LaPaz Home Learning

Here is Superboy’s newest production! A notebook for our Sailing unit-study.

Since Superboy was so excited and enthusiastic about this Sailing unit we decided to do this one a bit differently from previous notebooks. We wanted it to be extra special so we bought an actual scrapbook for this one, thinking that it would also inspire him to do his best work. I have to say…It is working very well! It is a 12X12 format in light blue cloth and he loves the extra room on the pages to do some fancier designs.

Here is what he has done so far…

The Cover:

World Waterways:

His first notebook assignment was to study and learn the major water bodies of the world (oceans and seas). He went onto a quiz page and did the quiz games until he knew them well enough. Then for the notebook he made a map and key and used some neat letter stickers and cardstock squares to add a nice touch to the title, and cardstock waves below:

Land and waterforms:

His notebook assignment on day two was to learn the major water forms and land forms associated with water. We used some montessori cards and definitions to learn them (he loved these) and then his task was to make a map using all of the land and water forms he learned. He cut the map out of blue and tan cardstock so it would look like the cards and then he added it to his notebook in a nice two page spread (I really love how it turned out!). The land/waterform cards are stuck into the pockets on the right hand page and he then added further decoration using some of a different set of land/water form cards.

Major ocean currents:

For this page Superboy used a website and book to study the currents, then he painted the oceans onto a world map and then added the major currents using glitter glue.

Wind and waves:

I really like how this 2-page spread turned out. Science and Art appreciation all in one! This page explains how waves are formed, the parts of a wave, the beaufort wind scale and it’s effects on the sea, and how water molecules move in a wave. The art print is called “Great Wave off of Kanagawa” by Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai.

Sea floor formations:

Superboy had the great idea to cut this out of sandpaper. It turned out very well. I like his title, too!

Navigational Rules, Part 1:

This is some of the stuff he has to learn to earn his Boater Safety Certification. We had fun running around pretending to be boats and deciding who had to “give way,” then Superboy made this page to help remember the rules for his certification exam.

This next page has a bit of a different look. Superboy wrote about how the explorers in the “Age of Exploration” planned their courses using currents, winds, and other features. Under that paragraph is a pocket containing cards he made with maps showing the routes of many explorers such as Magellan, Columbus, Captain Cook, etc, and info on where they came from and why.

Finally he did a title page:

And at the end he added in his Pagoo origami book:

And that is it for now! We have decided to end this unit after two months and move on to other things, always remembering that we can come back to this fun unit any time!