There is nothing more frustrating than spending countless hours on projects, only to have them be thrown away. We have made many terrific visual aids to show what the kids were learning, but there just isn't a way to keep them all because they take up too much space. Keeping track of our children's school work has been a constant battle.

Just think how nice it would be to have a well-organized file filled with colorful folders that neatly contain all the projects your children have completed. They are organized by each unit you have studied, so it is a breeze to pull out a file on any topic and all the educational materials are neatly fastened inside. Your children can show off their work to anyone who asks, "So, what are the kids learning?". It's fun for them to look back through the folders, and even get a chance to review past topics. No more lost papers. No more scattered worksheets, posters, and projects. Lap Books can transform your homeschool!

First off, I want to direct you to some excellent Lap Book resources online. Tobin's Lab was my first introduction to the concept. You can visit their website at www.tobinslab.com .  Books by Dinah Zike will open your eyes to the possibilities. You can see more about her work at www.dinah.com . We recently purchased Dinah's program Great Science Adventures which works perfectly with the Lap Book concept. We are using Lap Books in our science and history studies, but you could use them with any topic you want!

Now... how do you start? Here is a list of basic materials that you will need for your Lap Books. You may already have many of these items on hand!

1. File folders- Bright colored folders are fun, but you can use the plain ones if you have them.
2. Colored paper and construction paper.
3. Glue sticks or rubber cement (not plain glue)- We have tried regular glue and the blue glue gel. Neither of them worked as well because they have a high moisture content and cause the folders to pucker.
4. Markers, crayons, colored pencils.
5. Ruler, scissors, pencils
6. Optional- stickers, clipart

Stay tuned for a full-fledged Lap Book lesson, complete with photos! I hope to post these soon.

Marie