TOS Crew Review: Journey Through Learning Lapbooks and Unit Studies

Lapbooks are becoming very popular among homeschoolers.  Lapbooking is a way of getting away from workbooks while ensuring learning and making a memorable keepsake.  With lapbooking you make mini-books that you combine into a file folder specially folded so it can sit on your lap and you can open it and read it.  Most lapbook project cover one topic, such as the one we did on deserts.  You can see a slide show of lapbooks on the publishers website at: http://www.ajourneythroughlearning.com/  You may have to scroll down a little to see it.  Further down on the page are simple directions on how to make a lapbook folder.

The lapbook we completed on deserts was very mom friendly.  I liked the fact that all the information that was needed was there in one unit.  You can decide for yourself if you want to supplement with more books or not.  We did watch a couple of videos on Discovery streaming about deserts and desert animals and read a few books that we had on hand. But that was all optional as there is a lot of information already contained in the unit.

The units were very well laid out in that the project immediately followed the reading, so there is no flipping back and forth.  Also the directions for the mini-book were contained directly on the page with the mini-book. The lapbook contains full colored drawing of the various topics and an occasional black and white photo.

In the desert unit, we covered the different deserts and their locations, what a desert is, animals, plants, and peoples found in the desert. The unit contains a review mini-book where the child lists what they learned in the desert and a mini book containing desert vocabulary. At the end of the unit is a suggested list for more information on the subject.

My boys really enjoyed the cutting, pasting, coloring, and even the answering of the questions. They looked forward to completing several books at one sitting. I imagine it takes about a month to complete the lapbook, give or take depending on if you supplement or not.

Other lapbooks that I previewed were set up similarly. The authors are professing Christians, but the units, unless they are on a bible topic, seem to be fairly neutral and non-Christians as well should feel comfortable using them. Also available are copy-work books that go along with some of the lapbooks.

To see what other lapbooks that are available from this publisher or samples: CLICK HERE.

TOS Crew Review: Homeschool In The Woods - New Testament Activity Pak

This is an New Testament activity book that goes along with the life of Christ. You read the coordinating bible story and complete the activity. Activities include lots of coloring, cutting, and pasting, creative writing, bible reading and some research. Published by Home School in the Woods. PDF file is available for download or on CD (will require you to a have computer and printer.)

There are 3 activities included in the "Activity Pak"
- A lap book - 15 activities or mini books, mostly cut, fold, and paste and some copywork (of verses.) Uses traditional lap book folds and some art supplies: double sided tape, paper fasteners, card stock, along with the more common supplies (scissors, glue, etc.)
- A 12 page newspaper project where children, using what I would call notebooking pages, do research and creative writing to make a newspaper. The headlines are supplied (for example "Trouble at the temple, Jesus of Nazareth tips over tables.") and room to write the article. There are even ads from what might have been in the paper at that time, where you fill in the details. Includes a blank page for your own ideas.
- An Armor of God project with a poster and removable parts so you can daily read the scripture (on the poster) and put on your armor.

The artwork is magnificent and detailed. I highly impressed with the quality of it. The projects are easy to cut out and color. The project directions are detailed right down to how to save it when you are done using it for the day, or while you are waiting to put the lap book together. Which is a great idea, because it may be some time between activities.


The suggested grades for this are grades 3-8, but I know my younger boys still enjoy helping with the coloring and pasting. The cutting is more detailed and may require an older child. The newspaper project will fit a child comfortable with writing paragraphs. I believe the Armor of God could be completed, with help, by most children. Putting the "armor"on is fun for all.



This is meant to be an activity pak, so it does what it says, supplies activities to accompany the major events in Christ's life. You will need your bible or other bible story book to accompany the activities. You can see pictures of the completed projects on the websites below.

Home School in the woods has some great products, especially time line materials, several history activity studies and an Old Testament Activity pack. There are also some free unit studies. Be sure to check them all out on the website.


To learn more about The New Testament Activity Pak, click here.
To visit HomeSchool In The Woods click here.