How to Take Better Notes
Learning Goals:
- Learn new words about taking notes.
- Talk about different ways to take notes.
- Read about the history of note-taking.
- Listen to students talk about their favorite ways to take notes.
- Practice taking notes in a new way.
Key Words:
- Notes: Things you write down to help you remember information.
- Cornell notes: A special way of taking notes by dividing your paper into sections.
- Outline: Writing down main ideas and details in a list with bullet points.
- Mind map: A picture or diagram that shows how ideas connect to each other.
Let’s Talk About It!
- How do you usually take notes? (Do you write everything down? Do you use a computer?)
- What makes it hard to take good notes? (Can’t write fast enough, too much information, don’t know what’s important.)
- Have you ever tried different ways of taking notes?
Let’s Read!
People have been taking notes for a long time! In the past, they wrote on clay tablets or animal skins. Now, we use notebooks, computers, and even tablets. Note-taking helps us learn and remember things better.
Listen and Learn!
(Teacher plays a short conversation between students talking about their favorite ways to take notes.)
Talk with a Partner!
One of you is a student who is having trouble taking notes. The other is a friend giving advice about how to improve.
Example:
- Student: “I can’t remember everything the teacher says!”
- Friend: “You could try using Cornell notes. They help you organize the information better.”
Homework:
In your next class, try taking notes using the Cornell method or making a mind map. Which way did you like better? Why?
Extra Fun:
Create a colorful mind map about a topic you’re interested in. Use pictures and words to show how different ideas connect.
