gt beginnings lapbooks - circle c adventures

© 2019 Susan K. Marlow and A Journey Through Learning

Two Learning Lapbooks

with study guides

Goldtown Beginnings

Book 1 – Jem Strikes Gold

Book 2 – Jem’s Frog Fiasco

GoldtownAdventures.com

ajourneythroughlearning.com

© 2019 Susan K. Marlow and A Journey Through Learning 2

Copyright © 2019 by Susan K. Marlow and A Journey Through Learning

Permission is granted to copy for members of your household only. For group use, please

contact [email protected] to purchase a classroom/co-op license for $25.00.

The Goldtown Beginnings series is published by Kregel Publications © 2019

Lapbooks are available for the Beginnings and Goldtown Adventures (ages 9-13) series at

GoldtownAdventures.com

Lapbooks are also available for the Circle C series (Beginnings, Stepping Stones,

Adventures, and Milestones) at CircleCAdventures.com.

Where do the mini-booklets go? A folder-shaped layout key is included for each lapbook.

This key is an overview that shows you where the booklets go. There is also a key at the top

of each booklet page that shows where to place the booklet in each folder.

How do I use the book(s) with the lapbook(s)? Each lapbook activity is meant to be

completed after reading a group of two chapters. The contents page shows which lapbook

topics go with the chapters in the book. Each page in the lapbook also shows the chapter(s)

to read before beginning the lapbook study guides and mini-booklet.

The pictures below show how to fold the file folder(s) to create a lapbook. Lapbooks may be

completed and stored separately, or you can glue lapbooks together. The Goldtown

Beginnings lapbooks are intended to be glued together as two-folder lapbooks.


Goldtown Beginnings Book 1

Jem Strikes Gold

Cut around on the dotted line and glue to the large outside cover of your lapbook. If you

plan to glue the lapbooks for books 1 and 2 together, place this piece closer to the top to

leave room for the Jem’s Frog Fiasco cover piece. If the lapbooks will be separate, then

you can center this piece on the lapbook cover. Color the picture.

Before You Begin . . . . . . . Fold your lapbook (see p. 2) and create the cover

About the Book . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Book Information

Chapters 1-2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gold Tools

Chapters 3-4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wild Blueberries

Chapters 5-6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Golden Retriever

Chapters 7-8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Moon

Chapters 9-10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Roasted Rattlesnakes!

A Peek into the Past . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Five Story Elements

Activities for Jem Strikes Gold

Jem Strikes Gold

Character Trait: Kindness

“And be ye kind one to another . . .” Ephesians 4:32


Folder Layout for Jem Strikes Gold

Read the Jem Strikes Gold chapters indicated at the top of the following pages.

Then complete the activities for those chapters. This is a one-folder lapbook. You

can add the other Goldtown Beginnings books to expand the lapbook by gluing

them together. Use Elmer’s (white) glue for the folders. Use stick glue to glue the

booklets into the folders.

Answer Key for Jem Strikes Gold

About the Book: Author-Susan K. Marlow; Illustrator-Leslie Gammelgaard; Publisher-

Kregel; Copyright-2019; Series-Goldtown Beginnings; Ages-6-8

Chapters 1-2: Gold Tools. Answers will vary. See study guide.

Chapters 3-4: Wild Blueberries. Outside color-blue; inside color-purple; when to pick-

fall; how tall-two feet

Chapters 5-6: Golden Retriever. Coloring-each dog should be colored one of the follow-

ing shades: cream, lt-gold, dk-gold, mahogany (reddish-brown);

Facts-retrieve means “bring back”; Two dogs-water spaniel and

retriever.

Chapters 7-8: The Moon. The yellow can be on either side.

Chapters 9-10: Roasted Rattlesnakes. From left to right-rattle, fangs, scales, reptiles

Five Story Elements: Sample answers: Characters-Jem, Ellie, Pa, Mama, Strike, Will,

dog; Setting-Goldtown, Cripple Creek; Story Problem-Jem needs to deliver his pies (or)

Jem wants to find a way to keep the dog; Plot Events-(name anything that happens in the

story); Solution-The dog helps Jem deliver pies (or) Jem gets to keep the dog.


1- Jem Strikes Gold: Chapters 1-2

Directions: Cut all the way around the pocket. Fold the

back bottom section up in back, and then fold the flaps

back and glue to make a pocket. Glue into lapbook.

Next Page: Read the instructions and do what it says.



Do this: Read about the tools a prospector used to mine gold. Then cut out the

tools. On each sheet, write one thing you learned about that tool from what you

read. Store the prospector’s tools in the pocket you glued in the lapbook.

Gold Pan: A miner used his pan to scoop up dirt

that he hoped was mixed with bits of gold. He

added water and swished the pan around and

around in the creek. The heavy gold stayed on

the bottom. The lighter dirt and sand washed

away. It took a long time to find gold this way.

____________________

____________________

____________________

____________________

Gold Pan

____________________

____________________

____________________

____________________

Rocker

____________________

____________________

____________________

____________________

Gold Pan

Rocker: A rocker

is also called a

cradle. The miner

put dirt into the top

of the rocker. Then

he poured water

on top and pulled

the handle back

and forth. The

water washed the

dirt out, and the

heavier gold got

stuck on little

ridges called

riffles.

Pick and Shovel: A miner used a pick to break up

a hard piece of ground where he thought he might

find gold. After he broke the ground up, he used a

shovel to scoop the dirt into his rocker or his gold

pan. Sometimes a miner dug deep into the ground

or the side of a hill. He then used a bucket to take

the dirt out of his hole and haul it down to the

creek to wash. Maybe he would find gold!


Roasted Rattlesnakes!

Jem’s favorite saying when he is surprised or mad is

“Roasted rattlesnakes!” He likes the way the words

roll off his tongue. Jem has also seen rattlesnakes.

They live all over the Sierra foothills of California.

Rattlesnakes are reptiles, just like turtles and lizards.

They have scales and are cold-blooded. This

means they need the sun to heat up their blood, and

they hide in the shade when it is too hot.

Rattlesnakes have no eyelids! But they have sharp

teeth called fangs. When they bite their victim, the

poison goes through the fangs and into the victim.

They like to eat birds, mice, rabbits, and other small

creatures.

A rattlesnake has a rattle at the end of its tail. It shakes the rattle very fast when

the snake thinks it is in danger. The rattle makes a buzzing noise. A baby

rattlesnake has a tiny rattle bud. When the snake sheds (gets rid of) its skin, a

new rattle grows. The snake grows too. Rattlesnakes can grow five or six feet

long!

Rattlesnakes do not like people. If you see a rattlesnake . . . freeze! Then back up

slowly. The rattlesnake is just as scared of you and will go away too.


Read “Roasted Rattlesnakes!”

1. Cut out the “Roasted Rattlesnakes” booklet on

the next page. Fold the booklet in half along the

black line.

2. Fold the “Roasted Rattlesnakes” label up and

over the picture of the snake. Glue into lapbook.

3. Cut out the sheet with the pictures and glue it

inside the booklet.

4. Cut out the words and match them with the

pictures. Glue in place.



Roasted Rattlesnakes!

Glue this side to

lapbook

FANGS REPTILES RATTLE SCALES


Folder Layout for Jem’’s Frog Fiasco

Read the Jem’s Frog Fiasco chapters indicated at the top of the following pages. Then

complete the activities for those chapters. This is a one-folder lapbook. You can add the

other Goldtown Beginnings books to expand the lapbook by gluing them together. Use

Elmer’s (white) glue for the folders. Use stick glue to glue the booklets into the folders.

Answer Key for Jem’’s Frog Fiasco

Chapters 1-2: Story Characters. Jem-main character; Ellie-six years old;

Mama-bakes pies; Strike-good friend; Pa-works hard; Mr. Sims-gives Jem a job;

Will-rich boy; Nugget-splashes in the water

Chapters 3-4: Cattails. Real name-Typha; Eat cattails-YES; Short-3 ft; Tall-10 ft;

Leaves-wide/narrow; Grow-ponds

Chapters 5-6: Catching Bullfrogs. Step 1- collect tools; Step 2-find a pond;

Step 3-shine a flashlight; Step 4-use the net

Chapters 7-8: Ants. Biggest-bullet ant; Smallest-thief ant; Other ants-(any of these)

black, red, fire, carpenter, yellow; Gather food-workers; Protect nest- soldiers; Lays eggs-

queen

Chapters 7-8: My Bug Collection. Answers will vary.

Chapters 9-10: Jem Prays. Prayer to find something lost-“Please help me find her”;

Prayer of thanks-“Thank you, God”; Prayer for strength-“Make me strong, God”

A Peek into the Past: Coyotes. 4 sounds-howl, yelp, bark, huff;

4 foods-(any of these) mice, snakes, lizards, rabbits, fish, frogs, spoiled food

Baby coyote- pup


Catching Bullfrogs

Jem is determined to catch bullfrogs. He wants to

sell the hoppers to Mr. Sims at the café. His first try

does not work. Do you live near a pond? Have you

ever caught a bullfrog? Ask a parent or older sibling

to help you. A bullfrog makes an interesting pet and

can be kept in an aquarium.

You need tools to catch a bullfrog: a large, long-handled fishnet (or your hands), a

plastic bucket (with a lid), and a flashlight (if you hunt bullfrogs at night).

You also need a pond, a lake, or a stream. Bullfrogs like to live where there are

good hiding places, like in cattails or other pond plant life. You won’t find them in

fast-running streams or rivers. But you might find them in a quiet spot in the creek.

Male bullfrogs sing loud during spring and summer. They sing during the day, but

the whole pond makes the best noise at night. That is the best time to catch them.

Look for them when there is a moon and follow their singing. Walk slowly and

quietly. Then stop. Shine the flashlight along the edge of the pond.

If you see a bullfrog, shine the light in their eyes. They will freeze. Another person

can then catch the frog with the net or with their hands. Do it fast! You will only get

one chance. Hold the frog just above his back legs so he can’t slip away. Put the

frog in the bucket and put the lid on. If you don’t, the frog will hop right out.

2- Jem’s Frog Fiasco: Chapters 5-6

Use the net or your hands to

grab the frog. Hold it just in

front of its back legs. Put the

frog in the bucket and put on

the lid.

Find a pond and hunt frogs

at night. Follow their singing

along the edge of the pond.

Walk quietly. Stop once in a

while and look for movement.

These steps for catching a bullfrog are mixed up. Cut them out and glue them in

the right order inside the booklet on the next page.

If you see a bullfrog, shine

the flashlight in the frog’s

eyes. It will freeze. Then

move fast!

Collect your tools: a long-

handled net (or your hands),

a bucket with a lid, and a

flashlight.


2- Jem’s Frog Fiasco: Chapters 5-6

Read “Catching Bullfrogs.”

Cut out as one piece. Fold in half the long way. Cut along

the dotted lines and glue into lapbook. Directions: Cut

out the steps (on the other page) for catching a bullfrog.

Glue each under the matching flap.

Step 1

Step 2

Catching Bullfrogs

Step 3

Step 4


2- Jem’s Frog Fiasco: Chapters 7-8 (#2)

My Bug Collection. Cut out around the whole shape. Fold

each rectangle to the center. Fold the top rectangle down

last. Cut out the small cover piece (My Bug Collection) and

glue it to the outside of the top rectangle. Glue into lapbook.

Directions: Catch 5 different bugs in a jar. Draw a picture of

each bug (insect or spider) you catch. Try to find out what

kind of bug it is. Write the name of the bug above your

picture. Then let the bugs go. See the example.

My Bug

Collection

Ant

My B

ug

Colle

ctio

n

COVER

PIECE Glue the cover piece to the back side of this rectangle,

after folding it over.

gt beginnings lapbooks - circle c adventures

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