It’s my hope these foldable templates will make implementing interactive notebook activities into your classroom a breeze. You can access β four FREE interactive notebook templates β at the end of this blog post. Just look for the gold stars.
Those interested in using interactive notebooks are often intimidated by the flaps and folds… don’t be! I say this with experience: keep it simple! I certainly did not when I started, ended up overwhelmed, and had instant regrets. That’s why I created these easy-to-use templates in the first place! Let’s get into it:
The Problem: Interactive notebook lessons are taking too long to complete. Students are spending more time cutting and gluing than they are computing and solving.
The Solution: Use simple folds and flaps for all INB activities. Most templates can be completely prepped by the teacher ahead of time with a great pair of scissors or a heavy-duty paper cutter. Students are responsible for cutting straight lines only! All templates follow the same format: we fold on solid lines and cut on the dotted lines. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy. Here we go!
Interactive Notebook Template #1 – The Single Strip
Kids take FOR-EV-ER to copy questions and sentence starters down, cutting into your precious and often limited instructional time. This simple strip eliminates that burden and instead refocuses energy into think time for student-constructed responses! A single or no cut for kids if you do a little prep work, this template is great for essential questions, warm ups, journal prompts, lesson reflections, and so much more. Time is of the essence! β³
Interactive Notebook Template #2 – The Flapper
Students have two cuts and NO scraps with this foldable template. My classes quickly learn to fold on solid lines and cut dotted ones. Multiple variations of the flapper are included in my template bundle.
PRO TIP: Have students fold/glue into their notebooks first and then cut their flaps. Otherwise, the paper ends up a folded floppy fiasco! This template helps students study, learning how to quiz themselves as review later on. Problems are presented on the outside with solutions written inside or underneath. Kids willingly rework old examples and “flip their flap” to check the answer!
Interactive Notebook Template #3 – The Mini Tab Book
My kids like these mini tab books. If I’m being honest, I do, too! This booklet template is great for working through a few exemplars using the “I do, we do, you do” approach. With each tab, I can slowly release responsibility and give students more freedom to work independently. With one prompt per tabbed page, this format is also fantastic for accomodating spatial learners.
A staple guideline is even included in the upper left corner for kids. After completing the book, we typically glue the last page into our interactive notebooks so it doesn’t get lost in the black hole backpack. PLEASE NOTE: Unlike most of my interactive notebook templates, this blackline master only serves 1 student so you’ll need to print a copy for each kid in class.
Interactive Notebook Template #4 – The Mini Flap Book
I looooove this double sided mini flap book! Double-sided means double the space AND just two simple cuts produce one neat square scrap. With the help of a paper cutter, I can usually prep this one for all students myself! That allows kids to spend all of our instructional time working… and y’all, the work they produce with this one! My teacher heart explodes every time I see their higher-order thinking right there on paper.
Because I intentionally put one question per flap, students can avoid overwhelm and “hide” questions not being worked on at the moment. The flow of this mini book lends itself SO nicely to multistep word problems. Students can build upon their work, glue it into their interactive notebooks, and STILL have room to explain their reasoning on the lines below. Seriously, the mini flap book might be my favorite foldable template!
β Download your FREE foldable templates! β
Ready to implement interactive notebooks with these DIY templates? Sign up below and receive one template a day over the next week. Can’t wait for the slow drip? I gotchu, boo! You’ll also receive an all-access password to the resource library where the 4 templates are ready for instant download.
ACTIONABLE STEPS: Sign up to receive your FREE interactive notebook templates. Get started making foldable activities with your curriculum’s material. Have questions? Drop a line and I’ll get back to you. Interactive notebooks are my jam and I want them to be yours, too!
