If you have been using the Exploring Creation series, then you've seen the notebooking templates you can download from the course website. They give your child an empty box or circle in which to draw his illustration, and lines upon which to write his narrations. These are wonderful to use in your notebooking.
Have you ever wished you had these for other subjects as well? Well, they are quite easy to make using MSWord. Just follow the easy instructions below:
Open up your WORD document. Click on VIEW.
Click on TOOLBARS (a lengthy menu will appear).
Click on DRAWING. At the bottom of your WORD document, a drawing toolbar will appear.
Click on the little box shape or circle shape. A text box will automatically appear on the document that says "create your drawing here." NEVER create your drawing in that box. Just ignore that box. Now, put your cursor wherever you want to begin to make your circle or box. Place your circle or box on the page. You can resize it to the size you like. You can also choose how thick you want the line that defines your circle/box borders by clicking on the tiny lines box at the bottom. Then click on it to copy and paste if you want two or more. Reposition them where you want them. You can choose other shaped boxes by clicking on Autoshapes.
To keep your box from moving around too much on the page (as they usually do in Word), you will need to go to VIEW, TOOLBARS, then click on the PICTURE toolbar. A toolbar will appear that has one icon depicting a dog inside lines. Click on that icon. Then choose "In Front of Text."
To make lines on your paper, click on the single line element. Place your line where you want it and make it the size you prefer. Now, copy and paste that line to create more. You will have to reposition each one. You also may need to format the lines with the picture toolbar dog icon as well.
To create a shaped word, click the three dimensional looking "A" at the bottom of the document. You will have a setup box appear. Simply follow the instructions. You can resize your word once it is on the page. This may also need to be formatted with the picture toolbar dog icon as well.
It takes a while to really get the hang of it, but after fiddling for a bit, you'll be able to whip out a notebook page faster than you can say, "Go get the colored pencils!"
