Interactive Notebooks That Make Learning Fun
Hey there teachers, I want to take a deep dive into my science and social studies interactive notebooks for a hot minute with you! I use this as my curriculum year-round. Each notebook was designed for my classroom when I taught second/third grade. They are perfect for on the go teachers who like to have a focus and stay organized. I specifically designed these to be used however you choose in your class.
These are not just for teachers who use Science and Social studies Interactive notebooks!
This resource is not just for teachers who use interactive notebooks! For every foldable there is a worksheet option for those that don’t like all the cutting and gluing! I truly wanted something that I could just print off, mark off and know I taught by the end of the year. The kids loved them, and any of the extra resources I had, made a perfect addition to my early finisher folders and science and social studies center!
Each notebook follows the same overall look and contains the same resources (different content) to help guide you through the year! Here is what I include in all of my notebooks:
5 Simple Lesson Plans in every Science and Social Studies Interactive Notebook
As a busy mom of two, wife and teacher I hate reading overly drawn out lesson plans that take me 20 minutes to figure out. NO ONE HAS TIME FOR THAT! All of my science and social studies interactive notebook lessons are straight forward, 3-4 sentences broken down into bite-size chunks for you to follow! I designed it this way because that’s how I like to teach.
Overviews
In addition to lesson plans, I also include an overview that offers book suggestions and cross-curricular activities. I love teaching with picture books! So, when we start a new unit I like to take a basket from our class library and add books that reinforce the concept of that week.
Vocabulary
The next section in my notebooks is vocabulary resources. I love to use real-life high-quality photos when going over words. When I was teaching ESL in a Title 1 school, my second language learners grasped the concepts we were learning in class on a much deeper level when they had pictures to refer back to.
Each science and social studies interactive notebook comes with:
- Mini vocabulary posters
- A blank word wall for the students’ journal
- Vocab cards to cut and match (this is great for a game of memory)
- A foldable with vocab words for students to draw pictures and write the definition of words
- A worksheet where students write the word, the definition and draw a picture. This is great for students to use as a write the room activity when recording the new vocabulary words down for the week.
- Match the word and definition worksheet. (great for homework or an end of the unit vocab quiz)
- Vocab cards for students to write the definition, a sentence and draw a picture.
- A word search page that is perfect for early finishers or homework.
Weekly Activities
After the vocabulary activities, I then add in all of the resources that I will use throughout the week. I include way more than most people will be able to get done. What I am not able to finish goes in our Social Studies and Science center for students to complete when they have free time.
Each notebook has a different set of activities but I try to included resources for teachers who use INB and teachers who don’t. Sometimes cutting is not practical and will take too much time.
Early Finisher Work and Homework
The last section of my resource always includes KWL charts, QR codes, a word search, fact recording sheets, writing prompts, and an end of the unit quiz. These resources always go in an early finisher area for students to work on throughout the day.
I had a simple area in my room set up for students to grab extra resources to work on. We used one of those rolling drawers and numbered each drawer 1-10. I would refill the drawer when the majority of the students completed everything or when we started a new unit. It was an easy way to manage all of the papers.
Why I Love These Science and Social Studies Interactive Notebooks!
I started creating this science and social studies interactive notebook curriculum to help me stay organized. I wanted something that was straight forward and easy to use but also covered a year-long curriculum. You can use the notebooks in any order you choose! I made them the way I did in an order that made sense to me due to holidays, weather, and field trips.
I have easy to use curriculum roadmaps that are free to download! Just print both of the roadmaps and then cross off the concepts that you have taught. Download the science or social studies curriculum guide to help make lesson planning easy. At the end of the year, you will know what you need to still teach by simply looking at your roadmap! (The roadmaps can be used without the notebooks)
