Our Pocketbook units consist of science or social studies topics for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th grade classrooms. In this blog post, we’ll explore inside science pocketbooks to see what’s inside!
Pocketbooks serve as a comprehensive portfolio for students to refer back to throughout the unit. As each student works on their pocketbook, they will add their work inside and can use it as reference when needed. Parents and administrators love this idea of showcasing student’s learning!
How do students benefit from learning through science pocketbooks?
Pocketbook units are multimodal resources that capitalize on different learning styles amongst students.
The units are extremely organized (which we love!) so they help teach students organization. Pocketbooks also increase student metacognition when they recall and synthesize information on topics.
What types of resources and activities are included?
1. PowerPoint Presentations
Begin the unit by engaging your class with a colorful PowerPoint presentation to grab their attention and get them thinking.
Then, easily move into a group discussion after the open-ended question on the last slide. Give your students a chance to demonstrate their knowledge about the topic.
You can re-visit the PowerPoint throughout the week based on the needs of your class and time frame of your lesson.
2. Student Workbooks
The comprehension workbooks allow students to read on their own to answer comprehension questions related to the topic at the bottom of each page.
Students may benefit from working with a partner or small group. For students below level, you may choose to open the document onto a Smart Board and read along with them in a whole group setting.
Each individual unit includes one per week. For example, the Biomes Unit includes 6 of these workbooks (42 comprehension pages TOTAL)!
3. Anchor Charts
Use the colorful pictures and text at the beginning of the unit to create beautiful anchor charts that can be displayed in your classroom throughout the unit.
As students move throughout the unit, have students recall facts learned and have them actively participate in creating the anchor chart.
Re-visit when we wrote all about how to use anchor charts effectively in the classroom to promote a deeper understanding of informational topics.
4. Vocabulary Cards
Hang them on your word wall, classroom door, bulletin boards, or even make students their own copies of the cards to serve as an easy reference.
5. Vocabulary Puzzle Pieces
Vocabulary picture-definition-word puzzle pieces are perfect to use for centers, partner work or even for practice as homework.
You can laminate and cut the pieces to use year after year in centers or let the students have their own copies to put into their pocketbook.
The students love to manipulate the puzzles and then use the vocabulary cards to check their work!
6. Vocabulary Flip Books
Students can demonstrate their knowledge of key vocabulary words using the interactive vocabulary flip book.
Give students picture cards, and they can cut, match, and glue onto corresponding outer flaps. Then, students can write the definition/describe the vocabulary words using the lines on the inside of the book.
7. Graphic Organizers & Writing Paper
Students complete graphic organizer either as an independent activity or whole group to demonstrate their knowledge of the topic, writing multiple key details and facts.
Then, students can use the graphic organizers as a reference to create a longer writing piece, consisting of multiple paragraphs.
There are 2 options for handwriting lines to easily differentiate student needs.
We previously shared 5 steps for Informative writing utilizing the resources within the pocketbook units.
8. Smart Art
Cut, color and glue to make a fun visual representation of the each topic. Students will then write a cohesive paragraph with facts they have learned on the back using the lined paper.
Smart Art is perfect for bulletin board displays or can be used to hang around the classroom.
9. Supplemental Pages & Early Finisher Work
Multiple activities are included to supplement the content learned through the student comprehension workbooks and the PowerPoint presentation.
Activities can be used for morning work, early finishers, or for homework.
Activities include: ABC order, a crossword puzzle, acrostic poem, and word search.
Each unit has every one of these components and much more! To name a few, Shark Research includes Task Cards and Weather Tools unit includes a tool match-up worksheet.
How do I assemble pocketbooks?
Instructions for creating the pocketbook are included in your resource and can be seen above. They are really easy to make! I use this binding machine, but you can use the binding machine you prefer and simply follow the instructions provided to make each pocketbook.
Affiliate links: Binding Machine & Binding Combs
How much prep work is involved?
After assembly, these units are extremely teacher-friendly!
I can prep an entire week or even months worth of science and social studies materials all in one sitting.
Simply organize your materials by the day that you are teaching them for easy access.
Units Currently Available:
1. Discovering Extreme Weather and Natural Disasters
2. Discovering the Solar System
3. Discovering the Human Body Systems
4. Water Cycle, Cloud Types, and Weather Tools
5. Biomes
7. Discovering the Four Seasons
