This is my daughter, Samira’s lapbook all about The Solar System. It’s almost complete and we shall share it with you soon insha’Allah. My son, Yusef also made his own mini lapbook about The Solar System about two years ago now. You can view it here.
The templates for Samira’s lapbook I found on the homeschool share website.
I am also making a Solar System Totbook with my younger two daughters Amina and Basma, aged 4 and 3 as well as some space arts and crafts.
Check back soon insha’Allah.
My son, Yusef did a project some time ago which we called Extreme Earth. He learned all about the amazing structures, climates and environments on our planet and he was fascinated with volcanoes, which led us to make a more detailed lapbook on volcanoes and earthquakes.
Most of the templates I found on the HomeSchool Share Website. We combined the Volcano Templates and the Earthquake Templates into one large lapbook and I also made a few additional templates. I have made all the files available in my File Share widget which you can find on the right of the menu screen as you scroll down.
You can see below how large this lapbook is as the photos show how the lapbook opens out.
First up are a selection of mini-books about the structure and layout of the Earth. This shutter book shows the different layers of the Earth.
We did a small experiment with a hard boiled egg which I cut in half and showed the kids to help them understand the structure of the Earth’s layers. I took a picture of the egg and labelled it.
Next is a flap containing a world map where Yusef labelled the continents.
Then there is the pocket containing Earth trivia cards, with a question on the front of the card and the answer on the back.
Next is a tri-fold book all about different rock types.
Next is a tab book about the different kinds of faults in the earth that result in earthquakes.
And here are some more trivia cards all about earthquakes. It’s worth noting that the answers given to the trivia questions on these cards are now out of date, so you’ll have to do your own research to find up to date answers to questions such as ‘What was the longest ever recorded earthquake?’
Next we looked at the Pacific ‘Ring of Fire’ – a hot bed of tectonic plate activity where most of the world’s volcanoes are found.
In this tri-flap mini-book we learned about volcanoes that are active, dormant and extinct.
In another tab-book Yusef drew and wrote about the four different types of volcanoes.
This is a flap containing a diagram of the internal structure of a volcano which Yusef labelled.
Next are some flaps about the different types of lava. There is Aa lava (pronounced ‘ah-ah’) and Pahoehoe (pronounced (‘pa-hoy-hoy’). These names come from the Hawaiian languange which describes the way in which the lava flows and cools.
Followed by a second set of flaps all about visiting volcanoes.
Here is a layered book all about types of mountains. Yusef copied the diagrams and wrote some information about their structure.
Next is a book all about Black Smokers, which are under water vents.
Here is another pocket of trivia cards, this time all about volcanoes.
The answers are on the reverse side of the cards.
Then we have an accordion book all about what volcanoes give us.
I always like to include some Islamic elements wherever possible into our lapbooks and in this notebook flap we discussed a very important ayah (verse) from Quran about why it’s not possible to predict earthquakes.
Next is a pin-wheel about the disasters that can result from an earthquake. Yusef included things like tsunamis, fires breaking out, disease and illness spreading, no utilities (gas, electric, water) etc.
This is a collection of cards strung together with facts and details about tsunamis.
Yusef wrote the translation of the word tsunami which comes from the Japanese language meaning ‘Harbour Wave’. He even wrote ‘tsunami’ in Japanese, masha’Allah.
Next is a another set of cards strung together which list the ways in which we can be prepared in case of an earthquake.
Next is a flap containing the hadith from the prophet Muhammad, sall’allahu alayhi wasalam in which is mentioned how earthquakes are a sign of the coming of the Hour and they will occur with more frequency (or intensity) towards the end of time.
And from Surah 99 of the Quran – Surah Zalzalah (The Earthquake). Yusef did some copy work, writing up the surah in English. We discussed it and looked at the tafsir (commentary) of this chapter.
Here is a map showing where most of the volcanoes are found in the world, and underneath is a bar chart showing the number of volcanoes in each country.
Next are a set of vocabulary flap books which include many of the words we came across whilst working on this project.
Similarly, here are a set of vocabulary tab cards which Yusef completed at the very end of this project.
Then we have a Creative Writing Pocket which contains Yusef’s short story about a boy who wanted to visit a volcano, and who built a helicopter which crash landed on a volcano crater!
Here is a fold out book all about plate tectonics. On the first map Yusef coloured the different plates and made a key to show which plate was which. And the map below shows a transparent diagram of the plates and their boundaries over the surface of the earth.
Then we have another set of mini-books all about the way plates move.
Here is a flap book about the Richter Scale. We also looked at the Mercalli scale, but we didn’t include it in the lapbook because it is the Ricter scale that is well known and more commonly referred to when discussing the power of earthquakes.
Here is a layer book about the different types of energy waves that move through the earth when an earthquake occurs.
Finally there is the fold out flap which lists the top 10 major earthquakes that have occured over the last decade.
Yusef said this has been one of his most favourite lapbooks so far because he learned so much, masha’Allah. And as someone who studied Geography at A’Level, this was a wonderful little refresher … and I even learned a thing or two!
This is my son, Yusef’s lapbook all about the Human Body. It’s actually still a working progress. It’s a big project and we are adding to the lapbook as we go along insha’Allah and I shall blog it in parts. We have been using many different books as well as electronic media resources. One website I highly recommend for this subject is called “How the Body Works” – Check it out for yourself!
We are now adding to the lapbook according to the topics covered in his science textbooks. That way he can complete his written work alongside his lapbook work which helps ensure he understands fully how the various systems of the human body work.
Previously, when we first began this lapbook, we looked at the external body parts and learned about the major organs and systems in general, before looking in depth at the BRAIN, the NERVES and the MUSCLES. You can see the first part of the lapbook by visiting Human Body Lapbook (Part 1)
Recently we have covered TEETH and BONES & JOINTS. I have made all the mini books and templates for this lapbook myself (except where stated) and they are all available to download for free from my BOX.net file sharing widget which you can find as you scroll down on the right of the screen.
This is a page from the lapbook all about teeth.
This is a flap which explains about the 4 different types of teeth in humans. During his textbook work, Yusef learned about the functions of the different kinds of teeth. He also learned a little about animal teeth and how their different types of teeth determine what kinds of food they eat.
When the flap is lifted up it shows a diagram of an open mouth which has been coloured and labelled to show where the 4 different types of teeth are situated in the mouth.
In the centre of the page is a flap with a diagram showing the parts of the tooth labelled by Yusef. I printed this diagram from the website I mentioned at the beginning. They have a pre-labelled version and one that children can label themselves.
In his text book work, he went into further detail, learning about the functions of each part, as well as how cavities are formed.
On the reverse of the flap is a wordsearch related to teeth which I printed off from the website.
Under the flap is a pocket which holds his quiz results and a Fascinating Facts flap.
After completeing the topic on teeth, the kids can take part in a quiz on the website and then print their results, which we folded up and put into this pocket.
At the bottom of the page is an accordion book which I downloaded from Homeschool Share. It shows the steps to brushing and cleaning teeth.
Next up is the page from the lapbook all about bones and joints.
On the front of the hinge flap is a large diagram of the skeleton labelling all the major bones of the body, and Yusef highlighted the different types of joints.
When the flap is turned over, on the reverse is a diagram of a skeleton which Yusef has labelled. I printed off the diagram from the website that I mentioned at the top of this page.
Under that flap is a smaller flap containing information about the rib cage.
When the hinge flap is turned over, on the reverse is some information about the bone marrow and how it produces the different types of blood cells. Yusef drew pictures of the different types of blood cells and wrote a little bit about their different functions.
On the right side of the page is a smaller flap which contains an accordion book and a flap book.
The accordion book explains all about the funny ‘bone’.
Below the accordion book is another Fascinating Facts flap.
On the reverse of the smaller flap is a word search all about the skeletal system and a pocket to hold Yusef’s quiz results on the skeletal system which he completed on the interactive website.
When the flaps are open the centre of the page reveals a large flap all about the inside of the bones and a shutter book about joints.
I took this diagram from the website and Yusef cut it out and glued it down onto the front of the flap and then on the inside of the flap he wrote the details about the 4 main parts of the bone structure.
Later on in the day, we did a little experiment dissecting a lamb bone to have a look at the structure and learn about the different parts.
Although we talked about FIXED JOINTS, this shutter book only covers HINGE JOINTS and BALL & SOCKET JOINTS.
Next we plan to look in detail at the Respiratory and Circulatory systems (Heart and Lungs), so check back for updates soon insha’Allah.
This is my son, Yusef’s lapbook all about the Human Body. It’s actually still a working progress and in all honesty I don’t have time to blog the whole thing in one go. It’s a big project and we will add to the lapbook as we go along insha’Allah and I shall blog it in parts. We have been using many different books as well as electronic media resources. One website I highly recommend for this subject is called “How the Body Works” – Check it out for yourself!
The first page of his lapbook is a general introduction to the external body parts and the internal body organs.
The two large pockets each contain a long tab of cards showing the numerous external body parts and internal organs.
The various internal organs are listed on each card followed by a diagram of the human body showing the position of the organ in the body. Each card has the words written several times to allow for handwriting and spelling practise.
Below are pictures showing the extending tab for the list of external body parts. It lists about 40 parts altogether!!
The second page shows a diagram of the human body from the front with the main external parts labelled by Yusef.
The flap can be flipped over to reveal the reverse of the human body with the various parts labelled, and under the flap is also a diagram showing the major internal organs, labelled by Yusef.
When the page is turned over it contains details on the brain, the senses and the nervous system.
The information about the brain is attached to a large flap page. The front of the flap has a diagram of the brain labelling its major parts and a mini flap book all about nerves.
Then the page can be flipped over to reveal a page dedicated to the 5 senses and another page with more detailed information on the brain.
Yusef wrote up a little something on the 5 senses. Also included is a small table listing the sensory organs and their relatives senses. There is also a flap called The 5 Senses. When it is lifted it reveals some word puzzles on the subject.
On the opposite page is various information on the brain and its functions.
This is a worksheet that I created for Yusef to colour and learn the various regions of the brain that are responsible for different functions. Masha’Allah, he has actually managed to memorise this.
This is a little summary that Yusef wrote up to describe what the brain is.
This is the front cover of a t-book that show the different areas of the brain that are associated with the various senses.
When it is unfolded it shows how Yusef drew lines matching the various senses to the different regions of the brain.
When we had completed the subject of the brain and the nervous system I got Yusef to complete the quiz from the “How The Body Works” website. I printed his quiz results and stored them in the little pocket I made.
On the opposite page are two red flaps with details on the Nervous System.
On the short flap is a diagram of the Nervous System with a small paragraph about how the Nervous System works with the missing words filled in by Yusef.
When the short flap is turned over, on the reverse is a word search based on the Nervous System and a flap called ‘Facinating Facts’.
Inside the ‘Fascinating Facts’ flap are some facts on the brain and nerves.
On the opposite page is another larger flap page focusing on the regions of the brain with an activity to fill in the missing words and complete the sentences.
When the red page is folded back it reveals the blue page on the subject of Muscles.
This is the front cover of a mini book all about muscles. When it is opened it shows some details written up by Yusef.
On the reverse of the red flap is a diagram of how the bicep and tricep arm muscles work. It also includes a flow chart detailing how the brain, nerves and muscles work together.
When the blue page on muscles is folded back it reveals a centre page and on the reverse of the blue page is more information on muscles.
Underneath the blue page at the centre of the lapbook is a green mini book. It contains some copy work from the poetry book called “Allah gave me two eyes to see” by Fatima M. D’Oyen. It is a book about being thankful for our 5 senses.
On the reverse of the blue page opposite are more details about muscles.
There is a word search all about the Muscular System, another ‘Fascinating Facts’ flap and a flap book all about the different types of muscle.
When the flaps fold down they reveal information on the different types of muscle written up by Yusef.
I have made all the templates that I have created for this lapbook available to download in my BOX file share which you will find as you scroll down in the right of the screen insha’Allah. Activities such as wordsearches and missing words are all from the “How The Body Works” website.
Look out for Human Body Lapbook (Part 2) … blogging soon insha’Allah.
After completing our Solar System Poster I went into further detail on the Solar System with my son because he showed a lot of interest in the subject. We made a mini lapbook with lots of “Fact Flaps” where a question is written on the front of the flap and then he wrote his answer inside. This gave him a good opportunity to read and do his own research and it also helped him to practise answering with full sentences.
We used several books for reference:
Knowledge Masters: Outer Space written by Harry Ford and Kay Barnham
SPACE published by NPP Books
We also founds lots and lots of wonderful information from the Enchanted Learning Website
The first page consisted of four flaps that discussed the Solar System in general. One of the flaps had a double flap to show details of each planets orbit. To make the flaps I used MS Word. I pasted in shapes and filled them with a deep space image and then I used WordArt to write the questions on the flaps. Then I printed an A4 sheet with 4 ruled boxes for my son to write his answers in. Finally, I simply sellotaped the flaps over the top of his answer boxes.
I created this worksheet myself based on a diagram from the Outer Space book.
Next up was another set of question and answer flaps all about the Sun followed by a diagram showing the structure of the Sun.
Then my son did a page all about spacecraft flying near the sun. We did a short bit of research about the Helios 2 space probe.
Then we made some question and answer flaps with general questions about the planets of the Solar System before making fact pages dedicated to each of the planets in turn.
A page all about the planet Mercury.
Venus planet facts page.
A page dedicated to the planet Earth.
Being that we are a Muslim family, I thought this was a good opportunity to explain to my son what the Qur’an says about life on Earth.
The book is completed with a page of facts for the remaining planets.
If you would like the file to make this lapbook (The Solar System by Iman Bendjedidi) and for more details on other Space Theme projects please click here to visit the Teaching Ideas website.
