I Love Lapbooks!

Lapbooks.

Where have they been all my life?!
I just discovered them about a year ago.

It took me awhile to really understand what they are all about.

And it took me even longer to realize that I really didn't need to be a perfectionist with them. In fact, my "perfectionistic" ways hindered my kids. It's a little distracting when Mom is constantly sticking her hands in the lapbook to fix it.

What took the most time for me to realize is that there are really no rules.
What?! No rules?!
Then how am I supposed to make one of these?!

I finally found the answer.
Let the kids take the lead...





Joshua is so totally into space right now. He loves talking about the planets and the stars and all.



I have to say that the motivation to do a lapbook came from Jamin. I did a Google search on Bible lessons for kids, or something like that, and I found Jamin's homeschool blog. She has made lots of lapbooks with her kids.

Josh and I tried a Transportation Lapbook first. He was so proud of that lapbook that I knew we needed to make more. So, the Space Lapbook is our second attempt at a lapbook.



We did have to have a little lesson on gluing.

"Just a Little Bit of Glue"
(Sung to the tune of "London Bridge")
Just a little bit of glue
Bit of glue
Bit of glue
Just a little bit of glue
Is all we have to use!

Look at that concentration!



I even happened upon some lapbooking lesson on youtube.com.

Amazing.

What can't you find on youtube?

I'll tell you.
The Blue's Clues Planet Song!
Oh--it's on there, but most of the versions are not-so-nice doctored versions of the original. So, I'm going to post it on here myself.

Why bother?
Because I LOVE this song!
This is how Carrie, William and I learned the planets. This is also how Joshua learned the planets--and why he became so interested in them. You should hear him sing this song!

Here it is...
(Check out the reflection in the TV. William is really enjoying the song!)



So, I asked Joshua if he would like to sing it for my blog.
He was all for it until the actual taping began.

Then he got silly...



He really can sing this song.
Really.

It's true. Kids do make liars out of you.