How to Make a Lapbook

Here's a brief tutorial on how to prepare your folders for a lapbook.  

Lapbooks are fun, hands-on learning tools that are great to use at any age.  They are also great to have on hand as a "quiet toy". 

You can use a pocket or manila folder. I use pocket folders more because we usually have extra games.  It's easy to tuck a game or two into the pockets for safe keeping.

Open folder and find middle line.  Fold one side towards middle line.  Repeat on other side making sure sides line up with each other

And now your lapbook is complete and ready to be used!  I keep a few "pre-made" lapbooks in my file box.

I hope this tutorial has been helpful.  Check out our policeman lapbook (complete with pictures and links so you can make your own)!

Our Policeman Lapbook

Since we just went through My Father's World Kindergarten (MFWK) with Ladybug last year, we decided to take a little break from it.  Buddy will start MFWK this fall.  He shadows Ladybug in MFW 1st and does different workbooks.  But I wanted to add in something special and personal. I asked Buddy what was something he wanted to learn more about.  He thought for a moment and said policemen.   PERFECT THEME for a Lapbook!

Here's a look at our Policeman Lapbook (for a quick tutorial on how to prepare a folder for a lapbook, click here).

Buddy showing the front of his lapbook.

Front of Lapbook: I found this FREE Adorable Police car printable online.  Buddy colored and cut it out.  I glued it one each side of the front.  Buddy decided to put (LOTS) of star stickers on the front "because it's night time and the policemen can see the constellations (SO CUTE)".

Inside 

Inside of Lapbook

Inside of Lapbook: This Lapbook is jam-packed! I love seeing Buddy open his lapbook and play.

Here's the details:

1) Fingerprints~I got the easy idea for making your own fingerprints from here.  I also included laminated pictures of Ladybug and Buddy doing their fingerprints.  

I added a removable mini magnifying glass (on velcro) to get a close-up look at the fingerprints

2) Fingerprint Book~ In keeping with the fingerprint theme, I added a fingerprint book.  We cut out fingerprints from black construction paper (but you could use ink pad) and Buddy added the correct number of "prints" on each page. Here's the link for the printable.  (Scroll down and click on Preschool Download.  Once you are on that page, scroll down to page 10)). 

Finger Print Book

3) Pattern Game~I got this game from the same link as fingerprint book (Page 5).  I put velcro on the backs of each piece after I laminated them.  

Pattern Game

4,5, and 6) Box for Pattern Game Pieces~This idea was born out of necessity.  I realized VERY quickly we needed a place for all those pattern game pieces that didn't have a home.  I hot glued a gift card box (you could also use a box from a gum package) that I had colored with a sharpie marker.
Badge~ I wanted to have some items that Buddy could remove and play with.  I found a cute printable for a badge and hat (sorry couldn't find that printable again, but this one is cute too!!) and laminated both.  The badge is velcroed on the book and hat is in a pocket.
Cute coloring sheet~I found this coloring sheet here and quickly colored it and added it as a surprise!

Police Coloring Sheet, Removable Badge and Pattern Game Piece Holder

7) Policeman Puzzle~ This cute puzzle was laminated and cut out.  I hole-punched the pocket of the lapbook and added pipe-cleaners to hold the puzzle.  Check out the puzzle here (there's also a girl policeman)!

Removable Policeman Puzzle

Back of Lapbook~ For the back of lapbook, I found this printable (page 24) of a policeman and Buddy colored it and glued it on the back.

Back of Lapbook

Well, that's it!  I hope this post has encouraged and inspired you to make your own lapbook with your little one!  

Blessings,

Jessica 

Here's some other helpful posts:

We are doing MFW 1st Grade (check out what we do each week here) with Ladybug.  

To see our daily school routine and our curriculum, click here

Reviewing Numbers Game (Pre-K/K)

Here's an Easy-Peasy Review Game that requires little preparation but LOTS of Fun (SCORE!)!

Materials: 

1) Flash Cards (this time we reviewed Numbers 0-25)

We Just used the Numbers Flash Cards

How To Play:

Turn cards over (so numbers cannot be seen) and shuffle (if you have a young son he will LOVE to help shuffle! And.he.will.not.want.to.stop)

Flashcards with numbers facing down all shuffled and ready to play!

Now it's time to play (errr...learn)!

Have child pick a flashcard and turn card over and tell you the number.  

If child gets the number correct, celebrate (YAY), high-five, and give the flash card to the child.  

If the children gets the number wrong.  Tell him/her the correct number, and put flashcard back in the pile.

Buddy (nickname for our oldest son) loved collecting his "correct" flashcards in a pile and grinned ear to ear when he had got them all!

Want to make this more difficult?  Just add higher numbers!
Don't have flashcards? Make your own! Or have one of your precious gifts (children) make them! 

Enjoy Learning!