Monday, March 30, 2009

Explorers Lapbook


I decided to create this lapbook for my kids to do over the summer. I found this great book at the library called Look it up Explorers, and I used it as the basis for my lapbook. I decided to divide the section into the Americas, Africa/Asia/Australia, and Artic/Antarctic.







For each section I made small matchbooks with different explorers on each one. I made my list of explorers using the book above. My intention is for my kids to read the section on each explorer and write important facts about them in the matchbook. Also, for each section I mad a fold up book with a map of their region inside. My plan is to have the kids track the voyages of each explorer in a different color.




As a second thought (and because I had extra room), I decided to include small books on different related topics. For example, with the Americas section I included books on the Incas and Aztecs, Sacajawea, and Scurvy. For Africa, Asia, and Australia I made small books on The Crusades, The Nile River, Confucianism, Buddhism, Easter Island, and The Great Wall of China. For the Artic/Antarctic I included books on Icebergs, Inuit People, Penguins, and Dog Sleds.


The lapbook is not tremendously in depth but for summer work it will do just fine for us. I hope you enjoy.

To help me make this book I used the homeschoolshare site because they have a wide variety of lapbook templates and Google Images. Sorry all of my pictures are sideways!:)

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Getting ready for Spring/Botany ideas

This is a great site that will send you sunflower seeds so that you can plant them and hopefully attract bees.
http://www.greatsunflower.org/en

This site has ideas on lessons for Biomes and Ecosystems.
http://www.mbgnet.net/

Wildlflower Coloring Book
http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/uma/urban/

Nature Center Lesson Plans
http://sciencespot.net/Pages/nclessons.html

Botany videos
http://www.gamequarium.org/dir/SqoolTube_Videos/Science/Plants/

Nature Detectives
http://www.naturedetectives.org.uk/club/

For Kids Naturely
http://www.naturely.com/

Monday, March 16, 2009

Great Freebies for St. Patrick's Day

1. Shamrocks and Shillelaghs includes background information on St. Patrick, shamrocks, shillelaghs, the Blarney Stone, familiar Irish songs, as well as pages of materials that can be used in your studies.
http://www.currclick.com/product_info.php?products_id=28616&it=1&filters=0_0&free=1&affiliate_id=40128%20&affiliate_id=49363


2. There is a biography of Patrick that is rich and engaging, rare illustrations for study and learning, a recipe for real Irish soda bread and an essay you and your children won't want to miss, entitled, "The Real St. Patrick".
What's inside:
The Real St. Patrick: An essay by Charles Mack
St. Patrick, A biography from Our Island Saints
Picture Study: Three In One
Picture Study: St. Patrick Expels the Snakes
Mapwork: Map of Ireland
Recipe: Irish Soda Bread
Copywork: St. Patrick's Breastplate
http://www.currclick.com/product_info.php?products_id=28526&it=1&filters=0_0&free=1&affiliate_id=40128%20&affiliate_id=49363