Students will learn the importance and relevance of practicing effective note-taking skills as they gather information about Greek gods and goddesses. They will learn and use a mnemonic device that reminds them of effective notetaking skills. The lesson is intended for one 43 minute period.

Instructional Goals:

• Students will learn several strategies for effective notetaking
• Students will understand the importance of notetaking
• Students will use their notes to create a dramatic monologue

Learning Objectives

• Students will take notes on passages about their Greek god. Their notes will show evidence of the strategies represented by the mnemonic device ABC LOU.

Be A God or Goddess of Notetaking!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Use ABC LOU to help you to take great notes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Letter	Definition	Examples
A	Abbreviation –a shortened form of a word	Write “w/” instead of “with”   “Gr.” instead of Greek   “Info.” instead of “information”
B	Bullets -the dots that help organize details or examples	Gorgons’ Appearance                   snakes, not hair   boars’ tusks   bronze hands   wings
C	Caveman Language	Leave out unnecessary words like a, an, and, and the.
L	Lists	Ways to honor gods: Give cake, incense, statues, sacrifice (kill) animal (sheep, goat, pig, cow), build temple, competitions (Olympics, plays), processions.
O	One word for many	No: “Aphrodite is the goddess of love and beauty.”                   Yes: Aphrodite – love+beauty gds.
U	Use your own words	Quotation: “Charon is one of the obstacles which heroes have to face when they visit the Underworld.”                   My words: Hero must pass Charon 2 get 2 Underwld.                   Important: Writing information in your own words helps you to understand and remember the information.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Great Notetaking Tips

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. Pay attention to bold, italic or underlined words. They are often important.

    

2. Read headlines. They tell you main ideas.

    

3. Read the captions next to pictures.                                                          

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Report Out Sheet

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Directions:  Think about today’s lesson. Please complete the following three sentences. Your words will help me to see what you understand and what I can help you with later. Thank you!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today I learned/I want to remember

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am confused by/ I have questions about

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other comments I have are

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Introduction:

1. Students come into the library with music playing from the Winged Sandals website. There are symbols of many of the Greek gods hanging from the ceiling.
2. Students sit in prearranged groups. Each group has an envelop labeled "What do they mean?" on it.
3. The librarian says, " Today we\'re going to gather some information about your gods and goddesses and learn how to save some time while doing it. But before we do that, can I see a show of hands of people who use instant messaging? Okay, then many of you probably know what TTYL means? Yes, talk to you later. What\'s another abbreviation you use online? [Kids offer other online abbreviations.] Good. You all know how to use abbreviations as a way of communicating. Today you\'re going to use more abbreviations to record information. We\'ll also learn other notetaking strategies that you can use in all your classes."
4. "Look inside the envelopes and talk with your group for one minute to decide what you think each of these abbreviations mean." [After a minute or so, librarian calls on each group to match up each abbreviation with words written on a chart.]
5. "Okay, now I will show you how to use the letters ABC LOU to take good notes.
   

Body:

1.    Librarian distributes handout with the explanation of ABC LOU and other notetaking tips as well as an article about Greek mythology. She reviews what each letter stands for and explains that she will now show how to take notes using these strategies. Using a Tablet PC, projector, and a Smartboard, librarian models reading a text and taking notes. She incorporates a variety of the strategies and makes explicit which tip she is using. She takes notes on one to three paragraphs.

2.      Then the librarian explains that the class will help her take notes on the next two paragraphs. She reads the paragraphs and students offer up ways to record the information using ABC LOU. She records their notes, offering suggestions if necessary, on the Smartboard.

3.      Students then work in their groups to write notes on the next one to three paragraphs in the article. They record their notes on a sheet of chart paper. There are different colored markers at each table. Students select a marker and write their name on the paper with it. The librarian explains that students must take turns recording notes and the teachers will be looking for every student’s color in the notes. The teacher and librarian move to each group, praising genuine effort and effective use of the strategies.

Conclusion:

1.      The librarian reminds students of the importance of effective notetaking, emphasizing that good notes are a sign that the student has a clear understanding of the material. Using ABC LOU helps students save time by eliminating needless writing.

2.      The students receive an article about their Greek god or goddess. For homework, they will read and take notes on the article.

3.      The librarian reminds students that should they lose their notetaking handout they can find it on the library website and print it out again.

4.      The librarian asks the students to complete a quick reflection paper and hand it in before leaving.

Learning Assessment Methods

1. Teacher and librarian assess understanding while observing and interacting with groups during class
2. The librarian will assess understanding by reading reflection sheets
3. Teacher and librarian will examine homework assignment.

 

Credit(s): 1. Website: www.wingedsandals.com 2. Vanneman, S. (2005). It's in the bag: a focus of strategies [Electronic Version]. School Library Activities Media Monthly, 22 (1), 26-28. For the ABC LOU mnemonic device.