Making Books with Pictures From Family Outings

Description

Making books with pictures from family outings. It makes a great memento and opportunity to generate conversation. You can have your child write about each picture or if your child is not ready for that they can tell you about the picture and you can write a sentence for them. This is one of the best ways to start the reading and writing process. These books that we made with pictures of themselves were their favorite ones to "read" on their own or read for a bedtime story.

Making a book from pictures from a family outing.

Materials

Construction paper or Card stock for durability
Glue Stick (pictures are best glued with a glue stick)
Photos from a family outing or trip.
Materials to bind book: Staple, use colored book tape or Hole Punch and tie with colorful Ribbon
Lined paper. You can print our our Free Printable lined paper or draw your own. There are many free printable resources on line to suit your needs.
Photo paper or xerox paper to print the pictures on.
Clear Contact Paper or Laminating Sheets to protect pictures. (optional but great for frequent handling)
Scrapbook Scissors for cutting edges of photos. (optional)

Steps

Select and print the pictures to be used. Cut to size desired. You can use crafting scissors to create fun edges.
Cut paper to mount the pictures on. Be sure there is room to add your sentences on each page.
Have your child glue the pictures onto the paper using a glue stick. If you want a secure hold, use glue stick on the back of the photo and then some on the paper where you plan to glue it. Then stick the photo to the paper. This creates a very strong bond.
Have your child sequence the pages. If they are very young, help them sequence by talking about the events of the day.
Talk about each of the pages and come up with a sentence for each. Depending on your child's ability, type, print or have your child write the corresponding sentences on paper.
Have your child match the sentence to the picture and glue it down with a glue stick.
Bind the book with a plastic book binder or staple on the edges and cover with colored tape. Or punch a few holes and weave a thin ribbon to hold it together.

Tips and Suggestions

Place all writing under pictures on each page to keep it uniform and easier for child to know which belongs to which picture.

Educational Tips

When you share the book together, point to the word and say the name.
Make sure to praise your child for "reading" if they can tell you anything about the photo. Picture clues are an important reading strategy for toddler books.