Interactive Notebooks

Interactive Notebooks…and all the awesome things you can do with them.

Just Do It!

Create an introduction notebook page where you draw and write what you know about the English Reformation.

Think Henry VIII, his wives, his religion reform, his background with the Catholic Church

Graphically Organized Reading Notes Have each person at the table

choose a different activity: Illustrated timeline Sensory figure

Processing Assignment

Have each person at the table choose a different activity: A eulogy for Henry VIII Political cartoon of English Reformation

What is it? Notebook containing three elements:

Preview assignments (Just Do it!) Graphically organized reading notes

(timeline and sensory figure) Processing assignments (eulogy and

political cartoon)

Materials Notebook or binder-recommended

100 pages Colored pencils and/or markers Glue stick

Cover page Have students create a cover page

for front notebook, an author page (the student), as well as a cover page for a unit

Unit cover page often a preview assignment

Preview Assignment It could be a prior knowledge

showcase, review, or predicting of upcoming unit

Usually short assignments, like a Just Do It

Graphically Organized Notes Innovative way to visually take notes Information students should be

responsible for Used for recording information in a

meaningful and memorable way

Processing Assignments Lesson wrap ups To synthesize and apply information

from lesson or unit Where teachers should incorporate

multiple intelligences and higher order thinking skills

Benefits of Notebook Provides structure for students Engages students-by using a variety

of assignments The end product becomes a portfolio

of student’s work

Goals Hands on approach to learning-

active participants in learning Makes information memorable Helps keep students organized

How to Implement Should be a year long project,

checked by teacher at least at the end of each unit

Teacher should keep a Teacher Notebook that includes information students need to have

Assessment Have students keep a table of

contents Teachers should include rubrics or

guidelines for students Have students assess their own

notebook to compare with teacher grades

In Bring Learning Alive on p. 168 there is an example of notebook guidelines between student and teacher

Other examples Foldable maps for testing

continent/ocean placement Mosaic of demography of United States

whose sizes and shapes match the importance of various topics, key words, or phrases

Create a Janus figure-a drawing based on the Roman god portrayed with two opposite faces-to represent the English and French perspectives on Joan of Arc

Other Resources to Help Dinah Zikes “Notebook Foldables”

provides different ways to create pockets or “foldables” like a foldable timeline

Cathy is the Queen of interactive notebooks

Closer Was Henry VIIIs break with Rome a

personal thing (divorce) or did he really find flaws with the message of the Catholic Church? Why?

2-3 sentences