Trishy’s My Father’s Dragon Lapbook
This is 5-year-old Trishy’s first chapter book, and we are thoroughly enjoying it. I gave The My Father’s Dragon series to Sarah, now 15, and it has been passed down through all three kids.
This is adapted from Homeschool Share’s My Father’s Dragon Lapbook. Ami, who designed this terrific project, made a much more elaborate lapbook with her son.
This is our version:
This is my favorite part of Ami’s fabulous creation — Elmer Elevator’s knapsack with the things he took on the trip. Of course, each one (chewing gum, hair ribbons, etc.) is crucial to the plot. 
We cut out images of some of the picture in the book — we found them here. We used them like sequencing cards. Trishy did a great job of putting the events in sequential order (narration, sequencing). Then we put them into a tiny book.
She decided to dictate a narration, referring to the pictures in the mini-book to put things in order. I noticed that she didn’t seem to really grasp the plot. She put events in order, but she didn’t remember how Elmer resolved each problem he encountered, nor did she seem to see the cause and effect involved. (I’m noting this because one reason for this blog is to document her unfolding developmental progress.) I suggested we re-read the book. I’m happy with where she’s at — but I don’t want her to miss “getting” this fun story, especially since she’s been having so much fun with it.
We also put in a library pocket for animal cards. I made nine cards showing the different species who cohabitated on wild island. We talked a bit about classification — reviewing characteristics of mammals, for instance, and talking about different types of mammals (e.g. “primates are mammals that have hands,” “ungulates usually have hooves…”)
Our map of Tangerina Island and Wild Island.
A little living math — thanks, Ami! She got a little confused figuring out how many mouths, how many eyes, and how many legs 7 tigers have. So I got out 7 little plastic animals and she counted. (introducing skip counting; multiplication)
It’s wonderful! We read that book as a read-aloud last year and all 3 of the “big” kids loved it. She did a great job!
Comment by Alicia - July 16, 2009 10:09 am
Trishy has such beautiful blue eyes!!!
On the legs, eyes, etc. of seven tigers, do you know that idea is a Charlotte Mason thing? :0)
http://www.amblesideonline.org/PR/PR08p076NurseryFractions.shtml
Comment by Tammy - July 16, 2009 12:54 pm
This is a delightful project!
Lots of good ideas, thanks for sharing!
Comment by piseco - July 16, 2009 1:10 pm
Beautiful job! And Trishy is so cute in that picture. You must be such a proud mom!
Peace and Laughter!
Comment by Cristina - July 16, 2009 1:30 pm
Good for Trishy! After seeing this I have a better idea of how lapbooks can be really nice records of the unique child. We have definitely loved that book through several children around here, too.
Comment by Willa - July 16, 2009 8:26 pm
Beautiful, beautiful work, Trishy!
Sad to say that’s one book I never even picked up to share with my girls. I don’t remember reading it, so I guess I never considered it a “must read”. Maybe I’ll check it out for Loryn.
Comment by Paige - July 16, 2009 11:03 pm
Trishy did a great job with her lapbook and she is so very cute with those gorgeous blue peepers!!!!
Comment by tara - July 17, 2009 7:45 am
Adorable, and a timely inspiration! I was sitting her all morning, struggling with how to bring unity to my “Science in Nature” class’ main storybook , “The Animal Book for Children” by Thornton Burgess. A lapbook is exactly the way to go!!!
Comment by Angela, QueenBee - July 17, 2009 9:16 am
[...] lots of games and started re-reading My Father’s Dragon. I noticed when she narrated, for her lapbook, that she sort of saw the story as a series of images; she didn’t seem to explore [...]
Pingback by Laughing Stars » Blog Archive » Learning Logs July 13 - July 19: World Geography, Virtual Worlds, and Such - July 19, 2009 4:22 pm
That is such an awesome lapbook and she did such a great job!
Comment by Jo - July 19, 2009 5:23 pm