Lapbooks

Lapbooks are a great to add a bit of hands-on to your child's homeschool learning. They are also super to add to a portfolio, if you keep one. The lapbook allows your child to look back at things he learned, share what he learned with others, and it helps cement the learning since your child has ownership.

Kids can create lap books about any topic they choose. There are tons of sites on the Internet that explain how to begin lapbooking. They are sites that show and explain different styles of lap books, offer lapbook links, places to purchase lap book supplies, and even offer free lap book templates.

Here is a link on squidoo that is full of free and inexpensive lap books for third graders. Scroll down to "Literature" to find the links. You are sure to find lots of lap books your child will want to try.

Build a Compass

Using a compass is loads of fun, not to mention educational. If you do not have a compass, you can build your own. To create your own compass, you will need the following materials:

· A needle or some other wire-like piece of steel (a straightened paper clip, for example)

· Something small that floats such as a piece of cork, the bottom of a Styrofoam coffee cup, a piece of plastic, or the cap from a milk jug

· A dish, preferably a pie plate, 9 to 12 inches (23 - 30 cm) in diameter, with about an inch (2.5 cm) of water in it

The first step is to turn the needle into a magnet. The easiest way to do this is with another magnet -- stroke the magnet along the needle 10 or 20 times. If you are having trouble finding a magnet around the house, you can use the one on a can opener.

Place your float in the middle of your dish of water. Center your magnetic needle on the float. It will very slowly point toward north. You have just created your very own compass!