Fulton Sheen Lapbook

Some of you might like the idea of making a Fulton Sheen Notebook, but know that a project of that size is not practical or the best use of the time that you have with your kiddos. 

Another option to still do some of the activities and have them in a user friendly place would be to make a Fulton Sheen lapbook.  This might be an option if you want to make it a shorter unit in a school classroom or for use in a CCD program.

Start with a regular file folder.  Colored ones are always nice.

To make it a little more interesting, create a lapbook that opens from the center.  Fold one side of the folder to the middle of the inside.

 Then fold the other side to the center also.

 Using the cover from the Sheen notebook, create a cover for the lapbook.  Glue the printable to a piece of cardstock, and then glue the cardstock to only one side of the folder flaps.  This allows the lapbook to have a closed cover...

 ...but still can be opened to the inside.  It also extended the space inside by a few inches.

 Next choose the activities that you want to include.

 I used these activities:
-Spiritual Adoption Bookmark
-Non Fiction Notes about Canonization Process
-Sheen and the Sacraments Mini Book
-Fulton Facts
-Journaling Topics
-Fold Out Timeline
-Canonization Process Post It Notes
-World Mission Rosary
-Holy Card and Prayer Requests

I had to adapt the way some of the activities were include to save space.  One nice lapbooking or notebooking tool is making pockets.

Here is my favorite way to make paper pockets:

1. Collect the stack of items that you want to include in the pocket.  It is easiest to just use them for the size so that the pocket isn't too tight or too lose, causing things to fall out.  Cut a piece of paper, preferably cardstock, that is about an inch longer than you want the finished pocket to be and is about three times the width of the items.

 2. Fold one side of the paper over, somewhere between the middle and edge of the items in the pocket.

 3. Fold the other side over and trim off the excess, making sure that there is an overlap with the first folded side.

 4. Here it is with the excess cut off.

 5. Now move your items and unfold the soon-to-be pocket.  Fold up the bottom edge to the depth you want the bottom of the pocket to be. 

 6.  Unfold and do some trimming.  You are going to cut along the bottom fold line to the side fold lines, and then down.  I like to cut down at a slight angle so that the sides don't show from the back.  Here is a picture of where to cut:

 7.  Place your items back on the pocket.  This is important for fit.  Fold the two sides in and tape with scotch tape.

 8. Fold the bottom flap up and tape.

 9. Your filled pocket can now be placed in a lapbook or notebook.

 10.  I like to label the outside of my pockets to make it easy to know what is inside.  I created pockets for Fulton Facts, Non Fiction Research, and Journal Starters.

 A lapbook can get nice and thick with layers, and that is ok.  Here is the Fold Out Sheen Timeline.

 Here is how I adapted the Canonization Overview.  Instead of post its attached to a whole page, I used a stack of five post it notes to make a mini flip book with the same info as before.

 I included a Sheen Prayer card with room for prayer requests.

 There wasn't room for the World Mission Rosary Notes, so I just drew and labeled one in an empty spot of the folder.

The back of the folder is still empty, which means it is in need of something! No reason to have an empty surface :)

I hope that this shows you how you can adapt notebooking or long curriculum activities to create a lapbook that becomes a center for learning and a memorable keepsake.