1. Three-Column Journal Note Making
What is it?
A Three-Column Journal is a graphic organizer on which students record textual information, visual information, and supporting details or reactions.
What to do:
Select a section of text that contains visual information as a model.
Introduce the Three-Column graphic organizer to the students. Make a transparency of this graphic for modeling the activity.
Model the activity by reading the text. First rewrite the Headings as questions and copy bold terms in the left-hand column..
Then ask students to describe the visual information, such as graphs, tables, pictures, or charts. Copy their captions or write down their descriptions in the middle column.
Ask students to note whether the visual information summarizes or portrays the information in the left-hand column, or if it provides new information.
Now reread the information in the left-hand column. Then begin to read the text, looking for answers to questions and definitions of key terms. Write these in the right-hand column.
Note that often the first question cannot be answered until one has read the entire section. Write this answer in the Summary section.
Use the blank copy master of the Three-Column Journal throughout the year, especially when text has much visual information.

2. Three-Column Journal Note Making
Topic:______________________________ Pages: ______
The Atmosphere 14
Write headings as questions, Copy key words
Copy captions of pictures, maps, tables, charts, or graphs.
Write answers to questions and definitions of key words.
1.What are the sudden changes in the atmosphere?
There’s a chart in the left margin telling me to record information about events that change the atmosphere.
1. Sudden changes are dramatic events that affect the atmosphere.
It takes a while to restore the air’s balance.
2. Volcanic eruptions
2. Shoot gases and ash into the air
3. I remember the satellite photos of the huge fires in California and the smoke that could be seen from space.
3. Forest fires
4. Dust storms
There are before and after pictures of a dust storm in North Africa.
4. Sounds like something that would happen in a desert.
Summary:
Huge natural events like volcanoes, forest fires, and dust storms can affect the make up of the atmosphere, which takes a while to restore itself.

3. Three-Column Journal Note Making
Topic:______________________________ Pages: ______
Write Headings as questions. Copy bold words
Copy captions of pictures, maps, tables, charts, or graphs.
Answer questions and define bold words
Summary or Answer to Main Question: