The Creative Homeschool » notebook http://www.thecreativehomeschool.com Mon, 19 Apr 2010 04:28:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 en hourly 1 Fun with old magazines and catalogs http://www.thecreativehomeschool.com/2009/03/fun-with-old-magazines-and-catalogs/ http://www.thecreativehomeschool.com/2009/03/fun-with-old-magazines-and-catalogs/#comments Thu, 12 Mar 2009 15:38:24 +0000 admin http://creativehomeschool.homeschooljournal.net/2009/03/12/fun-with-old-magazines-and-catalogs/ If you have a giant stack of catalogs and magazines that you don’t want to store but feel guilty about tossing, try these ideas to get more mileage from your paper before you recycle it.

  • Make silly faces. Cut out facial features out of different ads and the put them together in funny ways.
  • Make paper beads. Then use them for necklaces, bookmarks and all sorts of gifts.
  • Cut into strips and weave together for a colorful placemat.
  • Cut out words and phrases to make crazy poetry.
  • Use pictures to make an alphabet book for a baby. Or colors. Or shapes.
  • Use articles for word recognition or cut and paste spelling lists.
  • Use an article for a “word mine” game. Call a word sound or letter and have them highlight words that match your request.
  • Use the magazine pages as scrap paper when doing other crafts. The slick paper won’t bleed onto your other projects and you can grab a new sheet each time one gets yucky.
  • Cut out adjectives from ads to increase writing vocabulary.
  • Use pictures to copy in art class. Choose a medium and use the picture as a model.
  • Make cool envelopes with pages. Use pages that coordinate with your letter or recipient. For example, if grandma loves gardening, send her a note in a gardening catalog envelope. Make sure you put a white sticker on the front for the address so it’s easy to find.

For older kids:

  • Have them rewrite an article, or offer another angle.
  • Use a layout as a sample and cut out things to create your own magazine layout.
  • Cut and paste your own magazine by cobbling together things from several other mags.
  • Look trough magazines to notice trends and themes. Write something based on that research.
  • Rewrite a product slogan.
]]> http://www.thecreativehomeschool.com/2009/03/fun-with-old-magazines-and-catalogs/feed/ 1 How much fun can you fit on one page? http://www.thecreativehomeschool.com/2009/03/how-much-fun-can-you-fit-into-one-page/ http://www.thecreativehomeschool.com/2009/03/how-much-fun-can-you-fit-into-one-page/#comments Tue, 10 Mar 2009 04:48:55 +0000 admin http://creativehomeschool.homeschooljournal.net/2009/03/09/how-much-fun-can-you-fit-into-one-page/ Books are great tools for homeschoolers. It seems there is no end to the creative possibilities. But sometimes the choices can seem a bit overwhelming, or the process is complicated and you stress about creating content that will be worthy of the container. How about trying a book that is made from one page, a little book that can be cut and pasted and scribbled to your heart’s content. Fill it with poetry or facts or drawings of plants. Use one of the directions below. Make them for friends, create a zine and sell some copies. They are fast and fun and oh so easy. I bet you can’t make just one.

one page book (8 pages)

one page meandering book (16 pages)

another option for a mini book

For more book fun, check this site or this one. You’ll have enough ideas to outlast your kids’ education!

]]> http://www.thecreativehomeschool.com/2009/03/how-much-fun-can-you-fit-into-one-page/feed/ 0 Book making fun with kids http://www.thecreativehomeschool.com/2009/02/book-making-fun-with-kids/ http://www.thecreativehomeschool.com/2009/02/book-making-fun-with-kids/#comments Mon, 23 Feb 2009 15:49:31 +0000 admin http://creativehomeschool.homeschooljournal.net/2009/02/23/book-making-fun-with-kids/ If you don’t make books with your kids you are missing out on some fun! Books are a great alternative to lapbooks or notebooks. There’s no way you can not have fun making and filling books with stories, songs, poems, math tables, pictures, essays and anything else your children can produce. Here are a few links to whet your appetite.

Making Books with Children

MakingBooks blog

Let’s Make Books

Make Your Own Books

Bookbinding Tutorials (many of these are for older kids and adults)

Creating books is also a great way to apply skills like math and art techniques. They encourage fine motor skills with binding and writing.

Do you make books? Care to share photos? How have handmade books added to your homeschool education?

]]> http://www.thecreativehomeschool.com/2009/02/book-making-fun-with-kids/feed/ 1 25 creative notebooking ideas http://www.thecreativehomeschool.com/2009/01/25-creative-notebooking-ideas/ http://www.thecreativehomeschool.com/2009/01/25-creative-notebooking-ideas/#comments Mon, 26 Jan 2009 19:53:19 +0000 admin http://creativehomeschool.homeschooljournal.net/2009/01/26/25-creative-notebooking-ideas/ Notebooking is one of the best ways to demonstrate your individuality in your lessons. But sticking some worksheets in a binder is not true notebooking. You must generate the material yourself and it is a reflection of you, not simply a regurgitation of someone else’s thoughts. Read more on the rewards of notebooking at my other blog, PrincipledMom.

In case you find yourself in a rut, here is a list of creative expression. You can also download the 25 creative notebooking ideas here.

  1. paper folding
  2. portraits
  3. write a story and illustrate it
  4. collage
  5. mosaic with construction paper or magazine pictures
  6. drawings
  7. cut outs
  8. silhouettes
  9. rubber stamping
  10. stickers to add to a picture or draw around
  11. photographs
  12. coloring pages
  13. printable fonts that can be colored
  14. pockets to put things in
  15. door or flaps to hide things
  16. pop-ups
  17. paintings
  18. rubbings or impressions
  19. CD recordings of kid’s voice, documents, music, video, etc.
  20. fold out pages for long projects
  21. sew paper
  22. create an award
  23. cut words and letters from newspapers or magazines
  24. create a small book and place in a pocket on a page
  25. paper weaving

If you want to add to the list please leave a comment.

]]> http://www.thecreativehomeschool.com/2009/01/25-creative-notebooking-ideas/feed/ 4