Creative Moments: Simple Book Project

Materials:

scissors
six pieces of construction paper (can be assorted colors or all the same)
stapler
masking tap (or any other kind of sturdy tape)
crayons, markers, colored pencils
glue stick
magazines or catalogs

Instructions:

fold each piece of construction paper in half, make a stack (don't nest them inside each other, each folded page will be its own signature)

staple all the pages together (place your staple about 1/2 away from the crease; three should be enough)

cover the staples over with a strip of tap, folding it around the stem of the binding

cut several pictures out of the catalogs and magazines (depending on your child's age, they may need help with this step)

glue pictures in random spots throughout the book and decorate the cover

using the crayons, markers and colored pencils, draw and write on each of the pages

Ideas:

encourage your child to find pictures related to each other to create a theme

if your child is still learning how to write, encourage them to write their alphabet, short words, their name or a short story

create an "all about me" book using pictures, stories and drawings that revolve around the child's interests

theme the book around an up-coming holiday or event

This project encourages art, writing, creative thinking, gross motor skill improvement and independence. These books can be used for many projects for children of all ages, including those who are being homeschooled and unschooled:

keeping a journal

making notes for a book report

writing poetry

science project notes

history projects

nature hikes

recipe books

Yes, you could go out and buy a notebook suitable for these projects and homework assignments. Making your books though, in some (if not all) cases, though, brings more to the educational experience and enhances your child's creative moments.