What Is Lapbooking?

Lapbooking is the process of creating at lapbook, of course! ;-) Ok, ok.. So, your question is, "What is lapbooking?" Here's your answer:

Lapbooking is just another way to learn. In lapbooking, you study a subject, typically called a 'unit study'. This unit study can truly be on any topic you desire. Depending on the length of the unit study, and how you teach from the unit, this can take place over a day, a few days, or several days.

Then, the work of the unit is assembled in a special way. This by no means implies 'a certain way'. Your lapbook contents might contain images printed off the 'net or colored by your child, pasted right into the 'book'. With glue or other adhesive, you could mount those images onto mattes. You could also adhere them into 'mini-books'.

Oh, boy.. What's a 'mini-book'?

A 'mini-book' is simply a miniture book, made of paper or cardstock, into which your child records small bits of what they've learned throughout the study.

There are a multitude of styles of these types of 'mini-books'. They can be made of any sort of paper, altho most lapbooky familes choose a colored paper, for fun. This could be colored printer paper, or even construction paper. These styles include, but aren't limited to:

* Four Corner Mini Book * Tabbed Book * Matchbook * Trifold Book * Wheel Book * Accordian Book * Shutter Book * Flip Flap Book * Pop-Up Book * Fan Book * Flag Book *

Assembly of these mini-books is required. If considering lapbooking for a young child, a parent will need to take care of this part. Older children will be capable of assembling these themselves.

Annnnd... what do I do with all these mini-books?

Several mini-books with nowhere to go will get you clutter, and in a hurry! Also, being left apart means disorganization of the finished study, and so these randomly placed mini-books would be destined for the garbage can before long. It's doubtful that many children would ever refer back to them again. In lapbooking, tho, you mount these mini-books into, usually, a specially folded office file folder. All your work on a given unit study is collected in one place. The finished product is a lovely lapbook, limited only by your/your child's imagination, made by your child's own hands, that they can return to again and again to enjoy and to learn. And... most children do :) Talk about 'continuing education'!

Who 'lapbooks'?

ANYONE! Not all homeschoolers lapbook, but a whole lot of them do. Some of those are heavy on lapbooking, others use it supplementally. As for myself, I recently added lapbooking to our own homeschooling... and we are LOVING it (so much so, that it has inspired this blog)!

But, I also know parents whose children attend public school. I've heard some of these parents lament about not having enough 'educational' activities at home, and wishing there was something they could do. I've also heard them voice concerns over learning being a 'chore' for their child; no true love of learning exists. Lapbooking is an activity that even parents of public schoolers can do with/provide for their children; it is an activity that can not only promote a 'lifestyle of learning' in a home, but also, foster a true love of learning in a child.

In summary, a Lapbook is simply a fun, creative way for children to learn about any given subject. Most children find lapbooking an enjoyable project. A lot of parents, especially Moms, enjoy lapbooking also. I'll be honest: It's not for everyone. One of my dearest friends will not lapbook, because she finds it 'too tedious'. But if you don't, and are looking for an fun way to teach your child, one that allows creativity, and fosters a love of learning, then I would sincerely recommend you give lapbooking a try.

On Your Mark! Get Set! LAPBOOK!