It’s good to keep students busy, but I don’t like to feel like I’m giving busy work. Lots of worksheets can feel like busy work.
When students create things in their notebooks, they use their brains. They process information and learn.
In this blog post I’m happy to share 5 different ways to take notes without a worksheet:
- Why I love taking notes without worksheets
- 10 Facts
- Fill the page notes
- Notes outline
- I know, I notice, I wonder
- Vocabulary Log
- Notetaking and classroom mangement
Why I Love Taking Notes Without Worksheets
What’s always nice is when we can just take out our notebooks, a pencil, and that’s all we need. All of these ideas can go right into a science notebook, which is awesome and convenient.
I’m teaching my students note-taking strategies they can use in their own learning. I can see applying these strategies in college. They can even be used for personal and professional learning in the real-world.
Multiple worksheets in one class period can feel disorganized, and overwhelming. Also I need to create these worksheets, or do research, or find one on Teachers Pay Teachers or something. And that’s a lot of work! It costs me valuable personal time, and sometimes my own money.
1. 10 Facts
Students just list 10 different facts as they hear them. And yes, Please write in complete sentences!
This is a great way to take notes during a movie if I don’t have a movie viewing guide worksheet.
2. Fill the Page Notes
Fill the Page Notes is another strategy of mine when watching a movie without a worksheet.
With Fill the Page Notes, students use a combination of words and images to fill the entire notebook page. Vocabulary, key phrases, definitions, and facts are the writing portion. Diagrams and drawings make up the visual components.
Some students prefer to number their notes. They just list as many facts as they can until they fill up the page. They can totally do that!
3. Notes Outline
Students copy my outline in their notebook to essentially create their own worksheet.
I create an outline to go along with whatever reading or video we are exploring. When they do the reading or watch the video, they fill in the missing information into the template they created.
I love using a Notes Outline. Notes Outlines also use a combination of words and drawings. Similar to Sketch Notes. It takes more time and brain power to prep than some of the other ideas in this blog post. But it’s worth it!
4. I Know, I Notice, I Wonder
Students create a graphic organizer in their notebook. They use a ruler to create 3 columns with the headings, I Know, I Notice, I Wonder.
Know, Notice, and Wonder is a simple graphic organizer that is great for activating prior learning and stimulating inquiry.It is a lot like a KWL chart, or Know, Wonder, and Learn.
- What do you Know? Before the video/article/demonstration, write 1-2 sentences of what you already know about _______ (cells, volcanoes, DNA, digestion, measurement, etc).
- What did you Notice? (Observe)
- What do you Wonder about? (What questions do you have? What are you curious about?)
Want to do a little extra and turn it into a mini summary journal entry?
- What does it Remind you of?
- What are the 3 most important things you learned? Include details!!
5. Vocabulary Log
This is a great way to keep students engaged and organized, as well as reinforce vocabulary.
I mix it up. Sometimes, I present the words and definitions to students in a slideshow and mini-lecture. Other times, I assign students to do the work themselves. They look up the definitions, draw a picture, and create a keyword.
I wrote more about how I use Vocabulary Logs in my blog post, Vocabulary Logs.
Notetaking and Classroom Management
These note taking strategies are great classroom routines. They bring order and predictability to learning. Check out my blog post 8 Classroom Routines & My Go-To Lesson Structure for Better Classroom Management to read more.
Students become familiar with doing these assignments. They complete them independently and with minimal confusion.
This makes them excellent Sub Plans. The independent nature of the notes makes it an easy day for the sub. The students’ familiarity with the notes also helps. Read more in my blog post 9 Routine Assignments that are Easy to Prep and Make Great Sub Plans
Often, my students have their favorite note-taking styles. They are happy when their favorite way comes up again. They are also happy when they get to choose which style they want to take notes in.
I hope you enjoyed reading about my favorite ways to take notes in class without a worksheet! Do you have other ideas for taking notes without a worksheet? Let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment! I would love to hear from you!
To read more classroom management strategies, check out the blog posts below!
24 thoughts on “5 Ways to Take Notes Without a Worksheet”