1. Social Studies Notebook Guidelines
Name: __________________________

2. Interactive Notebook Guidelines
The purpose of the interactive notebook is to:
Involve students in “making sense” of their notes visually.
Develop student reading and note-taking skills.
Give students easy-to-review resources.
Materials:
Composition Notebook (no spiral) (only for SS class)
Pencil
Glue stick and/or tape (optional)
Scissors (optional)
Colored pencils (optional)
How can I earn an A in my notebook?
To earn an A, a student must keep a complete, neat notebook, produces quality work, and shows learning of concepts.
Notebooks will be checked periodically for completeness. All pages should be included and complete, even for days when you were absent.
What happens if I am absent?
It is your responsibility to obtain all notebook assignments from a classmate or the teacher’s notebook.
Signature Page
The interactive notebook is the major tool for success in social studies class this year. Students will be working in their interactive social studies notebooks (ISNs) almost daily and will need to keep up with all assignments. The ISNs will serve as part of the students’ social studies grade.
Please read the statement below and sign.
_______________________________________
Student Signature Date
_________________________________________________________
Parent Signature Date

3. Example ISN Check Questions
Notebook Specifics
Title Pages:
Pages that serve as an introduction to each unit. They can be decorated with images and words that represent that unit.
Notes Pages:
Pages in your notebook where you receive information, readings, and knowledge.
Reflection/Processing Pages
Pages in your notebook where you will reflect and create activities using the information you received.
RCC NB Day:
Review, Complete, and Correct Notebook
Students work at different rates, and although the majority of notebook assignments will be completed in class, not every child will finish within the given time. This assignment provides “Catch-Up” time for those who need it and “Review” time for those whose notebooks are complete and correct.
Re-read your notes for the section that we are working on in class.
If you did not finish an assignment in class, complete it. Refer to your instructions or teacher copy if needed.
If there is an assignment from the previous week that is missing or incomplete, work on it or correct it.
At the end of each unit, you will have a ISN check in the form of a quiz. You will have your ISN with you and will be asked various multiple choice questions. The only way to know the answers to these questions is to have all work complete with all directions followed and have a finished table of contents with pages and dates.
Example ISN Check Questions
On what date did we write about the types of early hominids?
9/4
9/5
9/6
9/7
What theme is not in the foldable found on page 11?
Location
Transportation
Region
Place

4. Tips for ISN Success Continued
Don’t use markers to color. Markers bleed through the paper.
If you are absent from class, please check to see what you have missed! You are still responsible for the work.
Use pencil to write all text and initial sketches. This allows you to erase mistakes. Do not use pen or colored pencils to write text or for initial sketches.
Less glue is better. 1 dot in each corner will work perfectly and not soak through.
Tips for ISN Success
Bring your notebook to class every day!
Title and date everything in your notebook.
Assignments must be completed on the correct page.
Use color – the notebook is a visual study tool! Color should be meaningful, helping to organize and illustrate your notes.
Date
Title