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