Homeschool Lapbook Tips for Anytime of the Year

January 14, 2021
Written by:
Guest Author
Holidays, Homeschool Planning, Homeschool Resources, Homeschooling Curriculum

What Is a Homeschool Lapbook?

A lapbook is like an educational scrapbook. Some people also consider homeschool lapbooking similar to homeschool notebooking. Think of it as a way of capturing memories, photos, memorabilia, etc. Lapbooks are a great change of pace for homeschoolers! revolving around a certain theme. Themes can range from seasonal (such as “pumpkins,” “apples,” or “snow”) to an author – in which case, the lapbook or notebook would also serve as an author study.

Making a lapbook will also give you cherished memories that will indeed last a lifetime. But how do you store so many memories and preserve them so you’re able to cherish them? One way is to add duct tape to the left side (hanging over the edge by about an inch) and use a three-hole punch. This style is more like homeschool notebooking. Then, store them in a three-ring binder. Another simple method involves just neatly placing them in a bin.

Are They Expensive?

As with just about any curriculum-related purchase, the answer is “It depends.” It depends on how detailed you want to get and how easy you want things to be for you. For instance, the more detailed your lapbook, the more file folders it will take (as your base) to have room for everything. If you’re using a lapbook as your main notebook to accompany a specific subject, you’ll probably want to get more detailed than if you’re just using them for a change of pace – or as a holiday homeschool “treat.”

Ease of use is another factor that will drive lapbook costs upward. As you’ll notice once you start looking around, lapbook resources range in price from 100% free to $10-$20 for a “lapbook pack.” Generally speaking, the more costly resources are, the less work you’ll have to do. One big factor to consider when lapbooking  or notebooking is that it involves a lot of printing and cutting. Some companies have focused on this pain point for parents and sell their materials in printable PDF format as well as open-and-go. The open-and-go option often means just that – you literally open your package once it arrives in the mail and students can get to work pasting flipbooks and pockets directly into their lapbook. While you’ll pay a premium for this ease, there will be times having that option can make the difference in whether you complete a lapbook or not.

How Do We Get Started?

Lapbooks are a fun supplement to your homeschool!To get started with lapbooks, you’ll need three very basic (i.e. you’ll use these for every lapbook) supplies:

  1. a file folder
  2. adhesive (glue stick, tape runner, etc.)
  3. scissors

You’ll also need a printer, writing implements (pen/pencil, markers, crayons, etc.) and, ideally, access to the internet. If you’ve never created a lapbook in your life, collect the above supplies and jump right into it! There are some great lapbooking websites out there that provide FREE lapbooks (when you see “free lapbook,” it generally means the components to a lapbook together such as flipbooks, mini-folders, etc.).

Our free unit study printables are lapbooking and notebooking resources!

Lapbooking is a fun way to change things up a bit for holiday homeschooling or any time! If you’re stuck trying to decide whether to take a holiday break or keep plugging away, consider doing lapbooks for at least one subject area. Better yet, do a web search to see if there’s already an open-and-go option from your favorite homeschool publisher!

#ACTIVITIES FOR HOMESCHOOLERS, #BEGINNING TO HOMESCHOOL, #HOMESCHOOL CURRICULUM, #HOMESCHOOL RESOURCES