My First Lapbook/Tot Book!

One of my favorite blogs is Carisa's, which hosts the weekly Tot School that Maddie and I participate in. I was recently spending hours quickly looking through her site and found all these amazing tot book files that she created (and generously shares). I immediately set to printing, cutting, gluing and laminating (by the way, I love my new laminator beyond words; I've always been a laminating maniac and now I can do so any time of the day! And, I do!).

I made the feelings one (which I'll talk about in Tot School next week) and one from The Very Hungry Caterpillar. I think this technically counts as a lapbook (I'm way new to all this); I used all of Carisa's files and also added some of my own, found from here and here.

So far, Maddie loves them (which helps me justify the MANY hours each one took to create!) and works on them both independently and with me.

This is the cover. On the front are size sequencing cards of butterflies and caterpillars. Also, the velcro, build-your-own counting caterpillar spills onto the cover.

Ahhh, the inside! Seriously, for better pictures, click over here because she did a much better job of photographing it! I also added in a little sequencing activity (yellow pocket) that Maddie really likes (we've done this the most).

And, the back cover. The caterpillar at the bottom was printed on cardstock, laminated and is held down with velcro. Maddie's "job" is to put the pieces in numerical order. Clearly, she did a very fabulous job. :)

I'm really excited to make more and get faster with each one. :) They're great for working at home and even for doctor's offices and such. Check out Carisa's site for SO many more!!