< More Mini Books
DLTK's Educational Ideas - Print and Assemble Books
A Leprechaun
This mini-book is quite simple with images that should appeal to young
children and simple words that children Grade 1 should be able
to read themselves (in context with the pictures).
Use our St. Patrick's Day Activities to complement the mini book.
Materials:
- printer,
- paper (you can use a slightly heavier paper for a longer lasting book)
- stapler
- something to color with (if using B&W template)
Directions:
We have prepared a demonstration video about assembling your mini book. Watch it here.
- Print template of choice. The B&W version is fun for young children to color in or for older children to color as gifts for younger ones. I like printing a color cover and B&W pages.
- Color the template pieces if you are doing the B&W version.
Photos aren't for this book,
but the system works the same
Fold with pictures out
and trim if necessary
stack with odd
numbers on top
staple
enjoy!
Watch a demonstration
video to help you
assemble your mini book.
- 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.
Text of the Mini Book
(so you can read through it before printing)
Pg 1 Hi! I am a leprechaun.
Pg 2 I live in Ireland.
Pg 3 I collect lucky shamrocks.
Pg 4 I eat lots of jellybeans.
Pg 5 I have a pet unicorn.
Pg 6 And a stuffed teddy bear.
Pg 7 I love to slide down rainbows.
Pg 8 And hide my pot of gold!