't have dust or other things stick to it, you can just work off a refill roll. You'd simply measure off the amount you need, clip it, adhere sticky side to project, then peel off the tape backing. Easy peasy, Lemon squeezy!

Having said all this (and wasn't that a lot?) I'm totally open to suggestions about the adhesive situation. Are you a seasoned labook Mom? What do you use? What have you tried and disliked?

Where The Wild Things Are

Our next lapbook project - Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak!

We've taken a couple of weeks to complete this one, due to a holiday that fell on a Monday, and a rare visit from beloved family that fell on a Friday. Additionally, this lapbook required a goodish deal of work on the prep work - lots of cutting; and we did some inking; and because there are a number of components to it, I've been trying to figure out how we are going to assemble the layout of the thing. But it's fabulous, and we've enjoyed it immensely, and can't wait to finish it up!

Hands DOWN, this was my FAVORITE book as a child. Funny... I was just thinking how my parents probably don't know, and never knew, that. That seems a little sad to me. I sure hope I remember 'the little big things' about my children.

It was SO my favorite, that I bought this book for my child while she was still an infant. I MEANT my daughter would grow up with this classic!

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

Most of you read, or had read to you, this beloved children's book, too. Many of you love it as much as I did, but for those who aren't familiar, I will give a short summary:

Max is a little boy who is quite the little mischief maker. After actin' all wild and crazy, his mother sends him off to his room without supper. His bedroom transforms into a forest, then he sets sail, and ultimately he arrives where the wild things are! He sort of mesmerizes them, and they make him King of the Wild Things. As King, his first decree is declaring a "Wild Rumpus", where they all proceed to... act wild. Eventually, he tires of being where the wild things are, and longs for home, and does, in fact, return there... to his waiting supper.

This book, both written and illustrated by Maurice Sendak, is brilliant - start to finish. The illustrations are SO rich and creative, that this book won the Caldecott Medal in 1964. (For those who don't know, the Caldecott Medal was named in honor of nineteenth-century English illustrator Randolph Caldecott. It is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children.)

But the story is brilliant, too.

What I love is that there is a much deeper lesson to be learned here besides, "Don't act up. Being wild isn't fun all the time." Granted, this is what most probably get out of it. I know, as a child, I got little more than that - I did glean, without being told, or it being expressed within the book, that Max must have had some remorse for screaming at his mother. But, again, there IS a deeper lesson here, and I wish an adult in my life had shared that with me. I've certainly shared it with my daughter.

That lesson is about how we should act toward others, and the importance of words we use when speaking to others.

In the story, after his mother has scolded him, he screams at his mother, "I'll eat you up!" and he doesn't mean it in a cute or a nice way. He's really ticked at his mother, and these words can be interpretted as on the verge of a threat.

Then, off to his room he's sent, where, shortly thereafter, he sets sail on a magical journey. Once he arrives at his destination, it is interesting to note that he is almost immediately put in charge of the wild things. A perceptive parent will make a connection here, because at home, it is clear that Max is a little boy who has some degree of problem with the authority of his mother. In this magical world, HE is 'in charge'.

What does he do as King of the Wild Things? He's wild, of course, and encourages this behavior of the Wild Things (which, I'm sure wasn't so hard for them to do)  ;-)

Over time, Max *does* tire of being in this place; of being in charge, and of doing what he wants... of being wild. He's hungry. He's sort of lonely. And, having expended all this 'wild energy', he's now spent. He's quiet, and reflective (as reflective as a young boy could be, I suppose). He decides he's ready to go home, because he wants to be 'where someone loves him best of all'.

"Ahh," we parents say (and some children think). "He misses his Mommy."

But Mr. Sendak brilliantly takes the story to a deeper lesson, (if only you'll catch it) in my humble opinion...

When Max announces he is leaving, the wild things are not a happy bunch. They want him to stay. And then they tell him so, using words mighty familiar to Mr. "Wild Thing" Max:

"Please don't go! We'll eat you up! We love you so!" (emphasis mine).

Remember in the beginning of the story, when Max screamed at his mother that he would eat her up?

Well, I think that Max got a taste of his own medicine, there. He heard those words back, from these creatures who claimed to love him. I think he might have realized that those words just aren't loving words. I think he got to see that, even when we may not even mean ugly words, that it still stings to hear them said to us, and just maybe, he realized that he shouldn't be saying those words, himself. To anybody. Especially his mother.

The book doesn't take the story in this particular direction - however, I think it promotes excellent conversation with our littles about what is appropriate behavior, what isn't, and why we must choose our words carefully with everyone... especially those we love.

Perhaps I have over-analyzed this for you; if so, I apologize. But whether you choose to take a discussion of this book into a deeper direction with your child, or not... it's just a truly delightful read, for parents and children, alike.

Again, I've always loved this story. In fact, I love Where the Wild Things Are even more NOW, as an adult, and as a Mommy :-)

And my daughter loves it, too!

Easy Peasy! Our First Lapbook

Lapbooking, especially for littles, can be whatever you want to make it.

You can follow a unit study. You can make your own. Whichever option you choose, it can still be as easy as you like, or as complex.

We are a homeschool family, and we do use a very good curriculum for our core subjects (Reading/Phonics, Math, Spelling/Vocab, & Penmanship), and will later in the year use another lovely curriculum for some History and an awesome workbook on learning to read and draw maps.

We *do* love our curriculum. It's worked extremely well for us. This school year will be our second year using it, and I can't find a single reason to switch. Still, it is seatwork, and that can get a little boring, for Teacher & Student around here. I so want to maintain an atmosphere of fun in learning, and so I am always thinking and looking for ways to make learning very engaging for my daughter. I want her to love learning, all her life. Best way to nurture that, is to start doing so now :)

So what I decided to do this year is add lapbooking to our lessons. The bulk of them will likely be science, altho there will be others. Some literature based (we are working on Where The Wild Things Are, and will be doing a Mr. Popper's Penguins soon) and we are working on an addition one, because I can never seem to find the flash cards when I need them)  ;-) 

I have accumulated several lapbook unit studies from various sources; all of them are very good, and I will write about those as we do them. But another source that we will lapbook from is our mostly complete library of "Let's Read and Find Out" Science books. These are some amazing little books!

"Let's Read and Find Out" Science books are a series of books, on a plethora of science-y subjects. They come in Stage One and Stage Two (2 being the more advanced books) and are generally marketed toward K4-ish to 2nd graders. However, I've heard lots a great things from PreK teachers who use them for 3 year olds, and have read reviews of families whose 3rd-5th graders still love them. Engaging illustrations, coupled with the facts of a particular topic, teach young children at their level and keep them very engaged in the topic. Each book only deals with one topic, like a specific animal, or clouds, or volcanoes. Pretty neat stuff, at least we think so in our house :)

I did let my little chose her book for our very first lapbook. She chose "How Animal Babies Stay Safe". We kept the lapbook rather simple, and heavy on the graphics, because, you know, baby animals are just too stinkin' cute! ;-)

These Are A Few Of My Lapbooky Things...

Welcome to My Lapbooky Things!

As recent members of the lapbooking club, we are completely delighted with it! So much so, that I have decided to dedicate a blog to all things LAPBOOK! I will be posting about unit studies, lapbooking supplies, instructions of creating mini-books, and, of course, some of our own finished products!

I hope your enjoy your visit!