Home School in the Woods Hands On History Lap-Pak Review

As part of the Schoolhouse Review Crew, I received the Hands-On History Lap-Pak: The 20th Century in America from  Home School in the Woods to review. Homes School in the Woods supplies history studies and hands on history materials, including Lap Paks, maps and timelines as downloads and on cds. I received the Hands On History Lap Pak: The 20th Century in America as a download.

The Hands On History Lap Pak: The 20th Century in America includes the lessons, reading material, and hands on projects for grades 3-8. This study of the 20th century in America covers many topics – famous people, inventions, science, the Stock Market Crash, slang terminology, and a timeline.

I liked that the reading text included two formats to print,a 5.5″ x 8.5″ booklet that stores nicely in the lap book, or a full size page booklet. Either of those formats can be printed on two sided sheets, thus using less paper. I chose to print the full size pages for my son. You can see the smaller booklet in the picture below.

When you use this Lap Pak study, it opens as an html, in your internet browser. Most days, I just opened the files without using the html files, which makes it convenient to use without internet access. The html menu contains photos so you can see full color pictures of each finished project. Using just the files, you have drawings in the directions to see what each project looks like. So whatever your preference, internet or not, you can see what each project looks like.

The printable project masters are very detailed, as you can see from the picture above.  The step by step directions tell you what to print on what day. There are directions telling you which pages to print on colored paper and which ones to print on white paper, using card stock or regular paper. It even suggests what color paper to use. You can certainly print them all on white paper and have the kids color them instead. There are complete, easy to understand directions for each project. Most are not complicated, after reading the directions to my son, he could do them easily. The projects are assembled with a variety of items, glue stick, staples, and double sided tape. The directions clearly state which item to use, and when.

The full page booklet & some of the projects.

The other lap books that we have made had us put each project in the lap book as we went along. This one had us save the projects in a plastic zip bag until we had finished them all, then put them into the lap book. It worked out well.

Some of the projects for this Lapbook include the World Wars & other conflicts, medical advancements, modern missionaries, authors, literature, and music, sports people, fashion and even the food of the time.

I used the Hands On History Lap Pak: The 20th Century in America with my 12 year old 6th grade son. Each day that we worked on it, I would tell him what pages in the booklet to read, then I would give him the corresponding projects to complete. I would read the directions out loud while he worked on the projects. The projects are varied in design and style so the student doesn’t get tired of working on all the projects.

One of the projects laying on the reading text. All of the sections on this open.

The reading text included has all the information you need to complete this lap book. There is a list of reading materials for you to use to dig deeper into the topics with your student. My son hadn’t studied this time period in his history book, so the reading text included was perfect for him. If you’ve covered the 20th century before with your students, you might choose to use some of the suggested reading materials, which includes links and literature selections. This Lap Pak is easy enough for third graders to complete, with enough information to help eighth graders learn about this era.

The Hands On History Lap Pak: The 20th Century in America is available as a download, like I received, for $21.95. A CD is also available for $22.95.