1. Interactive Geography Notebook (IGN)
Mrs. Lehman - Room 115

2. Guidelines and Purpose:
The IGN is a portfolio of each student’s work in this class. The purpose is to:
Involve students in “making sense” of their notes visually
Develop nonfiction reading and note-taking skills
Teach different approaches to learning

3. Materials needed:
Spiral notebook
Pencil
Glue stick
Colored pencils

4. Tips for IGN Success: Bring your notebook to class every day!
Label 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.
If you are absent from class, please check to see what you have missed (Missed Assignment Sheets under window.) You are still responsible for the work.
Use pencil to write all text and initial sketches. This allows you to erase when you have mistakes. Do not use pen or colored pencils to write text or for initial sketches.
Don’t use markers to color EVER! They bleed through the paper.

5. Directions for Notebook Assignments
Students work at different rates, and although the majority of notebook assignments will be completed in class, not every child will finish within the allotted time. There will be “catch-up” time for those who need it and “review” time for those whose notebooks are complete and correct. Notebooks will be checked and graded following these times.

6. Notebook Organization: The notebook will be organized into a LEFT side and a RIGHT side.
LEFT SIDE: Students Process Information
The left side of the notebook will be used for a variety of different activities.
The left side helps you make sense of the right-side information and deepen you understanding.
(The teacher will recommend strategies students could use for the left side during the 1st quarter of the year.)
RIGHT SIDE: Teacher Guides Information
The right side of the notebook is for class and reading notes. It contains “testable” information,
It will include notes, handouts and other assignments.

7. Preview Strategies Table of Contents Unit/Chapter Title Pages
Students will set aside the first four pages (front & back) of their notebook for a Table of Contents.
Unit/Chapter Title Pages
The first page of each new unit, chapter and section should be labeled and illustrated.
Be sure to have a clear, legible title.
Be colorful, attractive and meaningful…and creative!

8. Here are some examples of what you might find in your IGN this year:
LEFT side of the Notebook:
paraphrase to clarify items
draw, or glue a photo, sketch, or magazine picture that illustrates the concept, ideas, or facts
ask questions about the information
form and express an opinion
predict outcomes or next steps
create a metaphor that captures the essence of the information/issue
write a reflection on the information or experience
make connections
create an acronym or write a short poem (acrostic, haiku or limerick) to help you remember the information covered
create a graphic organizers like a web, venn diagram, etc.
RIGHT side of the Notebook:
Vocabulary
Notes on a:
mini-lesson
lecture
film/video/documentary
small group or large group discussion
guided reading
ETC.

9. Interactive Geography Notebook – 1st Quarter Rubric
10 Points
8 Points
6 Points
4 Points
2 Points
Total
Overall Organization/Neatness
Work is very organized; pages are attached securely; left side/ right side order in tact; pages are numbered.
Work is organized; pages are loose; left side/right side order in tact; pages are numbered
Work is a little confusing; left side/right side order in tact; pages are numbered
Work has little order; left side/right side order in tact; no page numbers
Work has no order; pages are missing; left side/right side order is not correct; No page numbers
Completeness for Right Side
All work is clear, complete, detailed. Anyone could use as study guide.
Most work is done, but some assignments are missing.
Work and notes are mostly done, but 3-4 assignments are missing.
Work and notes are partially done; 5-6 assignments are missing.
Much of the work is missing or unreadable.
Completeness for Left Side
Work is clear, focused, reveals personal reflection.
Work is clear, focused, and reflective. 1-2 assignments missing.
Work is sufficient and reflective.
3 - 4 assignments missing.
Work is sparse, but shows reflection.
5 - 6 assignments missing.
Left side is incomplete or not reflective.
Follows Assignment Directions
Directions consistently followed.
 Directions usually followed.
Directions not always followed.
Directions inconsistently followed.
Directions are not followed.
Effort
Student put exceptional effort into IGN. Color is included and goes beyond minimum expectations.
Student has put effort into IGN. Color is included; most details go beyond minimum expectations.
Student has put some effort into IGN. Color is included and details meet minimum expectations.
Student put little effort into IGN. Color is rarely included and few details meet minimum expectations.
Student has put little effort into IGN. Color is not included and details are incomplete.
TOTAL
_____
Out of 50 points

10. Vocabulary Strategies
Vocabulary Word
savanna
Definition
Tropical grassland with scattered trees, usually with wet and dry seasons
Sentence
Savannas occur in the climate regions of southern India and eastern Africa.
Picture

11. Components of an Ecosystem
Question Notes
Write the title and page numbers of the reading.
Divide your paper into columns and label them QUESTION
and ANSWER.
Turn each heading or subheading into a question.
(e.g. Ecosystems would become What is an ecosystem?
Write the questions in the QUESTION column.
Read the information in the section, and take at least 3 bulleted
notes to answer the question. (If you can’t find 3 bulleted notes,
then you probably need to rethink your question.)
Write these notes in the ANSWER columns, beside the
question. Move on to the next section and repeat to the end.
Components of an Ecosystem
QUESTION
ANSWER
What is an ecosystem? …

12. Illustrated Outline
This is another strategy for taking notes and visualizing while you read.
Set your purpose for reading. I will either provide you with the main ideas or you can use the
subheadings from the text.
Turn your notebook sideways. Starting at the margin, separate the page into columns based on the
number of main ideas.
Write a main idea (topic) at the top of each columns, on the margin line.
Write at least 3 bulleted notes under each main idea.
When you’ve finished taking notes on the reading, review the main ideas and draw one picture for each
section. Color the pictures.
Color each column a different color to visually organize your information.
Topics
here
Notes
here
Picture
here

13. Venn Diagram
These overlapping circles are used to compare (tell what is the same) and
contrast (tell what is different) between 2 things.
Venn diagrams should:
Have circles labeled appropriately.
Should compare point to point.
Have a minimum of 5 unique facts per circle and 3 shared facts in the center.
Circles should be colored lightly, with the blended color in the middle.
Include one illustration for each topic.

14. POETRY
Poetry in science is designed to give you a different way to think about a topic
and to act as a summary of your knowledge.
Poetry Helpful Hints
Your poem should demonstrate your understanding of the concept.
Avoid words that don’t give specific information like “nice” UGH!,
“happy”, or “caring.”
Each sentence/phrase should be carefully chosen and must relate specifically
to the subject of the poem.
Your illustration and color should enhance the meaning of your poem.
Don’t use random stripes of color.

15. Acrostic Poems
Write the name of the person or the concept to be defined vertically, like this:
N C E
A O V
M N E
E C N
E T P T
Write a short phrase or sentence about the subject for each letter of its title.
It must be more than one word! The phrases used should capture the main
ideas of the text on the right hand page.

16. Haiku A haiku captures the essence of an idea, concept, or emotion.
It does not have to rhyme.
Line 1: phrase contains 5 syllables
Line 2: phrase contains 7 syllables
Line 3: phrase contains 5 syllables

17. It tells a humorous story. The syllables have the following patterns:
Limericks
The limerick is a poem constructed of 5 lines with an AABBA rhyme scheme.
It tells a humorous story.
The syllables have the following patterns:
Line 1 (7-9 syllables): A (da da DUM da da DUM da da DUM)
Line 2 (7-9 syllables): A (da da DUM da da DUM da da DUM)
Line 3 (5-7 syllables): B (da da DUM da da DUM)
Line 4 (5-7 syllables): B (da da DUM da da DUM)
Line 5 (7-9 syllables): A (da da DUM da da DUM da da DUM)
E.g.:
There was an Old Man with a beard,
Who said, “It is just as I feared!
Two Owls and a Hen
Four Larks and a Wren,
Have all built their nests in my beard!”

18. Diamante Poem
A diamante poem is used to compare and contrast. (Where have we seen this
before?) It should be written in the shape of a diamond. (Catchy name, eh?)
Line 1: Topic 1
Line 2: 2 Words to describe Topic 1
Line 3: 3 action words (-ing) about Topic 1
Line 4: A 4 or 5 word phrase describing both topics – what they
have in common – (A complete thought but not necessarily
a complete sentence.)
Line 5: 3 action words that describe Topic 2
Line 6: 2 words to describe Topic 2
Line 7: Topic 2

19. A storyboard is an illustrated summary.
Storyboards
A storyboard is an illustrated summary.
Read about the process, event, or person in your notes.
Highlight the 8 most important things that happened in the process, event,
or person’s life.
Turn the notebook sideways. Title the storyboard on the margin line.
Separate the remainder of the page into 8 panels, like this:
TITLE
HERE
At the bottom of each box, write your caption. Your caption must be at
least one complete sentence and explain what is going on in your illustration.
Above or below the caption, draw you illustration. This should be
appropriate, meaningful, and colored.
When you have finished, your storyboard should be a meaningful
summary of the process, event, or person’s life we have studied.