General Resource
The Ultimate Lap Book Handbook...Plus Other Books to Make with Children
When it comes to craft projects, I am all thumbs. If I must struggle with following incomprehensible directions and managing difficult techniques, I prefer to end up with something delicious to eat. You can imagine my fear when I was first introduced to lap books–-described by the author of the Ultimate Lap Book Handbook as "a file folder folded a funny way, and then filled with child-produced booklets". As I read through this book, my fear turned to fascination. This was one incredible project that even I could handle!
The authors begin with a very convincing ten-reason list of paragraphs describing why and how the making of books is beneficial to a student of any age. They continue with a section on Lap Books, including the basic ways of folding the folder and the booklets that go inside. Construction, assembly, and layout techniques are also discussed, and cover designs and FAQs are described. The next section is titled "Beyond Lap Books" and contains the instructions for making simple books, stick books, pizza books, hardcover books, and more. Are you getting overwhelmed yet? Don't! This is where most "how-to" books end, expecting you to be able to apply these ideas to your own homeschool. The Ultimate Lap Book Handbook is just getting to the best part.
The heart of the book is the Book Blueprints section. The authors proceed through Bible, History, Literature. Math (Yes! Even Math!), Science, and Social Studies, and they offer step-by-step directions for more than fifty projects at all grade levels. Will your 3rd-8th grade student be studying the Ten Commandments? Does your high schooler need a Math Formula Flip Book? Would your K-4th grader enjoy making a Weather book? The well-illustrated project directions provide no-fail projects for the craft-challenged as well as a comprehensive range of starter ideas for experienced "Fun Moms". Many black-and-white photographs of finished projects are also included. Each project description includes Writing Prep and Presentation sections in addition to any helpful tips. More advanced projects also include a list of materials, suggested booklets for the inside, assembly directions, and evaluation guidelines. These techniques can be used with any homeschooling method from strictly classical to unit study to textbooks. They can be used with just one child or a CCD class or a Scout group. I can't wait to get started making our next book!
The Year and Our Children
Wee Sing: Around the World
This audio tape or CD and booklet take you around the world, continent by continent, by introducing you to favorite folks songs or children's songs from each country. Someone from each country introduces themselves in their own language and then in English and the song is sung in each language as well. The booklet includes all the words to the songs in the native language and English, simple piano notation and guitar chords. There are charming illustrations including each country's flag. You'll also find a little description of each country. This has been our family's very favorite tape in the Wee Sing series.
Whigs and Tories
Friendly Defenders
Each packet of Friendly Defenders Catholic Flash Cards includes 50 cards covering 12 categories: Tradition, Church, Papacy, Eucharist/Mass, Salvation, Purgatory, Baptism, Mary, Saints, Confession, Statues & Holy Objects, and Holy Orders. The purpose of the cards is to assist children, ages 8 and up, and teenagers to be able to defend their faith with clear and easy explanations against the typical questions about the Catholic faith.
On the front of each card is a number and color code, category and topic, a boy or girl (with a memorable name such as Curious Connie) who offers a challenging a question or statement to Catholics. On the back of each card is another boy or girl (with a name such as Joyful Joey) giving a solid Catholic response. There is also a Bible verse and additional comments at the bottom of the card to explain the answer. Also included are Bible references with related Bible verses. For example, in the Category of "Purgatory" and the topic of "Purpose of . . .", Questioning Quincy states, "Purgatory is not necessary. You're either saved or not saved." Gracious Grace gives the reply on the back. "Purgatory is only for the saved. It's a place or state where those who died in God's friendship are made perfect so they can enter heaven of which St. John writes. . . 'Nothing unclean will enter it' (Rev. 21:27).
These cards are unique in that they are not just basic catechism questions, but questions that non-Catholics often have about the Catholic faith and these cards supply young people the tools to effectively reply to those misconceptions. Colorful and contemporary, Friendly Defenders Catholic Flash Cards offer kids a fun way to learn to defend the faith.
Lyrical Life Science
This clever learning set teaches basic concepts in Life Science through cleverly written songs (to tunes like Battle Hymn of the Republic and Dixie). There are eleven songs in all, with a chapter in the text and three pages in the workbook corresponding to each song. These are the song titles:
- "The Scientific Method" (to the tune of "Dixie")
- "All Living Things" (to the tune of "I Love the Mountains")
- "Invertebrates" (to the tune of "Clementine")
- "Coldblooded Vertebrates" (to the tune of "When Johnny Comes Marching Home")
- "Birds" (to the tune of "If You're Happy and You Know It")
- "Algae, Fungi and Nonvascular Plants" (to the tune of "Go Tell Aunt Rhodie")
- "Vascular Plants" (to the tune of "Battle Hymn of the Republic")
- "Protozoa" (to the tune of "Listen to the Mockingbird")
- "Genetics" (to the tune of "Shortnin' Bread")
- "Viruses" (to the tune of "Yankee Doodle")
- "Oh Bacteria" (to the tune of "Oh Susanna")
The song lyrics are very creative and are loaded with worthwhile content. For example, here is the first verse and refrain to the first song, "The Scientific Method" (to the tune of "Dixie"):
Oh, what do you think a scientist does to solve a problem found because many scientists are scientists 'cause they're great problem solvers. There is a systematic way they go about 'most every day. It's methodical and it's logical, The scientific method.
[Chorus:] A way to solve a problem, a way, a way. The scientific method is a way to solve a problem. A way, a way, a way to solve a problem. A way, a way, a way to solve a problem.
Subsequent verses go on to explain the method in detail. My children and I really enjoy singing along with the CD in the car. The songs are performed with a silly tone (imitating the appropriate styles for each song), but by real musicians and with real instruments (no synthesizer – hurray!).
The text, in addition to the lyrics and music (including guitar chords) for each song, contains three to nine pages of information that further explores each topic. Children will memorize the basics (particularly terminology and basic facts) in the songs and then fill in the details by using the text. One could easily introduce the songs to quite young children and use the text a little later on or use the whole set together in upper grade school.
As an example, the segment on "All Living Things" covers (in seven pages) characteristics of living things (reproduce, move, grow, resond to a stimulus, carry on metabolic activities and have a precise structure); needs of living things (energy, water, oxygen, food, living space and proper temperature); the cell as the "building block" of living things; classification of living things and levels of organization. The text is simple and easy to follow and highlighted by pen and ink drawings and charts.
The workbook (reproducible for use in one classroom) includes three pages for each song. A fill-in-the-blanks lyrics page (with a list of words to choose from); an "objective" page (workbook-style review – true or false, matching, questions with short answers, etc.) and a page with a number of short essay-type questions. An answer key is included in the back of the workbook.
I am very impressed with the depth of content, creative presentation and reasonable cost (the workbook may be photocopied for use by your own family, but an additional workbook is only $6!).
A note in the beginning of the text gives some detailed info on how this resource can be used:
This book and CD and tape set can be used by students of many ages. Younger elementary students can benefit by becoming familiar with scientific terms through casual listening, yet may not fully understand the information until later. Middle school students often study life science in six grade; the text and musical arrangements are geared for this age and older students. The information covered in the songs and text should be very familiar to high school students before they study biology in greater depth.
...Ideally, these resources should be in addition to hands-on activities where observations and applications can be made. In this way the knowledge learned through reading and singing can become known through experience as well. You can listen to some sample songs from the CD by clicking here.
Music Performed by Bobby Horton.
91 pg. softcover text, 45 pg. softcover workbook and 30 minute audio CD
This is the first volume of three. The others are "Mammals, Ecology and Biomes," and "Human Anatomy."
Saints of the Church
- an overview of the book
- vocabulary lists broken out by chapter
- quotations from the books called "Language in Context" that develop comprehension and illustrate various literary devices
- Time Line information
- Outline Map information
- Numerous topics for written reports on various levels
- Biographical sketches of other famous people in the book
- "Turning to Scripture and Catechism" which requires looking up various verses or topics in the Bible and the Catechism; this is done to "make connections between the saint's life and the living tradition of the Catholic Church."
- Discussion questions
This is a wonderful, well-organized, and thorough guide to really getting the most out of the Vision books...likely just the kind of thing we would do on our own if we had the time.