Home School in the Woods (A Homeschool Crew Review)

Disclaimer: I received a FREE copy of this product through the HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way.

With the upcoming elections barreling upon us in just a few months, I was delighted to be given the opportunity to review U.S. Elections Lap-Pak, a lapbook unit study designed by Home School in the Woods.   Learning how our county's government works and how it's citizens play a huge role in who fills elected positions is very important for all citizens.  However, elections can be rather confusing.  Many people do not understand that our vote isn't exactly for the candidate but instead to tell the body that votes (the Electoral College) who we want them to vote for.

The U.S. Elections Lap-Pak takes students from start to finish in the election process.  From a candidate declaring their intent to run for office, to swearing in to office and all things in

between, this hands on learning project breaks it all down for students to understand.  While learning important terms such as what an incumbent is, what is a caucus, and what a candidate's platform is, students create a hands on lapbook filled with hands on activities to help reinforce what they learn about elections and political candidates. U.S. Elections Lap-Pak is typically best suited for elementary and middle-school students between the third and eighth grades.

Like other Home School in the Woods material, the U.S. Elections Lap-Pak is a digital file that is installed on the computer.  While the digital file must be downloaded (although a physical CD option can be purchased from the company) from the internet, once installed on the computer, no internet access is needed to use the material.  All material, including instructions for project assembly,  printable masters for each activity, audio file and text material are easily accessed.

The U.S. Elections Lap-Pak contains a few different components.  First, the Lap-Pak begins with a 24 page printable text pamphlet.  This contains all the reading material that is covered in the Lap-Pak lapbook.

For younger students or those who are audible listeners, an audio version of the text is included. This is also perfect for those who do better to listen while reading along.  To help to pick up where the student last left off, the browser base material gives a time index for the beginning of each portion of the text lesson.

Topics covered in the U.S. Elections Lap-Pak include:

• Elections in the United States of America
• The Different Forms of Government
• Governments of the People in History
• America: A New Creation from Old Roots
• The Three Branches of Government
• Suffrage
• The Election Process
• Running for Office
• Caucuses and Primaries
• Running a Presidential Campaign
• Raising Money
• Election Day
• The Electoral College
• Inauguration Day
• The Importance of Elections

The lapbook includes project includes 21 activities that cover each of these topics.  Many projects offer two options - a fully printable project that has text already filled out for most the activities as well as a notebooking style option that allows the student to fill out the necessary information.

The material presented is non bias and does not lean towards any one political party but instead just presents the material in a general term.  Current candidates running for office at the present are not included.  Instead, the Lap-Pak is a very well rounded, general government introduction that can be used during any election process and is not limited to the only upcoming election.

How We Used It:

Lapbook projects from Home School in the Woods are always a real with our family and this project wasn't any different.  From start to finish, the kids have learned all sorts of information about our country's election process.   Usually, I allow both kids to do their own lapbooks, however, this time they decided to make one lapbook together. 

For this review, we decided complete a project each day.  First, we would listen to the audio portion of the lesson.  I would then lead a discussion with the kids, using the text pamphlet, to make sure they understood the material covered by the audio.  That way, if there was something they were confused about or that they didn't completely understand, I was able explain it more in depth.   Then we would complete the activity.

Here's a look at our completed Lapbook.

Now that our lapbook is complete, we are going to hang on to it so that as we get closer to the elections, they can look back at it and refresh their memory.  It has also helped to get the kids more involved in the upcoming election and looking forward to watching as the states get awarded to the two candidates and keeping track of the total Electoral votes and the race to 270.

For more information about Home School in the Woods and their various hands learning packs, visit their website.  For more information specifically about the U.S. Elections Lap-Pak, you can also find information on Home School in the Woods Blog page.  You can also find more information on the following social media sites:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/homeschoolinthewoods/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/HSintheWoods
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/homeschoolinthewoods/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/hsinthewoods/boards/

Members of the Crew have been using an assortment of projects from Home School in the Woods with their families.  Be sure to click the banner below to read their reviews today.