Homeschool Review Crew - A Journey Through Learning Lapbooks of Apologia Astronomy

My daughter loves lapbooks, and she is currently using Apologia's Astronomy as her science curriculum, so it couldn't have been more perfect when I got a chance to review the Exploring Creation With Astronomy 2nd Edition lapbook from A Journey Through Learning Lapbooks that I was able to select from the Apologia Curriculum page on the A Journey Through Learning site.

Other members of the Crew got a chance to review:

Classical Conversations Cycle 3 JUNIOR Activity Book Grades K-2

Classical Conversations Cycle 3 Activity Book Grades 3-6

Other Apologia Elementary titles found at the Apologia Curriculum page. (Most for Grades 2-7). Current titles include:

• Apologia Flying Creatures of the Fifth Day Lapbook
• Apologia Swimming Creatures of the Fifth Day Lapbook
• Apologia Land Animals of the Sixth Day Lapbook
• Apologia Exploring Creation with Botany Lapbook
• Apologia Exploring Creation with Astronomy (1st Edition) Lapbook
• Apologia Exploring Creation with Astronomy (2nd Edition) Lapbook
• Apologia Exploring Creation with Human Anatomy and Physiology Lapbook

An Overview of the 20th Century and Study Guide Grades 2-7

The Greatest Inventors  and Study Guide Grades 2-8

What is A Journey Through Learning Lapbooks Apologia Astronomy?

Lapbooks use file folders to create books filled with mini-books and other interactive components that provide a hands-on, interactive learning tool for unit studies and to correspond with some popular homeschooling curriculum. A Journey Through Learning Lapbooks provides instruction and everything you need in one handy, easy-to-follow packet. What sets A Journey Through Learning above other lapbooks is in the way it is designed to flow well as you work. There is not jumping around trying to figure out where you left off or what section you use next. It all goes in order, provides an answer key along with some other extras like book lists and report forms at the end of the lapbook.

The Apologia curriculum corresponding lapbooks are available for purchase pre-printed or as a pdf download. If you choose a download, you can choose either full color or a format that can be colored by your student. For the review, I received a download pdf format with full-color illustrations. The Astronomy download corresponds with the lesson modules and includes a file folder lapbook for each chapter in Jeannie Fulbright's Apologia Our Exploring Creating with Astronomy text. It even has a lesson plan built-in which lists the pages to read each day as you build your lapbooks. The directions are included at the top of each mini-booklet page. To complete the entire course, you will need 14 file folders and some common school supplies, such as glue, scissors, and crayons, pen or pencil. The lapbook is 158 pages and includes everything you need to complete each section including: Mini-booklets with Instructions Lesson Plan Answer Key Website and Book Suggestions Enrichment Pages Book Log Planet Book Report Page Narration Form for Younger Students Narration Form for Older Students Other Products From A Journey Through Learning

All we needed to get started was to follow the Materials List:

How Did We Use It?

I have a 10-year old who is EXTREMELY hands-on in her learning. She is a little artist and always wants to keep her hands busy, so this was right up our alley. Why use only worksheets or workbooks alone when you can make the entire lesson interactive.  This was PERFECT TIMING for us because this is the exact curriculum we are using for science this year. My daughter loves lapbooks, so adding this to her science curriculum to go along with her learning was absolutely wonderful!

I downloaded the full-color version of the lapbook, and then we headed out of town for a couple weeks, so when I went to print it, the hotel's printer only had black ink. So, my loves-to-color daughter added her own color to the pages. As much as I love the full-color illustrations that are included on the download, I was very pleased with the added artistic touch of her being able to color the images. She loved this too!

What Did We Think?

Lapbooks are a fun hands-on way for students to expand their learning on a topic. The booklets are easy to assemble using file folders and other materials you probably already have in your schooling items around the house such as cardstock, glue, scissors, crayons stapler, etc. Each portion of the lapbooks include miniature booklets, display notes sections, and other interactive components that the student assembles and attaches to the lapbook file folders. Once all of the pieces are completed and attached to the file folder lapbook, the project is complete.

I loved the way the lapbook is laid out. I've used other lapbooks, and this one really is easier to follow. I appreciated the answer key and extra pages, but I had a little trouble accessing some of the websites. Maybe my antivirus program was just working overtime to block everything, but I couldn't access the extra website recommendations directly from the pdf. Mostly, I was able to find the information by doing a Google search using the website but not always. Other than that, the actual lapbook has been and will continue to be a supplemental addition to my daughter's science curriculum that will help reinforce her learning of astronomy.

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Read what other members of the Homeschool Review Crew thought by clicking on the picture below:

Schoolhouse Review: Kitchen Science Project Pack by In the Hands of a Child

I received Kitchen Science Project Pack Curriculum from In the Hands of a Child, for review.


  

In the Hands of a Child has tons of Project Pack file folder book, lapbook style, learning paks available. This one teaches science using the file folder book, lapbook method, to illustrate what is learned through experiments done in the kitchen. It is kitchen science in a complete lesson package, using hands-on experiments, hands-on arts and crafts style file book making and other skills.

I sat down with my daughter, who is six and going into the 1st grade, intending to do the project in one afternoon.  I learned that the suggested 5 day schedule was really a much better idea.





This pack sells for $12, but has recently been featured as a special $5 sale.  I do not know how long the sale will last, so if you're interested in trying this out, hurry before the sale ends!

The Project Pack is intended for students in Grades K-3. I used it with my 1st grader but my soon-to-be 6th grader wanted to join us, so I allowed her to work with us as well.

I received the 68-page Project Pack in a pdf download format, and I printed it out on my home computer color printer. It suggested that you use colored paper, but I opted to have my daughter color in each piece instead.

 

Inside the instructions are excellent textbook style write-ups explaining vocabulary words used in science, a total of 8 experiments and 15 activities, an explanation of how to conduct each experiment as well as the hypothesis and what you can expect from each experiment.

In addition to the downloaded and printed booklet, I gathered together my supplies. Upon first glance, it appears to be quite an extensive list, but I actually already had everything in my kitchen or my craft drawers. When it was all said and done, I needed:

• Downloaded Project Pack printed 
• 2 File folders 
• Brad pins 
• Staples and stapler 
• Pen, pencils, crayons 
• Glue 
• Tape 
• Vinegar 
• Baking Soda 
• Jar 
• Soda Bottle 
• Balloon 
• Popcorn 
• Pan 
• Stove Top 
• Oil 
• 2 Onions 
• Running Water 
• Freezer 
• Knife 
• Marshmallows 
• Microwave 
• Potatoes 
• Stove Top Pan 
• Water 
• Oven 
• 2 Eggs 
• Salt 
• Water 
• Glass Jars 
• Apple 
• Banana 
• Avocado 
• Peach 
• Orange 

 My daughter really liked working with the Project Pack and with the kitchen experiments.

I was really happy about the vocabulary words and the experiments and activities, as they were not overly simplified and not overly difficult to understand. It presented my daughter with words like polyphenols and hypothesis. I loved this, because it didn’t make it babyish or dumbed down. Still, it was challenging enough to actually learn.

I also loved how the cut-outs gave the option of allowing your child to trace pre-written dotted letters to fill in long answers. I loved this because it allowed her to get the feel for writing the long words while still being able to complete the project to look polished. The vocabulary words had a pre-written definition to cut out and glue on, which was wonderful because it would have been way too challenging to try to get my six-year-old to write out each answer word for word.



I am notorious for working an experiment and having it fail, so I was especially happy that each of the experiments worked. Plus, you even get to eat some of them when you’re all done – Like the popcorn.

There was also a list of other related readings, which are probably available through local libraries.  Here's just a handful of some of the ones that are recommended.  If you choose to use these to supplement the Kitchen Science Project Pack, you could make several weeks unit studies out of the entire lesson pack:

I have used file folder books before, but not extensively. Other project file folder books I have used, I relied on the step-by-step instructions showing me exactly where to place each piece of the file folder pack book. This one seemed to leave the actual construction of the book up to the child and instructor.  It showed how to lay out different styles of file folder, lapbooks, and then showed how to make some of the complicated booklets to glue inside the file book, but I was a little confused as to specifically where each individual piece was supposed to go inside the file folder book. Maybe this is done on purpose to allow for individuality and creative expression.  Or, perhaps, I overlooked this instruction. Though, I did look extensively to try to make sure I did put together the file book properly with my daughter.

In the end, I just chose where to put the inserts.  I think it turned out rather well, and the learning that took place was impressive and fun. 

Please read what other Schoolhouse Review Crew members thought of this and other products from In the Hands of a Child, here, or click on the picture below:

Free Garden Lapbook

I don't know if you are like me and start seeds every year as part of a science lesson and then end up putting these seedlings into a backyard garden, but the process is always exciting in our household.  I logged onto email yesterday and was delighted to find a link to a free gardening lapbook.  I then went searching to see how I could share this link with you, and this is what I found:

Free Gardening Lapbook

Flower File Folder Game

More Garden Lapbooks

More Lapbooks from Currclick

This year, we have started our seedlings and they have been rapidly growing inside our house by the window.  Yes, we need to get them into the outside garden.  However, our weather has been so strange that the motivation just isn't there.

We never really had a winter to speak of.  Many people were excited about this, but I remain concerned that we will pay for the mild winter with extra bugs, mosquitoes and hot humid summer days.  Then again, I prefer it a bit chilly and should probably just go ahead and move up north to make everyone around me a bit happier.

When spring sprung early despite the ground hog's predictions (I guess that's what happens when a sleepy rodent is allowed to become meteorologist for the day) it suddenly became hot.  We had 90 degree days, or close to it, in April and May.  This did nothing for my motivation to go outside and weed a garden.

This week has been resort weather - Perfect temps and low humidity, but it was also my son's birthday and Mother's Day weekend coming with plans to celebrate with  my mom and sisters.  So, once again weeding and preparing the garden for planting got pushed down on the list.

Don't worry!  It's o.k. with me if we don't actually get much of a crop out of what we planted, though it is mighty fun to pick a pepper from a plant we started.  It was a fun science endeavor as is.  Though, as I type and glance over at our greenery bending toward the morning sunshine pouring into the window I feel a twinge of motivation to get these plants in the ground.