Lapbooks are a great educational tool for all ages. You can make one that is simple and easy to construct for preschoolers or have an older child construct an elaborate lapbook containing several pages. I am going to take you step by step through constructing a lapbook for a preschooler to teach shapes. The following is a list of materials you will need to construct this lapbook.
1. One letter size manila folder
2. Elmer’s glue stick
3. Cardboard box (alternative: cardstock paper)
4. Scissors
5. Non-toxic paint and paintbrush (alternative: crayons, colored felt)
6. Yarn or Dry Macaroni Pasta
7. Four sets of Velcro hooks and loops

The directions for this project are easy and you can involve your preschooler in creating this lapbook. The first thing you will need to do is take your manila folder and open it up. Next, you will need to fold the two sides in to meet the folder’s middle crease. Now you have a basic lapbook for your child with four long panels on the inside.

This lapbook is designed to teach your child shapes. The shapes that will be taught with this lapbook are squares, circles, rectangles, and triangles. Open your folder/lapbook and draw two of each individual shape so that you have two of one shape on each panel of the inside of the lapbook. Place a Velcro hook on each one of the top shapes of each panel. For a little extra fun, you can have your child color or paint the shapes first.

Now you will need to take either the cardboard box or the cardstock paper and draw and cut the four shapes to match the ones in your lapbook. I prefer the cardboard box shapes because they are more durable and do not need to be laminated. Let your child paint or color each shape. When they are ready, put the Velcro loops on the back of each shape. This gives you a shape matching activity that can be done repeatedly.

The bottom row of shapes in your lapbook is for your child to trace with their fingertips. This gives them a tactile input that will help reinforce what each shape is and is a precursor to learning how to draw shapes. You can have your child glue yarn or the macaroni around the outline of each shape. If you don’t have any on hand, substitute any other suitable material.

You can decorate the outside of the lapbook or just label what it is and file it for future use. You can also label each shape on the inside with its name. The great thing about lapbooks is that you can customize them to your likes and needs. They can be used for any subject and any age. If you wish to construct a more elaborate lapbook, fold two folders as instructed previously, and glue the outside of two long panels together. Lapbooks also make great review tools for your child.