Portfolders Present™ Series

Portfolders Present is a series of units that encourage kids to ask questions, seek answers, and share what they learn with others. Each unit contains exciting hands-on lessons and activities using common household materials and a selection of easy-to-find library books. The teacher may choose to do an in-depth study lasting 4-6 weeks, or simply pick several of the fun activities to supplement a traditional curriculum.

A key element in the series is the portfolder. Throughout the lessons, students create a variety of flaps, mini-books, drawings, and assorted graphics. At the conclusion of the unit, students read over their work (review) and write about what they have learned (reflection.) When the portfolder is complete, they celebrate the learning process by sharing their new knowledge with others.

What this is: an exciting way for students to actively pursue knowledge as they develop higher-level thinking skills. Students create all projects.

What this is not: worksheets, coloring book pages, reproducible fill-in-the-blank sheets.

Portfolders Present: Columbus

More than twenty activities encourage students to deepen their understanding of Columbus, while making learning fun and exciting. During the study, select from lessons covering history, geography, reading, writing, cooking, art, and math. (Although this unit doesn't include science, many of our studies are based entirely on science; if you choose to follow this with one of our science units, you'll be able to take a short hiatus during this study.)

Ages: Use the K-6th grade designation as a general guide. Younger children will likely need more assistance, while older children may be expected to often work independently, producing longer pieces of writing. Although the curriculum is ideal for any ability level, it is especially appropriate for talented and gifted children, with no ceilings on learning and extensive opportunities to pursue knowledge through inquiry.

You will select from activities such as: History Trading Cards, faux-leather journal, edible map, food transfer flip strip, sea monster creations, ABC book, cooking tostones, direction game, and much, much, more! Portfolders Present: Columbus, 28 pages, spiral-bound paperback. $12.95 Portfolders Present: Columbus, plus suggested chapter book, Pedro's Journal, paperback. $17.95 Shipping: Media Mail, $3.00 (up to 10 day delivery) or quicker delivery (your choice, at cost.). To order, contact hockmanchupp@canby.com.

About the Author: Cynthia Hockman-Chupp taught high school English, middle school language arts, social studies, drama and Spanish, and elementary school before coming home to raise her four children. She also spent nine years as a freelance writer and curriculum developer, publishing over 100 articles. She now homeschools her middle two children, and brings the best of what she learns to workshops for homeschool and classroom teachers.

Hands-On, Graphics, & More. . .

The following resources work well in portfolders, lapbooks, and notebooks. They are available from Christian Book Distributors. When you use the links on this page to make purchases you help to support the cost of maintaining this site (at no additional cost to you).

• Making Mini Books
  A complete guide to making little bitty, teensy-weensy, really fun miniature books. Mini Books is packed with ultra-clear instructions for creating more than 20 types of tiny tomes. Use the specialized materials we provide (including glue, ribbon, plastic-coated wire, templates, a selection of papers in various textures, weights and patterns, and a special bookmaker's tool called a burnisher) to make your own Lilliputian library. Attached to the front of Making Mini Books is an adorable 2 1/2" square blank book, the very first volume of your new mini book collection. Written by Sherri Haab. Recommended for ages 8 and up.
  

• Paper-Folding Fun! 50 Awesome Crafts to Weave, Twist & Curl
  Contains wonderful ideas to use in portfolders, lapbooks or notebooks. Accordion books, magical fold pop-up books, memory folders, circular star book, star journal, flip-flop book, and much more. Many paper art creations as well.
  

• Giant Science Resource Book Grades 1-6
  296 picture cards, diagrams, life cycle wheels, charts, and activity sheets on life, physical, earth, space, and environmental science. Features a 13-page graphic organizer section with blacklines to reproduce: Venn diagrams, writing webs, outline forms, maps, and more. Use "as is" or make into mini-books, flaps, folds, and wheels to go in your Portfolder, lapbook, or notebook. 304 perforated reproducible pages, from Evan-Moor. Grades 1 to 6.
  

• Considering God's Creation Pack with CD
  Considering God's Creation Extra Student Book
  My homeschooling friend from Pennsylvania has effectively used visuals from the Considering God’s Creation student book with Portfolders. For example, when her children did a unit on Amphibians and read The Salamander Room (from Five in a Row Volume 3), they included a mini-bookon the frog life cycle in their Portfolders. The student book is consumable so you’ll need one for each child. Considering God's Creation is an elementary grade earth and life science program. Designed for use for grades 2 through 7, it can be adapted for younger and older students. The program begins with creation, continues with the solar system, a study of the earth including rocks and weather, then covers the Plant and Animal Kingdom, animal anatomy and physiology, and finally human anatomy and physiology. The "Pack" includes the Student Notebook, Teachers Manual and an audio CD with songs. The program also suggests that students keep a supplemental notebook to record information and discoveries.

• World of Space - The Great Science
• The World of Insects and Arachnids
• World of Plants - The Great Science
• World of Tools/Technology - The Greate Science
• Discovering Earth's Landforms & Surface Features
  Dinah Zike, one of the authors of Great Science Adventures, is the inspiration behind many of the folds, flaps, and mini-books that are being used in Portfolders, notebooks, and lapbooks. If you are interested in hands-on science lessons with many pre-made, 3D graphic organizers, Great Science Adventures are for you. Each unit contains 24 lessons (each lesson takes 1 to 3 days to complete.) This program can be used for a single level classroom, multilevel classroom, homeschool, or science club. The basic content is appropriate for grades K-8 at different mastery levels.

• Literature Pockets Nursery Rymes, Grades K-1
• Literature Pockets Caldecott Winners, Grades 1-3
• Literature Pockets Caldecott Winners, Grades 4-6
• Literature Pockets Fiction, Grades 4-6 Literature Pockets Nonfiction, Grades 4-6
• Literature Pockets: Folktales and Fairytales, Grades K-1
• Literature Pockets: Folktales and Fairytales, Grades 2-3
• Literature Pockets: Aesop's Fables, Grades 2-3
• Literature Pockets: Greek and Roman Myths, Grades 4-6
  Many homeschoolers have used and enjoyed literature pockets. A homeschooling Mom from one of my Portfolder workshops recently showed me her son’s first Portfolder. The content was based on one of the Evan-Moor Pocket Series books. She writes, "[My son] is very proud of it and so am I." If you’re new to Portfolders and want some ready-made, hands-on projects, consider starting with one of these. Simply glue student work into a Portfolder rather than making a book.

• November, Making Books with Pockets: The First Thanksgiving, Native Americans, and The Food Pyramid.
• December, Making Books with Pockets: Celebrations, Take it Home, and When it's Winter.
• January, Making Books with Pockets: The Four Seasons, Penguins, and Famous Americans.
• February, Making Books with Pocket: Valentine's Day, President's Day, and Fairy Tale Fantasy.
• March, Making Books with Pockets: St. Patrick's Day, Weather, and Our Community.
  Considering using the Making Books with Pockets Series to make a Portfolder of the month. Enliven every month of the year with fun, exciting learning projects that students can proudly present in a unique book format. There are lessons for art, creative writing, nonfiction writing, science, social studies, and literature. You get reproducibles galore - minibooks, patterns, and writing forms. Each month also has a calendar form, a list of special days to celebrate, two interactive bulletin boards, and up to date bibliographies. Additional months are available.

Recommended

• Little House on the Prairie: Season 1, DVD
  Little House on the Prairie: Season 2, DVD
  Little House on the Prairie: Season 3, DVD
  Description: Yes, I know this doesn't have anything to do with portfolders, but I can't help myself. We recently purchased the Little House on the Prairie DVD series. We spend one night a week watching one episode. We've enjoyed the family time and it's given us a chance to discuss the differences between the original books and the television show.