Interactive Notebooks

What are Interactive Notebooks?

• A note taking process that allows students to record information in a personal and meaningful way.

• A way for students to use teacher supplied notes to draw whatever illustration makes sense to them.

• A way for students to personalize their work.

Why are we using Interactive Science Notebooks?

• Record data• Study for tests• Record progress• Communication

Impact of Hands-on Science & Science

Notebooks on Student Achievement

Research shows that student understanding and literacy skills

improve when students do hands-on minds-on science and use science notebooks to make sense of their

science investigations.

DIAN

F OSSEY

Leonardo

DIVINCI

In an Interactive Notebook, • Key ideas are underlined in color or

highlighted• Arrows are used to show

relationships between graphics and notes

• Diagrams, sketches, cartoons, charts, graphic organizers, songs, really anything can be included

What will be in it?• Warm ups• Class notes• Vocabulary• Activities• Concept maps• Labs and Lab Conclusions• Brainstorming

OUTPUT(your interpretation)

INPUT(notes from teacher)

Example page:

Science Notebook Setup

Science Notebook Supplies

scissors

colored pencils

pens & pencils

NO MARKERS!

Composition Notebook

Glue, glue stick, or clear tape

Right Side? Left Side?What Goes Where?

Left SideStudent OutputLots of Color

The brain remembers things in color better.

• Concept Maps• Drawings• Reflective Writing• Questions• Data and Graphs• Songs • Poems• Data from Experiments• Cartoons or cartoon strips

Right SideTeacher Input/Content

Blue or Black Ink/pencil

• Information given in class• Lecture Notes• Lab Activities• Video Notes• Summaries• Textbook Notes• Procedures for experiments• Classroom Specific Information

“A Bit More On The Left”Getting Students to Think About Their

Learning• REFLECTION: Use Guiding Prompts:

What are you curious about?What would you like to test?What was the main idea?What are the important details to remember?How does this relate to your life?What don’t you understand?

How is it Organized?

1) The Notebook has an Author Page2) Warm-ups

3) Student created graphics/notes4) Lab activities/Lab Conclusions/DEMO Day

5) Table of Contents for every unit

THE NOTEBOOK’S COVER

Your notebook should be easily recognizable. Very neatly, write your class period and your first and last name on the cover using permanent marker. You must have it every day!!

Let’s Begin· Create an author page for the notebook. This

includes your first and last name and a description of yourself through pictures or words. What are your interests? Who are your friends/family? Enjoy illustrating this page.

· At the top, number the author page #1. On the back of PAGE #1, number it as PAGE #2. Odd numbers will always on the right side pages, and even numbers will always be on the left.

· Pages are NEVER torn out. Notebooks must be kept neat because you will need them to study, and others will be grading/reviewing your work. All writing must be easily read.

3Unit 1 The

Nature of

Science

AUTHOR PAGE“ALL

ABOUT YOU

PAGE”

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1

2

Cover

Write the Unit name and number

You will have a Table of Contents for each unit. Neatly tape in the Table of Contents!

Draw pictures to describe you!

You will• Underline key concepts and highlight and

circle words and key concepts you need to know

• Paraphrase your notes• Create concept maps, data tables, graphs,

charts• Create graphics (drawings) to help you

remember/understand.

Sample of Student Notes

Ocean Ecosystems

Coral Reefs

Tide Pools

Sample of Student Notes

Ocean Trench

Ocean Ridge

Estuary

• No RIPPED OUT pages or torn corners• No DOODLING that doesn’t relate to

science• Notebook should only be used for

SCIENCE CLASS ONLY • DATE AND NUMBER each page• All entries must go into the Table of

Contents• Be COLORFUL & take good care of

your Interactive NoteBook

Studying with Interactive Notebooks

• Read the notes. Marking up and highlighting key concepts helps you to focus on main ideas.

• Paraphrasing helps you process the information.

• Studying the graphics help to create pictures in your mind. This is a fundamental difference between good and poor readers.

Notebooks should be well cared for, so they can last throughout the school YEAR

How is the Notebook graded?

• Notebooks may be collected with or without notice, so…. you MUST have your notebook everyday!

• Notebooks will be graded with by your teacher.

Notebook Rubric• Notebook grades will be based on:• Thoroughness (Every assignment

must be complete)• Organization / Neatness• Correct Information