How to Assign One-Pagers and Sketchnotes
- Teacher's Workshop
- Aug 16
- 2 min read
One-pagers and sketchnotes give students the opportunity to creatively express their interpretation of a novel. Instead of whole-class discussions where the teacher reads a passage and asks a question (and does most of the work), one-pagers and sketchnotes allow students to spend time independently exploring a topic and question and then creatively present their interpretation of the text with images, shapes, and colors. I have one free activity in most of my novel units (listed on the left) if you want to try it out. Here is how I assign these activities:
1. Focus on a topic or question
Students can pick a topic or focus on a predetermined topic or question. Examples of topics include family, love, imagination, fear, or violence.
2. Interpret passages related to the topic
In my class, students usually take notes on around fifteen passages related to one topic on a separate handout. The passages appear anywhere from the beginning of the novel to the end. In this manner, they can track the development of the topic and make connections to the various moments in the plot and to the character.
3. Pick around five passages to quote
After they take notes, students pick around five quotes to include in their one-pager. They should pick the most important quotes that answer the question and might contain symbols or images that they could draw.
4. Organize quotes and interpretation in a creative way
Students can organize the quotes, interpretation, and images in a creative way. It might be thought bubbles, boxes, rows, a timeline, or a winding path. They could draw images like a bridge, car, or building and write the quotes inside the image.
5. Draw symbols or images related to the passages and topic
Not all students are artists, but if they take their time, they can draw basic images like a rainbow, a lighthouse, money, or boots. Students are often impressed by the talent of their peers or will at least enjoy the attempt.
6. Scan the final product and have students present their work on a projector
Since it’s hard for the entire class to see a regular sheet of paper, I scan the image using the Genius app and then display it on a projector. This way, I can zoom into the quotes so students can continue to take notes on their handout in preparation for their essay.
7. Display the work in the classroom or hallways
One-pagers fill a room or school with color and reminds students that their teacher is not the only person who will see their work, which motivates them.
8. Write a formal paragraph on the topic.
After the one-pager is complete, students can write a one-page essay or paragraph, so they understand the value of prewriting.
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