How to Create an Animal Lapbook
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Do It Yourself -- It's Easy!
Planning your own lapbook is quite do-able because of the wealth of free and instant resources available on the Internet. This lens will point you in the right directions for a free DIY animal lapbook. Once you understand the process, you can use these steps over and over for your own planning.
(Lion photo credit)
Ideas for Minibooks
What should I put in my lapbook?
So, you've chosen an animal.
Now, where to start?
What goes in the lapbook? Well, anything and everything about that animal! But to give you more direction, consider these topics for minibooks about your particular animal. Think of each topic here as one (or more) minibook.
The words in bold are keywords you can pair with your animal if you search the Internet for information or printables. So, if you're studying pandas, for example, you would seach for panda habitat map, panda life cycle, panda books, etc.
- Map of the animal's habitat
- Description of the animal's habitat(desert, rainforest) and or home(nest, burrow, colony)
- The animal's community/social structure
- Place in the food chain -- what it eats and what eats it.
- Importance in history or history of this animal. Was this animal "discovered" by explorers? Was this animal important to the culture of a certain people group?
- Taxonomy -- scientific name and its relatives
- Anatomy (look for diagrams) and especially the animal's distinguishing characteristics
- Life cycle and reproduction
- The animal's place in literature -- what famous books, tales, or poems feature this animal?
Examples of Animal Lapbooks
These images come from various animal lapbooks that my daughter has created over the years.
Animal Links
These links are great online references for any animal unit study.
- Animal Diversity Web
- This site will give you the scientific name of any animal as well as facts and photographs. A very useful site for any animal study.
- Answers in Genesis Kids
- (Christian perspective) This site has attractive webpages and several quality printables.
- America Zoo
- This is a fun interactive world map that teaches what animals are native to which continents.
- National Geographic Kids
- This is an excellent site for information about a variety of animals! And NG coloring pages are wonderful -- realistic and detailed.
Encyclopedia of Animals
by National Geographic
Although the Internet has a wealth of information, you still want to build your own reference library with real books. Every homeschool needs a thorough animal encyclopedia.
National Geographic Encyclopedia of Animals
Amazon Price: $14.74 (as of 02/15/2012)
Suitable for grade 4 above, this lavish volume contains full-color illustrations of more than 1500 species. Each brief entry includes common and scientific names and mention of an interesting physical or behavioral trait. Range maps show where each animal is found, and conservation data notes which species are extinct, endangered, or vulnerable. In addition to the realistic drawings, there are dramatic photos of animals in their habitats. Introductory pages discuss the animal kingdom and classification as well as behavior, senses, communication, habitats, and endangerment.
Animal Study Printables
These sites offer printables for a variety of animals or for any animal. They are a good place to start.
- Animal Studies
- This page has links to loads of printables for tigers, pigs, storks, pandas, ostriches, salmon, and frogs. More animals are being added continually!
- Animal Report Forms
- Report Forms with Writing Cues, Blank Report Forms, Simple Report Forms/Notebooking Pages, and Copywork Pages in two styles. These printables would work with any animal.
- Animal Classification Printables
- Bring all your animal studies together with these great ideas. A fabulous way to introduce animal taxonomy to young children.
- Animal Notebooking Page
- A freebie from The Notebooking Fairy.
- Animal Printable Minibooks
- Ready to print and fill in --Flip books, Minibooks, and Research Packs.
- Animal Report Page --PDF
- This blank form can be used for the study of any animal.
- Unit Studies By Gwen -- Short Books
- Free printable minibooks (she calls them short books) about these animals: ferrets, dolphin, hummingbird, polar bears, bats, spiders, sharks,and monkeys.
- Learning Treasures -- Make an Animal Notebook
- Belinda Mooney offers free printable divider pages for mammals, birds, fish, and reptiles. She's also got blank animal notebooking pages available.
- My Animal Report
- A very attractive notetaking page that will help a child organize notes about any animal.
Animal Coloring Sheets
I personally prefer realistic animal images and not the more cartoon style animals, so that is what I've emphasized in these links.
- Kaboose
- A small selection of attractive PDF coloring pages -- toucan, koala, kangaroo, panda, giraffe, dolphin, bison, fox, horse, and more.
- National Geographic Coloring Pages
- These are quality pages that actually teach something about each animal.
- Texas Wildlife
- Beautiful, realistic coloring pages of animals native to TX, USA--alligator, coyote, javelina, screech owl, prairie dogs, and much more.
- Pennsylvania Wildlife
- Detailed PDFs of either individual pages or the entire coloring book -- turkey, owl, chipmunk, hawk, otter, pheasant, coyote, and more.
- African Animal Coloring Book
- Simple but realistic images of dozens of African animals.
- Monterey Bay Aquarium: Coloring Pages
- Printable coloring pages of your favorite ocean animals from the Monterey Bay Aquarium in CA. Images include otters, whales, eels, hermit crabs, penguins,sharks, octopus, jelly fish, coral reef fish, and tide pools.
- International Wolf Center
- These animals are featured: black bear, dragonfly, beaver, deer, loon, frog, wolf, lynx, hare, moose, squirrel, and butterfly. Each page has a bit of information about the animal as well.
A Fantastic Science Resource
for lapbooking
Giant Science Resource Book
Amazon Price: $14.62 (as of 02/15/2012)
I used this book time and time again during my daughter's elementary years. It offers a wide variety of reproducible pages, perfect for lapbooking.
If you prefer an instant download, this book is also available at CurrClick in Ebook format.
Animals With Backbones
Animals with Backbones, Grades 1-3
Amazon Price: $6.70 (as of 02/15/2012)
If you prefer an instant download, this book is also available at CurrClick in Ebook format.
Animals Without Backbones
Animals Without Backbones, Grades 1-3
Amazon Price: $2.50 (as of 02/15/2012)
If you prefer an instant download, this book is also available at CurrClick in Ebook format.
Searching the Web
some pointers for finding free printables
Some people have a knack for finding all the best online resources. Do you ever wonder how they do it? They know how to use search engines!
Don't forget to use a different search engine for different results. Besides Google, try Yahoo search.When you search, pair your topic -- the animal -- with one of these keywords. So, you're searching for panda printables or panda reproducibles for example. You can also pair these phrases with the ideas in the above list -- panda habitat map worksheet; panda habitat map printable, etc.
- printables
- diagrams
- worksheets
- activities
- reproducibles
- coloring pages
- coloring sheets
- theme
- minibook
- foldable
- lapbook
- template
- blank book
- shape book
- puzzles
- lesson plans
- teacher guide
- diagram
- chart
Online Retailers I Use and Recommend
Image Search
And don't neglect to use an IMAGE search. On most search engines, there are tabs -- WEB, IMAGE, etc. Search for topic plus one of these keywords: diagram, chart, template, drawing.
Flickr is another great resource if you want color photographs. The penguin photo to the right came from Flickr. When you search, you can look for photographs with a Creative Commons license. That means that the owner allow his pictures to be used by others (see CC license for details).
Theme and Unit Study Links
These websites offer pages organized by themes. Search for the animal you're studying for a long list of possible printables and activities.
- A to Z Teacher Stuff
- From this page you can browse the themes at A to Z. Or you can search for your particular topic.
- EdHelper
- Search for your topic and you can find all of EdHelper's resources.
- eThemes
- This is a HUGE list of themes. To help you find what you want, use this browser shortcut -- CTRL F will bring up a search box at the bottom of your browser. Type in your topic and that word will be highlighted on the page. Be sure to click NEXT for any other occurrences of the theme.
- Unit Studies
- This is another LONG list. So use that CTRL F shortcut to focus in on what you want.
- Homeschool Helper Online
- Use their search function (be sure to search within Homeschool Helper) to find resources related to your animal.
Animal Pages
These pages can give you a headstart for your animal lapbook.
Reader Feedback
Thanks for leaving a comment!
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Donnette
Jun 27, 2011 @ 2:36 pm | delete
- Your lenses are absolutely beautiful!
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KarenTBTEN
Apr 20, 2010 @ 2:29 am | delete
- Very nice resource for researching as well as showcasing learning. People can find a lot on the web using your search tips. I've got this one and the science notebooking one featured on "Desert and Forest Ecosystems".
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Mochacoffeequeen
Feb 9, 2010 @ 4:56 pm | delete
- JImmie, I don't know why I even bother looking ANYWHERE else for lapbook help - you rock!!! You have the BEST organized information and links out there! I keep bookmarking your stuff ... because it seems like every time I turn around - I am on one of your pages. (I am not "computery" so I don't know what to call them other than "pages." ha) I haven't been on THL for a while and I miss reading your comments. I hope all is great with you and Sprite... boy she has grown! Thanks again!
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Evelyn_Saenz
Nov 16, 2009 @ 5:05 am | delete
- Wonderful resources for creating animal lapbooks.
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Other Lapbooking Helps
by Jimmie
A homeschooling mom who loves to teach and learn, especially with lapbooks.
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