K: Creating Kids Books (Of All Ages)

What begins with K? I had thought about describing books for kids, but then I thought about an old lesson plan I've used, called "What Begins with K?" I've updated this over the years for each age group, most recently for high school students, to use to create portfolios, exhibits and projects, as well as their own "books" to prepare for the test at the end of the semester.

The mini-books are quite simple with images that should appeal to young children and simple, repetitive words that children in Preschool thru Grade 1 should be able to read themselves after hearing it a time or two.

Feel free to make as many copies as you need (just don't sell them as they're meant to be free for all to us

Materials:

• printer,
• paper (you can use a slightly heavier paper for a longer lasting book)
• stapler

Directions:

• Print template of choice - find pics or info online - make sure you cite where you got it from. - basic examples are below....

NUMBERED PAGES:

• If you imagine a 'real' book for a second, you know that each page has printing on the front and the back.  We're going to fold the pages to make it like a real book.
  • Ignore the cover for now.
  • Fold each page along the center dotted line so the images are on the OUTSIDE and the blank sides of the paper are on the inside (imagine you're making a greeting card).
  • You can use a glue stick, if you like, to glue the pages together (WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE COVER!)
• Stack the pages, so the odd numbers are on top and the folded edges are lined up.  Trim with scissors or paper cutter if needed.

COVER PAGE:

• Fold the cover page along the dotted line, again with the images on the outside.
• OPTIONAL:  You can laminate the cover page or print it on cardstock if you want it to be more like a real book's cover.

ASSEMBLE THE BOOK:

• Open the cover page (like a folder) and slip the pages inside so that when you open the cover you'll see page 1 -- the unfolded edges of the pages will go against the folded part of the cover.
• Close the cover page and tap the book so everything lines up.
• Put three or four staples along the edge to hold the book together.
• Trim again, if needed.
• Flip through the book once, carefully folding the pages to make the book easier for the children to read.

PRINTING THE TEMPLATES

• Close the template window after printing to return to this screen.
• Set page margins to zero if you have trouble fitting the template on one page (FILE, PAGE SETUP or FILE, PRINTER SETUP in most browsers).
• There'll be less trimming to do if you also turn off the headers and footers.

Mini Book Templates:

Page 1 and 2   (color)   (B&W)

Page 3 and 4   (color)   (B&W)

Page 5 and 6   (color)   (B&W)

Page 7 and 8   (color)   (B&W)

Page 9 and 10   (color)   (B&W)

COVER   (color)   (B&W)