Getting Better with Each Lap Book

Now that we have made two more lap books and working on our fourth, I can say that we are getting better as we go. I'm learning all the different flaps, booklets, folds, and things you can cut out or fill in.
I like to research on the internet the dinosaur we are studying, especially for information that may not be included in the book we have to read. I then take the information, edit it so that it flows and doesn't say something over and over. With my wordprocessing program, I pick a small font, move my margins, use columns, and make each page so that I can fold it into pages of a small book after I print it up. This sounds like it's time consuming and difficult but, I use a program I pick up at Wal Mart a few years ago for about tem dollars called Open Office and it's so easy! I use it all the time.
I've joined a couple Yahoo Groups for lap booking and they have some great printables that I use for my lap books that are free. There are also some great sites on the internet that also have a lot of free stuff that can be used to make lap books. I really like three out there so far...TheHomeSchoolMom.com, Homeschoolshare.com, and especially Currclick.com.
Since Martin is still learning to read, I usually read with som "help" from him on the words he knows. Then, I like to find a picture or two (some great dinosaur ones are at Enchantedlearning.com) and let him color it. Then, we figure out what can be put on a flap or card that can be put into a pocket.

Lap Booking?

My husband, Martin Sr. and I have been homeschooling our son , Martin Jr (Boo) for three years now. We have had successes like adding, subtracting, learning about money, and beginning fractions. Unfortunately, we have also had failures, like trying to learn how to read using phoenics.

I have been reading about how great lap booking is in homeschooling for a while now. I hadn't been able to figure them out. Recently, I found a really great article on Currclick.com where I read they are pretty easy. It even had pictures included to make it easier to understand. So, Little Martin and I have been trying our hand at it. The only thing is, I misunderstood that we were supposed to actually glue two file folders together! Our first lap book wasn't very good, just a page about the dinosaur I found somewhere, a page I printed out from one of the downloads I bought and we filled out, and a picture I printed from zoomdinosaurs.com that Martin Jr colored. The next one we made was better and the next one was better still! I think they are turning out pretty well anyway and since we are making one for several dinosaurs, maybe having the smaller space works out anyway. I am including pictures of the first lap book and who knows, I may add pictures of the others next time, it depends if this works out.