For Heather. =)
Our finished Before Five in a Row Lap Journal:
17 "Rows" of Memories
The lap journal is: a lapbook, a scrapbook, and a portfolio ~ a record of our learning time together.
A peek inside:
Sharing a journal works for us so I have only one lap journal for Mali and Elli. I let them choose which activities they want to do and encourage other activities based on their age and ability.
I usually only print one lapbook, but do print extra pages for some activities they both can use. For example, I only printed one box of crayons in the above picture. Mali colored the cover and Elli colored the crayons inside (I color too!). For mini-books that require glueing, I have one child place them in the correct spot, then take them off and have the next child glue them in the correct spot. If it a personalized mini-book, like the "My Name" book above, I will print two. Often I will print activities (such as a preschool pack for Elli) and it is just for her. If Mali is interested, I will use sheet protectors so they both can do an activity.
I write the child's name on the bottom with their age so I don't forget who did what!
What we used to make the lap journal:
- Binder (we use a 3 inch binder ~ buy the locking kind!)
- Colored cardstock and printer paper
- Heavy weight sheet protectors (can use lightweight for notebooking pages)
- Rubber cement (cleans up nicely ~ be sure to let it completely dry before putting the page in the sheet protector as it bubbles the plastic if you don't!)
- Vis-a-Vis Wet Erase Markers
(to reuse printables)
- scissors, crayons, color pencils, etc.
What goes inside:
- A color photo copy of the book we rowed (this is a great visual aid to help the children remember the books!)
- Lapbooks lapbooked on 8.5 x11 cardstock
- Notebooking pages
- Narration and Illustrations
- Copywork
- Printable activities (Tot packs, Preschool Packs, etc.)
- File folder games (just trim the ends so they will fit in the sheet protectors)
- Collages
- Artwork
- Photos
- Lesson planning sheets
- Anything you can fit!
- Store upright just like a scrapbook
- Keep where the child can see it
- Encourage them to look through it!
We've started a new journal for Five in a Row. . . I'm hoping to fit volumes 1 and 2 in one 3-inch binder. :D
