We loved this book! We used it to supplement our introductory study of ancient history. What we liked about this History Pockets was that it provided some very easy hands on projects to bring our study to life for my oldest (when she was younger).

The book explains how to set up your project “portfolio.” Each pocket in the portfolio focuses on a different ancient culture. You can do all the projects or choose the ones you prefer (we liked them all). As we completed a project, we displayed it for awhile in our family room and then later it would go into the corresponding pocket. By the end, my daughter had a wonderful book of memories which she would pull out and talk about just for fun. This was instant review, hitting the highlights of what we had studied.

I found it key to run off all the copies needed ahead of time and get any unusual supplies ahead, as well (I think we needed popsicle sticks and large construction paper in addition to “typical supplies” such as scissors, markers, and glue.) For me, having the whole thing ready to go makes all the difference in our really using it. We also found that there was too much coloring, so my daughter just colored certain aspects of projects and left the rest white. It still all looked fabulous! On the other hand, if your kids love coloring, coloring while listening to a book read aloud can work beautifully.

Check it out at Amazon where you can “look inside.”

Some homeschoolers use actual tests to determine whether the student has learned the material, others don’t. So how do you know if the student has mastered the material? Written reports are one way, but some kids don’t love writing, and maybe you need another option. What to do?

Here are a couple of novel ideas for output, ways for your child to show mastery of the material, to share with others.

The first is a concept called lapbooking. Some links are below to find out more about it, but basically, you take a manila file folder and open it up, then fold the two sides in, so that they meet in the middle. Now you have a folder that opens in the middle.

Now the child uses that as a canvas for communicating about their subject using visuals, mini books that go into little pockets, sections of writing, and other things — it could include a map, anything, whatever it takes to get the information across.

Picture one of those big tri-fold display boards they use at science fairs — only smaller and more fun!

One of the benefits to the parent of the lapbook is that they are small and orderly — you can actually file them away. And they can be a handy portfolio item.

That’s one way to encourage a reluctant producer-of-output to create a report of some kind. They might even really get into it, because it’s fun. And learning should be fun.

What’s another way?

We haven’t done this yet, but I think it’s a great idea. Instead of a traditional written report, your child can create a report of sorts online in the form of a Squidoo Lens. What’s a Lens? What’s a Squidoo? Squidoo is Squidoo.com and it’s a fun site that’s very easy to use. A lens is a mini website on a specific topic that teaches you more about a topic.

There are lenses on all kinds of things including grilled cheese sandwiches. Really. And, important for parents, you can set your Squidoo user id to a G rating, so any adult Squidoo Lenses are blocked.

Many Squidoo Lenses include recommended products, such as books from amazon, and any money earned from books purchased by people visiting your Lens, or from ads that appear there, can be paid to you, or donated to the charity of your choice. (However, you don’t have to included any product links, it’s very easy to just leave them out.)

Why use Squidoo as opposed to another way to publish online?

Well, not all kids know html, or want to learn.

You can publish a Squidoo Lens quickly and easily without knowing a single bit of html. (though you can do more if you do know html, and using Squidoo is a fun way to learn a little.)

It’s free, and your child’s Lens is more likely to be found and read on Squidoo than on a freestanding website.

And, your child can share their Lens with friends and family far and wide. Grandparents can read and comment on the report. Visitors can rate the Lens by giving it stars. How fun, to have people read your homework and actually like it, maybe give it 5 stars!

I haven’t looked up whether minors can have a Squidoo account; if not, you would need to share your account with your child and co-publish.

Here are some sample Squidoo Lenses, all rated G, of course.

http://www.squidoo.com/grilledcheese

http://www.squidoo.com/pumpkin-pie

http://www.squidoo.com/georgewashingtoncarver

Here are some links with more detail about lapbooking:

http://www.squidoo.com/lapbooking

http://www.squidoo.com/lapbooking-vs-notebooking

http://lapbooking.wordpress.com/examples

(Advanced web users could use a blog for a larger, longer online report, but that’s a subject for another post.)