Lesson Plan: Teaching Field Notes

by Brigitta Field

This lesson plan is meant for Composition I to aid students in taking field notes. I have found that students often had trouble taking detailed notes, and this activity was meant to help them make observations that could help them write a detailed ethnographic account. 

Part 1: Making observations

I introduce students to the activity by telling them we are going to practice making observational notes. I will split them into pairs and ask them to go find a public place on campus–the library, Starbucks, the Union building, etc. For 20 minutes, I ask them to sit and write down everything they observe. The students should not share notes with their partner. After 20 minutes, I ask the students to return to the classroom. Depending on the class length, I might split this up by releasing students early one day and ask them to bring their notes to the following class period. 

Part 2: Discussion

Once the students return, I give them some time to compare notes and see if they missed anything important that their partner noted. We then spend some time discussing observations and inferences, and I ask the students if there are any assumptions present in their notes. This is a good time to relate the activity back to FieldWorking and how these note-taking skills can be helpful for their ethnographic account. 

Different approaches could be taken in this activity, like having specific questions for your students when they return and testing to see if they can answer them based on their notes. You could also challenge students to write a mini-ethnography based on their notes before (or after) leading them into the discussion portion of the class. The main objectives of this lesson plan are to give students practice taking notes, to help set the standard of what makes good, detailed notes, and to have them start deciphering between observations and assumptions.