Invented by accident in 1968, the Post-it Note has become a ubiquitous part of the office and school scene. Everyone from company CEOs to school-children use Post-it sticky pages to make lists, annotations in reports, and take notes in meetings and school lessons. Over the years, the removable, reusable adhesive has been used for list pads, page marking flags, and even dry erase surfaces. One of the newest products that Post-it has recently released is the Post-it Easel Pad. These large notepads have sturdy cardboard backings attached to a stable easel. They are available in plain pages, with primary ruled lines, with grids, or with plain lines.
These easel pads are perfect for classroom use. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
Group Projects
With its sturdy base, the Post-it Easel Pad is ideal for group work where brainstorming is encouraged. Each member of the group can see what ideas have been generated, and when the learning time is over, the sticky notes can be posted in a prominent place to help reinforce ideas that were generated. Additionally, students can keep up with the pages that were written on by sticking them to the wall rather than trying to organize them in a folder or notebook. Here are some ideas for group work with Post-it Easel Pads.
Parts of Speech
While learning the parts of speech, students may benefit from generating word lists in a group. For instance, when learning adjectives, assign each group an animal to be described. On the Post-it Pad, they should make a quick drawing of the animal. On the page surrounding the drawing they can write adjectives to describe that animal. The pages can be used to create displays to reinforce learning.
Mathematical Properties
Assign each group a mathematical property. They should write the name of the property at the top of the page and each member of the group should generate an equation to demonstrate that property.
The Effects of Historical Events
To help students brainstorm how events affect outcomes, discuss particular events before you get to them in the curriculum. Allow each group to try to guess how that event changed the society that you are studying. Post the pages on the wall, and after you’ve analyzed that event, see which group came closest to accurately projecting what happened.
Easy Artwork Displays
The large size of a Post-it Easel pads makes them ideal to allow budding artists to express their creativity. These easel pads stand up so that students can learn to draw properly and not have to keep looking down at the tabletop. Then, when the artwork is complete, they can easily be put on display in the classroom or at home. Teachers may want to consider creating an art display corner by posting a large rectangle of black paper or black mat boards on the wall. Students can easily switch out their artwork when they create new projects.
Quotes and Poetry
Quotes are a great way to introduce humor, beauty, and inspiration in the classroom. A weekly quote can be displayed in a prominent place in the classroom on the Post-it Easel Pad. Each week, teachers can move the quotes to another place in the classroom where they can continue to provide encouragement over the school year. By the end of the year, each class will have a collection of interesting saying to look back upon.
Poetry is often disliked by students and can seem hard to understand. It often takes study and thought to understand the point that the poet was trying to make. Post-it Easel Pads can allow teachers to write out short poems and give the students time to meditate on the meaning that the poet was trying to express.
With thought, the creative teacher can find even more uses for the Post-it Easel Pad. Whatever class you are teaching, at any grade level, these pads will be an excellent classroom accessory.
