Archive for December, 2008:
Christmas Trees
We made some EASY Christmas ornaments today. An added bonus was that clean-up was quick!
Supplies Needed
Green Pipe Cleaners (the sparkly ones would’ve been more fun, but I didn’t have any)
Beads
Popsicle Sticks (green or painted green)
Ribbon
Tacky Glue
You just wrap the pipe cleaners around the popsicle sticks then string some beads!
Here are a few of our trees.
Here is the video that inspired us to make these! She gives multiple ideas for these pipe cleaner trees. Have fun!
Simon’s Little Penguin Book
Again, I do not feel like creating paper things for your toddler is a necessity. Really. But, who wants their little guy to feel left out? Not me. So, we made Simon a board book to accompany our penguin unit study. I had fun working on it, and you will hear him in the video (twice) say, "MINE"…he feels special and that he is a part of our school. I have been able to get MORE done with Elijah because Simon’s need to be part of the show has been met.
I also want to mention that songs, fingerplays, and poems are important. Elijah was about a year behind with his speech. His therapist used songs and fingerplays frequently and he responded so well! I think (I don’t have any proof, though) that teaching rhyme and motions and having fun with words probably lays the foundation for reading, too. Of course, I’m just out of breath by the time we are done with sliding, hopping, and waddling with one of the songs!
Most of the printables are found on this page.
You can watch our little video here:
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland Lapbook
Yesterday Elijah saw his Alice in Wonderland stickers and announced that he really wanted to do an Alice in Wonderland Lapbook (we read the book a few months ago). I gave him my reference lapbook and told him to tell me what he wanted. He decided on a few things, and we went to work. I didn’t know he would want to complete the entire lapbok in TWO DAYS.
He was stubborn about some of the types of minit books he wanted. I couldn’t believe it. I suggested a wheel for the Caucus Race, but he was determined that it should be a pop-up, and that I needed to copy the image from the book we read for the pop-up. He wanted another pop-up for the pig, a layer for the drink/cake, and a wheel for the Queen of Hearts so he could list "all kinds of things about her." He also wanted to include the Father William poem. I finally stopped suggesting things until he was stumped…then I did help out a bit with the endless decisions.
I can’t say that my son learned anything new while completing this project. That’s hard for me to think about. I don’t think this fits with any of the standards of learning lists I’ve seen. BUT…creative thinking, creative expression, and learning to love a story and wanting to share that with others…well, those things rank pretty high on my list.
Pig Pop-up
Mushroom Shutterfold
Mad and Mad Split Matchbook
explains that mad means crazy and angry
Eat/Drink Layer (from when Alice first arrives in Wonderland)
Eat/Drink Flap
Father William Poem
White Rabbit’s Fan
Getting to Wonderland (Elijah INSISTED that we make her fall somehow – insert crazy face)
Tea Party
Caucus Race Pop-up
Queen of Hearts Wheel
Favorite Characters Shutterfold
Back of Lapbook (Elijah also colored the caterpillar and added it)
Resources we used
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland Mini-books (not all are in the file)
Alice in Wonderland Sticker Activity Book (Dover Little Activity Books)
Alice in Wonderland Stained Glass Coloring Book (Dover Little Activity Books)
Little Hands Can Help
Simon wants to help with everything! I like having small tools; it makes it easier for little hands. Imagine trying to cook with GINORMOUS tools; I think that’s what it must be like for toddlers and preschoolers trying to use adult sized things.
Here is Simon making some egg salad for lunch with a mini-masher. 
So happy to help!
Five True Dog Stories Lapbook
We used a binder for this one. This is a lapbook we did awhile back when Elijah chose this title for a book club (co-op) selection.
DOX
GRIP
WOLF
BARRY
BALTO
This free lapbook is found at Homeschool Share.
My Father’s Dragon Lapbook
A perfect book for my son; it’s about a boy who ventures into a dangerous jungle filled with wild animals to rescue a dragon!
First view of lapbook open. Two folders glued side by side. The first folder (on the left) has another folder glued in the middle that opens up.
First Folder
We didn’t follow the instructions (yes, the instructions I wrote!) for some of the minit books. We also didn’t do every minit book; there were just too many to choose from!
From the left side-
Seven Terrible Tigers Math Flap Book Opened
From the Center of the First Folder
Island Pop-up
Message in a bottle (to the cat)
Tiger Fact Wheel
From the Right Side of the First Folder
Lion Facts (this is an accordion; we used the ribbon to tie around it to keep it closed.)
For all the animal fact books (tortoises, fleas, lions, whales, rhinos, etc.), Elijah did some "research" and came back and reported to me with the facts he learned. I typed them up and he cut/pasted them to the minit books.
The center of the first folder opens up and has two large sections
Left Side
Right Side
Kindness Matchbook Opened
3/4 Book – you can see Elmer hiding!
Elmer’s Knapsack
We used velcro to fasten and there are lots of pockets to store all his things in!
This is the second folder (the left side of the lapbook).
The dragon on the map opens up to explain the plight of the poor dragon on Wild Island.
Left Side of the Second Folder
Middle of the Second Folder
Map Opened (we simply made a photocopy from the back of the book)
Crossing the River Accordion
Right Side of the Second Folder
(Elijah is still working on his dragon adventure story!)
Here is the Flying Survey
This FREE Lapbook is available at Homeschool Share
