A Journey Through Learning Lapbooks (Review)

Lindsey is studying botany this year, both at home and in a co-op setting.  One of the resources we'll be using is the Apologia Botany.  Fortunately we were able to review the Apologia Exploring Creation with Botany Lapbook from the Apologia Curriculum Page at  A Journey Through Learning Lapbooks, and I'm hoping that this will add a nice hands on aspect to our class work at home.   (In order to use this product in a group or co-op setting you need to buy a Classroom/Co-op license.)

This product is one that you download, and you can either get the black and white version or the color version.   We received both for the review, but I don't have a color printer, so we've obviously used the black and white version.  Also coloring the components is one of Lindsey's favorite parts of lapbooking, the writing, not so much.   The download includes a supplies list, clear instructions on creating and folding the various components and on assembling the lapbook itself.    There is also an additional reading list, enrichment pages (book log, plant book report form, What I Have Learned/narration pages) and an answer key at the back so the instructor can make sure students have the correct information to put into each individual booklet.   There is a total of 84 pages to print to complete the lapbook, not including the extras and instructions.

The product is broken up into units, Lessons 1-3, Lessons 4-6, Lessons 7-9 and Lessons 10-12.   On each page, for each lesson there are instructions that tell you exactly what pages to read in the textbook to find the information covered, see below for example.

We did not work hard and fast on this review, since the school term starts close to the end of the review time and that is officially when we'll be learning about botany.   What we did was work on getting the items printed and sorted and grouped by lesson and assembling the file folders so that it will be easy to hit the ground running.  Lindsey worked on getting the unit cover pages colored and in place.  We then slowly started working our way into the first lessons.    The content information in the text book is covered well and it's easy to find the required information and answers, and again their is an answer section in the back of the download if you are ever unsure of what is being asked.

The grade range listed for this product is 2-7, even though the text book is for grades K-6.  My personal opinion, and that of my 7th grader is that it would work best for the lower age range, as it tends to be a bit on the younger side with both the graphics and the amount of work required. However, if you incorporate the additional reading and the book reports, I'm sure you could easily bring it up to grade level.   It's still a wonderful learning tool that I highly recommend, just not for you typical 7th grade students.

To read other reviews of this and other vendor products, click here.