Planning a Unit Study or a Lapbook

I've had a lot of interest in how I plan my lapbooks and unit studies.  So I thought I would share how I go about both.

Unit Studies.

Brain storm on the subject that you want to study.

1. what
2. why
3. who
4. tools/equipment
5. daily life
6. geography
7. history

Gather information on topic

1. library
2. on line
3. video/t.v.
4. music
5. magazine
6. people
7. field trips
8. projects
9. cook book
10. living books (ie. little house on the prairie books)

Plan out from brainstorming list using gathered information.

Break into daily usable chunks.

Here is an example of a Cowboy Unit that I did with Roo.  Feel free to use it if you would like.

Cowboys > library > books > topics > objectives for learning > daily plan > teach.

Cowboy Unit

-What is a Cowboy?  What do they do?

1. talk about hunter gather/ community dweller societies

-History of a Cowboys job.

Cowboys

1. move cows to more grazing
2. move to sell
3. protect from animals + others
4. Cowboy an Album by Linda Granfield Pgs 11,15,20,24+25.
5. Yippee-Yay! by Gail Gibbons Pgs 1 + 2.
6. I wish I were a Cowboy by Ivan Bulloch + Diane James Pgs 4 + 5.

-Who were cowboys?

1. Cowboy Album Pgs 12 + 13.
2. Yippee-Yay! pgs 28 + 29.

-What do Cowboys wear?

1. Yippee - Yay! pg 3.
2. Cowboy Album pgs 26 - 36 (real pictures of real cowboys)
3. *Project* I wish I were a Cowboy pgs 6 + 7 to make a vest + 8 - 9 to find out why a bandanna.

-Cowboy horses

1. Yippee-Yay! pg 4 + 5
2. I wish I were a Cowboy pg 12
3. Cowboy Album pg 21 for vocab and 23 for saddle pieces.
4. *Weekend Field Trip*  (I listed local stores that sell saddles... this way Roo could see a real saddle).

-Equipment

1. Yippee-Yay! pgs 5 + 6
2. I wish I were a cowboy pg 14 (have a rope or string ready to use)
3. Cowboy Album pg 24

- Cows

1. Cowboy Album Pg 18 + 19.
2. I wish I were a Cowboy pg 16 (have supplies ready to "make" a cow)
3. Yippee-Yay! pg 7 - 11.

-Branding

1. Design + brand the cow you made yesterday.
2. Yippee-Yay! pg 9 to look at brand, pg 10 + 11
3. Cowboy Album Pg 43 look at brand book, Pg 14 look at and read about brands.

-Round - up/ Drive/ Maps

1. Yippee-Yay! pg 12 - 18
2. Cowboy Album pg 49, pgs 44 + 45 (eight week drive)
3. Ask "Why did the cowboys have to round them up?"

-Stampede

1. Yippee-Yay! pg 21
2. Cowboy Album Pg 48

-Outlaws

1. I wish I were a cowboy pg 22
2. Cowboy Album pg 62 + 63

-Camping out/ Food

1. Yippee-Yay! pg 19 + 20 Learn "home on the range"
2. I wish I were a cowboy pg 18-21 Make potato + bean dinner, sleep out in "tent" in living room, make a fake fire to keep warm.

I also have resources for many other unit studies... some of our favorites along with the cowboy has been knights, space and airplanes.

Planning a lapbook really is similar.  The following is the "worksheet" that I gave out at the lapbook workshop I just gave... enjoy!

Planning a lapbook

Primary Lesson Sheet*  **

Topic :

Who:

What:

Where:

When:

Why:

How:

Misc:

Choose a mini book for each question: (this is where knowing lots of mini books comes in handy)

*If child is creating lapbook… have child complete each mini book (store in a zip lock bag, large envelope, or shoe box until assembly day)

**If teacher is creating lapbook … create each mini book so that child can use it.

Assemble lapbook.

Toddler or Preschool Lesson Sheet

Decide what things you are trying to teach your young child.

ABC

1,2,3’s

Colors

Shapes

Sizes

Right/Left

Patterns

Name Recognition

Decide how to present what you are teaching.(Again mini books or file folder game ideas are helpful)

Assembly book for play :0)

I have my favorite places to get ideas for mini books.  If you would like this list please contact me and I will get my list to you. 

Hopefully this has been helpful and not incredibly boring *smile*.  I always think that if I can teach my boys in the style they learn best and that they love (or at least put up with *smile* ) what I am trying to teach I have succeeded.

Comments

[Nanette Schuur]

Has anyone ever made a lapbook of highlights of the school year...including first day of school, birthday, grandparent's day, holidays, etc? I teach all day kindergarten in a public school and love the lapbook idea. However, I need to adapt it to the classroom. Any suggestions?

[Jenn]

Thank you so much for sharing...I was feeling very overwhelmed and didn't know where to start!!

[Melissa]

thank you soo much for putting this together. I happened to find it while looking for cowboy file folder games and we have just started lapbooking but it's been difficult for me. I'd love to see your resources for mini books...contact me at melduzan at chaska dot com please.

[Amy]

Yes! I love it! Thank you for taking the time to post it all out. You know how you have to see something to get it? Yeah, well, NOW I think I get lapbooking, after reading through the cowboy thing. Wow!! And you said you were lazy?? How about CRAZY! :) Good job! Thanks for posting this!! Love ya! A