About Lapbooks

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So What is a Lapbook?
A Lap Book™ (sometimes called a shutter book, folder book or graphic organiser) is a pre-folded card folder (i.e. square cut, or document wallet) opened out flat (or dismantled a little in the case of the wallet) and refolded back a different way. The folder is then filled with lots of child made movable pieces – or manipulatives - such as mini-books, flaps to lift and peek under, home made games or puzzles, stories, poems, pictures, information wheels, pictures, photographs; almost anything really relating to the project that you are teaching. It’s a really fun and inspiring way to teach and learn.

The idea is that the child will make one manipulative or more for each lesson of the project. The lessons can, and usually do, embrace the whole spectrum of subjects from Maths to Geography and content can be adapted to meet the needs and abilities for any age range – a real ‘hands on’ approach to learning that really does suit all. I know of lap books that were made by adults as wedding gifts and personal gifts for specific friends that were all beautiful, extra special gifts that we greatly appreciated.

At the end of the project the child will have a supply of manipulatives to put in their lap book or display. You then arrange and stick all of the manipulatives inside the card file, extra flaps and sections can be added if there is lots of information to pack in! Last but not least the front is decorated and you have a wonderful learning aid that fits neatly on your shelf ready for the LEA Officer to inspect.

So What's Special About Lapbooks?
By using lapbooks the children have a ‘hands-on’ approach to learning where they take the information they have learnt and put the information into a 'foldable' that will eventually go in a lapbook/3D graphic organiser. Sometimes we just make the foldbles and stick them into an exercise book or scrapbook that we use for each subject.

It is a wonderfully exciting way of teaching and learning that moves away from the traditional writing based ‘learning’ that we have in most schools and an excellent assessment tool. The children are always so proud of their creations and they will show them off to any one who takes the slightest interest (and some that don’t). You will be amazed at how much information a child can absorb when they are interested in what they are doing. I have never looked back since I started teaching my children this way and I can’t ever imagine changing my teaching method in the future – ever!
Lap Book™ - Lap Book™ is a registered trademark of Tobin's Lab.



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Final Thoughts!
I feel that talking and reading to your child goes a long, long way! If you can reinforce your conversations with an activity - all the better. This is where the Lap Books™ really help, and the children seem to look on them as a craft activity rather than ‘work’. Although not all of our work is done in a Lap Book™, sometimes we have a scrap book that we add things to i.e. our science experiments (much more fun than writing them up in an exercise book!) or a book where they can add pictures and write about what they are interested in i.e. Lego models they have built, or rocks (or anything else) they have found etc. We did also have, at one point, a diary time every evening where the children would each have some time with mum to complete a diary of what they did during the day. They would write, draw or print off pictures etc to use in the ‘diary’, they had complete control over what they entered and how it was entered I just facilitated their needs. This went down really well but they naturally grew out of doing this after a few months. For us this semi-structured, project based approach works best. In fact, literature about home educating and learning styles has shown that regardless of academic or social background, families usually end up teaching in a semi-structured style. It certainly seems to make home educating easier and more enjoyable for everyone!

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Copyright (c) 2006, Sharon Dogan
Revised: April 2007
URL: http://www.stimuluslearning.co.uk