Amy Pak has ruined me.  Her New Testament Activity-Pak is the first lapbook our family has ever completed, the standard of excellence has been set, and no other lapbook will ever measure up –I’m sure of it.  I’ve never seen a lapbook so elegant in execution, so beautifully illustrated, and such creative, integrated use of lapbooking elements.  No doubt about it, I’m done for.

Using a printer, file folder, some white and coloured cardstock, coloured paper, glue stick, pencil crayons, scissors, paper-fasteners (brads) and double-sided tape your children will be on their way into a learning experience that will provide a treasured memento to share with family members and serve as a review tool.  Some of the constructed hands-on activities are fun enough to pull double duty as paper toys as well! 

Available as an instant download or on CD, the New Testament Activity-Pak includes clear written instructions, printable masters and photographs of both the completed elements as well as the final assembly.  Fifteen engaging lapbook elements are included along with two bonus projects: The New Testament Times and The Armor of God.  The elements range from removable fruit of the spirit in a basket, removable letters from Paul in a mailbox, pop up diorama’s, a parables of Jesus mini-book for your child to illustrate and many more.  I’ll admit that I’m not the most crafty or creative person, so I greatly appreciate the time and effort Pak has sown into this work.  I often falter when trying to formulate hands-on activities for my tactile child; this is a wonderful solution. 

A complete listing of the lapbook activities follows:

* The Lineage from David to Jesus

* The Birth of Jesus Christ

* Miracles of Jesus

* The Beatitudes

* Fruit of the Spirit

* The Parables of Jesus

* The Last Supper

* The Crucifixion

* The Resurrection

* The Ascension

* Pentecost

* Prophesies Fulfilled

* The Twelve Disciples

* Paul’s Missionary Journeys

* Postcards from Paul

* And the two bonus activities mentioned above

Generally the directions were simple to follow, but we did need to call in my spatially gifted husband for help with the pie-book.  It was the one challenge we experienced, and I’m still not confident if we got it right.  A quick read through of the directions is in order prior to starting (unless you live near a supply store).  While the supplies necessary are fairly common in a lapbooking equipped home, we needed to run for supplies.  A master supply list at the beginning of the directions would have simplified this process.

The New Testament Activity-Pak is recommended for children in grades 3 – 8, but our oldest child, Kaelynn (5) completed the lapbook with assistance from me.  She was able to do nearly all of the colouring and cutting (I handled the exacto knife) and some of the assembly and mounting.  She worked on the project nearly full-time for a week, absolutely entranced.  She had me colour some of the tinier images with fine details and I read her the instructions and text portions of each activity.  While the project requires more parental involvement with younger children, if your little ones are intensely kinesthetic, they’ll learn this hands-on approach to learning.  Of course younger children won’t come near the skill level exhibited in the completed sample photographs included, but the process itself is valuable, and the finished product still impressive when shared with Grandma.  

When will Amy Pak be designing further Activity-Pak’s?  I’ll be waiting with baited breath, and so will my children.  She’s hooked us on lapbooking, and I haven’t found a comparable product yet.  In the meantime you’ll find her Old Testament, New Testament and Artists project-paks for sale at Homeschool in the Woods.  Each is $18.95 for an instant download or $19.95 on CD; both are reproducible within your family.  Additional reviews of this engaging product can be found at The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Crew blog.