Creating Diagrams in Interactive Notebooks

If you are like me there are times where creating a diagram is necessary to show how something works. When I was teaching fifth grade we had so many diagrams and they were up all over our classroom because I didn't know better. This made it really hard for my students to actually use the diagrams to retain the knowledge.

Now that I have been using Interactive Notebooks for the past four years I wish that I had been using my students lab books (composition notebooks) better back then. I remember we had a lab where we talked about weathering, erosion and deposition and my students used their pencils and drew pictures. HOW BORING! Color is so much more fun and can add to their learning.

I love using the Tri-Fold Mini Book Template to create flowing lessons that build upon each other or diagrams with room to identify things.

The front section allows me to title the flippable for Weathering, Erosion and Deposition while also being a little creative. Most of the time my students only do the extra creating when they are at home and studying. Inside class time is used for the actual diagram creation as well as labeling. 

The extra side on one of the flaps allows the students to keep definitions for each of the terms that are involved in this flippable. I love that we can also color-coordinate them with the title words and areas in the diagram.

When you open up the Three-Flap Mini Book it gives plenty of space for the diagram for the process of Weathering, Erosion and Deposition. I only wish this was how I taught my fifth graders (who have now graduated) because I think it could have really helped. Believe me, I have sent it on to quite a few friends who still teach as 5th Grade is a testing grade for Science and any visual the students can use will help!

Do you love using Flippables as much as I do? Would you love to add three more templates to your arsenal so that you can use them as needed? Click the picture below to join my newsletter and you will be given a link to download three new templates in PDF (easy printing) and JPG (editable) format!

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Types of Nouns - Interactive Notebook Freebie!

Hey, friends! It's Blair from One Lesson at a Time, here to bring you a freebie for your ELA interactive notebooks! 

I get a lot of questions from teachers about whether I am planning on making any ELA interactive notebooks to accompany my math INBs. While I am not quite ready to tackle any full sets, I have been dipping my toes into the waters with a few little flippy-flappies here and there. :) 

Here's a quick and easy little flap book that you can use to help students remember the different types of nouns. 

Cut out each flapbook around the perimeter. Glue down the bottom page (with the definitions) fully into your notebook. Then, glue the top page (types of nouns) on top along the center strip. Cut apart the flaps and voila! You're done.  

Here's are some pics of the finished flapbook...

To grab this freebie, just click {HERE} to download it from Google Drive!

And make sure to head over to my blog, One Lesson at a Time, to pick up this Author's Purpose freebie for interactive notebooks as well! Click the picture below to go grab it:

Thanks so much for stopping by today!! 

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Fraction Freebies for Interactive Notebooks

Hi, friends! It's Blair, from One Lesson at a Time, here to bring you a fun fraction freebie for your interactive notebooks! If you read my blog, you know that I am now teaching math in grades 1-4 and loving every minute of it! #mathnerd

We are eyeballs deep in our fraction units in 3rd and 4th grade, so I have numerators and denominators on the brain these days. I created this little set of foldable notes to help kiddos remember some key vocabulary and concepts about fractions.

The numerator/denominator flap is designed to look like an actual fraction. Glue the flap along the fraction bar:

Then, glue the definitions of each under the flaps. These are the definitions that we use with our kiddos and I really like them. That being said, if you want to use the template but would prefer your own definitions, just write them under the flaps!

I also created one that mimics the "diagonal" fraction bar. Same idea and same definitions:

Then, I created 2 fraction flip books to help students remember what each part of a fraction means in action - as part of a whole, part of a set, and on a number line. The first one is all filled in, using 1/3 as the example - this one is kind of an interactive anchor chart. The second flip book uses the fraction 3/4, but requires students to fill in the information and draw pictures on their own. Here are what the flip books look like:

Click {HERE} to download these interactive notebook fraction pages free from Google Drive!

If you need more fraction activities for your interactive notebooks, make sure to cheek out my packs for 3rd and 4th grade on TpT. I am also beyond thrilled to {FINALLY} be finished with the 4th Grade Mega-Bundle! Do you hear the chorus of angels or are those just in my head? ;) You can click on the product covers below to check each of them out in my store!

I also just posted a free set of Author's Purpose flippies for interactive notebooks on my blog - check out that post on One Lesson a a Time to grab your set! 

Until next time...

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Pop-Up Flash Card Viewer - My Clever Little Fox Idea!

Hi there! It's Blair from One Lesson at a Time, and I'm here to bring you an idea for your interactive notebooks!

Ok....this is probably going to come out wrong. But do you ever have one of those moments where you have an idea and think to yourself,

"WOW. I AM BEING REALLY CLEVER RIGHT NOW. I AM A CLEVER LITTLE FOX. WATCH OUT WORLD, THERE'S A CLEVER LITTLE FOX IN TOWN."

I swear, I don't usually spend a lot of time announcing to the internet that I am having a clever little fox moment. But THIS, my friends, was one of those moments.

I present to you.....drum roll please.....the Pop-Up Flash Card Viewer. I'll pause while you ooh and agh. Actually, please ignore that last part - I am big-time overselling this and you won't be dazzled at all.

I came up with this idea while I was crumpling a piece of paper up - a piece of paper with a really BAD idea on it. Funny how those things work. :) The viewer and the geometry terms flashcards you see in the pictures are part of my 4th Grade Interactive Notebook Activities Pack for 4.G.1 - Lines and Angles. In the pack, I include the viewer, 2 sets of geometry flashcards, blank flashcards, and bunches of other goodies.

I'm going to use picture instructions to explain how I made it. I'll provide you with a blank template so you can make your own- but once you get the hang of it, you can definitely make them easily with plain paper.

POP-UP FLASH CARD VIEWER DIRECTIONS:

That's it! Super fun and easy! You can put any content you want on the flash cards - just match up the content on the left side with the corresponding rectangle on the right side. Slide the flashcards up and down to see different sections in the viewer. Click on the pictures of the templates below to download them free:

I hope you can use these in your classroom! If so, make sure to leave a comment and tell me what you do with them - I'd love to hear your ideas! :) One more tip - I tried using card stock, but found that regular printer paper works better if you plan to use them IN your interactive notebooks. The card stock doesn't lie flat enough. If you are just going to mount them on construction paper, you may want to use card stock. 

If you want to check out more of my interactive notebook activities, I have complete sets available for 2nd Grade, 3rd Grade, and I am currently working on 4th Grade. Each standard is available individually, as part of a domain bundle, or as part of a mega-bundle of all standards. You can click the pictures below to check them out at my TpT store:

Thanks so much for stopping by All Things Upper Elementary today!

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Beginning of the Year Flippable Fun

So, let me preface this post by saying....most of you are probably already back in school. But alas, sometimes that's how inspiration works....behind schedule.

If you follow me over at my blog, One Lesson at a Time or on my Facebook Page, you already know that I am currently head-over-heels in love with Interactive Notebooks. I've been working like a fiend lately on my 3rd Grade Interactive Notebook Activities to go along with the Common Core math standards. As I was working, it dawned on me - these would be so fun for the beginning of the school year!

So, I came up with some ideas for flippable, foldable fun stuff that you can do with your kiddos at the beginning of the year. If you are still in your first couple of weeks, hopefully you can use some of these ideas! And if you can't use them this year, file them away for next year. :)

You obviously don't have to use these activities in a notebook. They would look great mounted to construction paper or even a bulletin board display.

1. Class Rules Foldable

2. What Makes a Good Classmate? Shutterfold

3. What Makes a Good Teacher? Shutterfold

4. My Goals For This Year Flaps

If you want to download this little freebie pack, CLICK HERE or click the picture to grab it from Google Drive! Better late than never....and better late when it's free, right? :)

I am churning out my Interactive Notebook Activities as fast as I can - here's the link to the custom category in my Teachers Pay Teachers Store where you'll find them!

And make sure to keep your eye on my blog, One Lesson at a Time, for more INB ideas and freebies - like these free Math INB labels! Click the picture if you'd like to download those! 

 I hope you're able to use these flippable activities this year - or next year! Thanks for stopping by ATUE!

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First week of school...

My first day back with students was the 5th and we have been going full blast since we started.

My school is pretty small. We only have one 5th grade class and one 6th grade class (although with 39 5th graders right now we are hoping for another teacher!!). We are semi-departmentalized and I teach all the math, science and social studies.

I didn't have any new students to the building in my 6th grade homeroom so I didn't need to go through all those get to know you activities or learning procedures. It had been a short 6 weeks since I had seen my kiddos and they knew what I expected. We started right in on the curriculum which included a walk outside to find a list of all the biotic and abiotic things we could find. This was the jump start to our life science unit.

The students recorded the things that they saw in their science journals and then cam in and drew a picture that included 5 biotic and 5 abiotic items.

When I got the 5th graders in the afternoon, I had them complete this get to know you activity. I honestly don't remember where I got the idea from, but I think it was in one of the monthly Mailbox Magazines. 

 I give them large pieces of paper to compete it. I gave them an example by answering all the statements about myself so that they could get to know me a little better.

Day two had my six graders researching biomes.  They paired off and had to find certain information. Once they found it, they had to put it on a poster.

They then had to present their information to the class as those at their seat took notes in their interactive graphic organizer. The students really enjoyed being the "teacher."

The fifth graders started their life science unit by examining different types of dirt and then building a terrarium for their lizard that will be coming soon.

One thing I am doing that is new this year is adding a grade sheet to all the journals that we keep. I got the idea from Jessie at Mrs Hester's Classroom. I think it will keep both the students and parents more informed.

If you have started school already, what are some things that you did the first week of school? If you are still on break, what do you plan to do the first week? We'd loved to hear what you did or what you have planned for the first week of school!

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