Lapbooking 101 Basic Information

This is a video of our very first lapbook that we completed. I will do some more videos of more recent ones so you can see the variety available, later this week. I am so sorry for that thick accent. I had no idea how Texan I sounded until I listened to that video! Luckily, my husband thinks it's endearing! The template for this lapbook can be found HERE.

Lapbooking is essentially a unit study that is cut out and and glued into a file folder(s). Lapbooks can be very specific such as these math lapbooks or can be themed, but broad in what subjects they cover, such as this Madeline Lapbook, which covers everything from some basic science to reading comprehension. There is a lapbook for virtually everything and best of all lapbooks offer a hands on learning approach that is a lot of fun . Lapbooks offer something for every age range and learning ability and come in a wide variety of price ranges as well from free up!

This video is a short tutorial on how to create the lapbook. Lapbooks usually come with a layout suggestion, but you can do your lapbook anyway you like.




Here is a list of lapbook resources:

Currclick

Hands of a Child

Lapbook Lessons

Freebie Friday Thursday Edition

Because I have been called in to sub tomorrow I am going to post this today. A bit outside what I normally post but who doesn't love freebies?!

Better Oats Oatmeal Sample

Free Natural Nibbles Dog Treats

Free Dove Samples and Coupons

Free Oxy Skincare Sample and Coupons

Several Walmart Freebies

Check out My Points. All you do is click on the emails they send you and you earn points towards different gift cards! I save mine up and do my Christmas shopping with my points!

Currclick Freebies

Currclick.com has added a few freebies since my last post. Here is a list of some of the good ones I have found!



17th Centrury Lapbook

All About Bees

American Patriots of the Revolutionary War

Recycling

Be sure to check out all the other great free products at Currclick!

Texas Catfish Fry

In Texas everything is done big, and our family catfish fries are no exception! In my opinion there is no atmosphere like the one at a fish fry. Typically, the fish is cooked over a stove, and we grab and go as the fillets are taken out of the pan. No plates, no cutlery; just your fingers and a napkin. Oh and if you want some catchup with your fries, just dip in the big pile that someone squirted directly on the pan!

Of course, this means there is a big mess and a lot of grease spattered all over the kitchen - not a fun after dinner treat to clean up. Now, we've gone "Texas sized" and everyone gets to eat at the same time. And the greasy mess is confined to the great outdoors. This is thanks to the latest addition to our cooking equipment, a large three basket fryer.

In a matter of about 10 minutes, fish, fries, okra, and everything else we choose to stuff ourselves with is all brought to the table, Grace is said, and it's a free-for-all at the serving platter.

Now, I happen to think that the big daddy frier takes away from the casual atmosphere somewhat, but still nothing beats a summer Texas catfish fry!

To cook your catfish southern style:

Store your cleaned and filleted catfish in a bowl of ice water while you prepare the batter

Batter: 2 cups corn meal, 1 TSP flour, salt and pepper as preferred
Batter fish on both sides and drop into 350 F oil.
If you deep fry take fish out approximately 30 seconds after it begins to float.
If browning in a shallow pan cook fish approximately 2 minutes on each side.
Fish will flake easily when done.

Gas flame preferred!


Thanks to my guest blogger Regina(momma!) for helping me out with this blog post!

Learning with Chocolate

I was so excited when I found this CHOCOLATE LAPBOOK! I'm always looking for ways to keep my homeschool co-op group engaged and this was a great way to cover a broad group of ages!

The Chocolate Lapbook lays everything out for you to do a complete lapbook and has some recipes in it to make the lessons more interesting, but I supplimented it with more recipes and a field trip to Mary Puddin Hill in Greenville, Texas.

We work in 6 week blocks, two days a week, so to make the Chocolate Lapbook fit into that time frame here is my lesson plan and the extra recipes we will be doing. I will also try to do up a supply list.

Week 1:

Day 1:

Read Pg 10-12

Start vocab activity 1 (this is worked on a little each day)

Activity 2

Recipe: No Bake Chocolate Cookies

Day 2:

Read P. 13-16

Look at a cocoa pod and beans

Recipe: chocolate covered marshmallow animals

Work on vocab

Finish activity 2

Week 2:

Day 1:

Read p 16-17 Kinds of chocolate

Blind taste test different types of chocolate

Activity 3

Day 2:

Read p 18-20

Activities 4&5

Recipe: hot cocoa

Week 3:

Day 1:

Activities 6&7

Recipe: brownie and fruit kabobs

Day 2:

Activities 8&10 (older children may want to do 9)

Recipe: fudge

Week 4:

Day 1:

Activities 11&12

Recipe: chocolate covered cornflakes

Day 2:

Activity 13

Recipe: chocolate cake

Week 5:

Day 1:

Activities 14&15

Recipe: chocolate chip cookies

Day 2:

Activities 17&18

Recipe: chocolate covered oranges

Week 6:

Day 1: Field Trip to Mary Puddin Hill

Day 2: Finish up Chocolate Lapbook

Recipe: I will bring my chocolat fountain and provide various snacks to dip into the chocolate

If you have done this Chocolate Lapbook or are going to and have made different lesson plans I would love to see them!

I Am Intolerant

A little OT again, but a conversation I recently had got me thinking...

If being tolerant means that I must accept that sin is ok...Then I am intolerant.

If being non-judgemental means that I must never state my God given convictions for fear it might upset you...Then I am judgemental.

If being enlightened means that I must accept that there are other ways to heaven besides through the redemption of the one and only Saviour, Jesus Christ...Then I am deluded.

If being reasonable means that I must accept that science disproves God's hand in all things including creation...Then I am unreasonable.

If being free means that I believe that I can not be happy being in my God ordained roll of being a wife and a mother...Then I am enslaved.

If being educated means that I must have a degree and/or career that supercedes the above stated role...Then I am ignorant.

Yes, by the worlds definition I am all of these things. But thank God by HIS definition, when I am walking in HIS word and inside his plan, I am none of these things.

John 8:36
"If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed."

One Down Two to Go

That is if Keira and Colton actually follow through with their plans to wed. Yep, our 5 year olds have decided, with absolutely no prompting from their parents, that they are betrothed. I'm not really sure when it happened, but now the two of them can't get enough of each other. They have planned it all out from when the wedding will be (sorry hons if I have to sign paper work for you to get married you are too young!) to what Keira will be wearing (I think she pulls off Sleeping Beauty wonderfully). Before we left for England Colton gave Keira a dog that she sleeps with every night, and he has even bought her a ring ($.25but its the thought that counts right?).

Of course, we don't really know if they are going to get married, but these two have the most unique friendship I have ever seen at this age, and I hope that they carry it on no matter if marriage is in the future or not. But just in case it is, Colton, you are prayed for often!