AP Human Geography
Ms. Elliott
Interactive Student Notebook
What is the purpose of the notebook?
The purpose of the interactive notebook is to enable you
to be a creative, independent and reflective thinker and
writer throughout the year. Interactive notebooks will be
used for class notes as well as for other activities where you
will be asked to express your own ideas and process and or
apply the information and skills learned in this class.
It also helps you review for exams.
What materials do I need for my notebook?
1. Left-side spiral bound notebook: Plastic cover, college ruled, 5 subject, 11x8 ½ in, three hole-punched (the
Five-star brand is a good option)
2. highlighters
3. gluestick
4. assorted color pencils (magic markers tend to bleed through pages messing up other assignments)
How should my notebook be organized?
Your notebook will be organized into three sections consisting of Notes, Reflections, and Essay/Rubrics.
(Hence the need for a 5 subject spiral-bound notebook)
1st Sections (Tabs 1-3)
Notes– teacher input
 Class Notes
 Classwork assignments
 Worksheets
 Informative Handouts
2nd Section (Tab 4)
Reflections– student input/application)
 Personal responses
 Reorganize new information in creative
formats
 Express opinions and feelings
 Explore connections to what has been
learned
 Apply skills learned (diagrams, analogies,
political cartoons)
 Vocabulary
3rd Section (Tab 5)
Rubrics/Essays –
 Sample essays
 Rubrics
 Graded essays
What goes on the right side of my notebook?
Any activity assigned by your teacher for the notebook should be done on the right side of your notebook.
Examples of assignments might be note taking, creating a map, textbook assignments, etc.
What goes on the Reflections section?
The Reflection portion of your notebook will be used for a variety of different activities. Reflection activities will
ask you to demonstrate your understanding of new ideas. You might, for example, illustrate vocabulary
words, make a timeline, create a chart or web, make a comic strip, etc.
It is expected that you revisit your notes section for information and apply it to the reflection portion of your
notebook. Normally any work that you will do on your reflection portion is unassigned. This means that you
must consistently go back to your notes, activity, or worksheet that had been assigned by Ms. Elliott to further
process or apply what you have learned. That is what makes the notebook “interactive” and causes the
student to revisit and study concepts more frequently.
How will it be possible to earn an “A” on my notebook?
A student that expects to earn an A- or higher grade on the notebook will be the one who has taken the time to
consistently include profound reflections that show application of concepts and skills taught in class for each
topic discussed in class by Ms. Elliott.
What are examples of reflections?
Venn Diagram ___
Word Gram ___
Concept Web ____
Chart/Graph ___
Drawn/ClipArt ___
Metaphors ___
Personal Responses ____
Processed Article ___
Comic Strips ___
Political Cartoon ___
Point of View ___
Pictoword ____
Mind Notes ____
Map ___
Timeline ____
Cause/Effect Charts ___
Flow Charts ____
Connect to Today ___
Illustrated Proverbs ___
Poem ___
Illustrated Definitions __
Essay ___
Every individual topic must have an accompanying reflection.
How will my notebook be graded?
Notebooks will be checked periodically as a project grade and these checks will
not be announced. All assignments pertaining to the “notes section “should be
included, even for the days in which you were absent. All pages must be complete,
have a heading, and the date assigned or given written on it. Mostly it is checked on
being complete but the reflections must be varied (not all the same kind of activity)
and not be a simple restatement or a picture with no processing of content from the
notes.
How long should it take to work on my notebook?
The expectation is that you will revisit the notes section that evening to review the
material by completing a reflection of your own choosing. Once you have a good
understanding of the kinds of reflection activities that can be done, it should take
you about 15 minutes to complete.
What happens if I am absent?
If you are absent, it is your responsibility to obtain notebook assignments from either a classmate or the
teacher.
What if I lose my Notebook?
Your notebook is a portfolio of your work completed in APHUG. If it is lost you must immediately replace it
and get the work for the current term so that it doesn’t affect your grade.
Share the information of this handout with a parent, then paste it on the inside of the front cover of your notebook for reference.