INTERACTIVE SCIENCE NOTEBOOK Guidelines #1

Your INTERACTIVE SCIENCE NOTEBOOK (ISN) will increase your understanding of science
by
• Using writing as a process for discovery and synthesis of inquiry.
• Modeling many enduring functions of scientists-recording information, data, and
experimental diagrams.
• Improving your ability to organize ideas and information to provide a study reference for each unit, as well
as a resource to consult for review for tests.
• Demonstrating to your teacher and parents your developing organizational skills, understanding of science
concepts and ability to express thoughts and feelings in a variety of ways.

Think as a scientist… record as a scientist… and reflect as a scientist!

Required:
1. A bound Composition notebook with at least 100 pages (first one provided by teacher). NO spiral bound.
Please DO NOT RIP OUT ANY PAGES; you will need all of them! YOU MAY TAKE YOUR NOTEBOOK
HOME BUT BE SURE IT COMES BACK TO CLASS EVERYDAY!
2. Have separate loose-leaf paper for those other assignments that require you to turn in daily work.
3. Handouts and other teacher provided pages MUST BE taped or lightly glued in place so that both side of
each sheet are visible at all times. Please NO staples.
4. Organized + NEAT: right side for input (Content) (lecture notes, labs) and the left side for output
(Creative) (drawings, reflections, worksheets), (See Figure 1)
5. A Table of Contents will be kept in the front of the notebook and will be updated regularly.
6. This Handout Guide will be glued/taped into the front of the notebook after signing by you and your
parent(s)/guardian.
7. A Weekly Science Notebook After-School Session will be held on Tuesday during Coach Class for students
wishing to work on updating or completion of activities. This is particularly valuable if there has been an
absence. Staying current with all entries is vital to your success this year in science. If you need
additional assistance speak to Mrs. Reigel to set up another session opportunity.
8. Each Quarter your Notebook Check(s) will be the equivalent of a major test. There will also be smaller 10-
point notebook checks several times a quarter. Late notebooks will be penalized.
(PLEASE REFER TO THE NEXT TWO SHEETS FOR GUIDELINES AND GENERIC RUBRIC.)
9. Labs and other class assignments will be graded separate from Science Notebooks
10. If you are absent, it is your responsibility to update your Science Notebook by looking at the class master
notebook and/or getting help from classmates or Mrs. Reigel. Being absent is not an excuse for not
having your notebook up-to-date.

STUDENT: I understand the purpose of the Science Interactive Notebook and will try my best to keep my
notebook up-to-date and complete. If I fall behind I will quickly seek out Notebook time during Coach Class or
at another time by appointment.
Student Name _______________________________________(print)

PARENTS: I have read the above information. I understand the purposes of the Science Interactive
Notebook and will encourage and monitor my student’s completion of notebook work. I will support make-up
time either at lunch or after school if necessary. I understand that Mrs. Reigel will notify me by phone or e-
mail if my student has not turned in his/her notebook on time.
PARENT/GUARDIAN SIGNATURE _____________________________________ date ____________
Phone: ___________________________ Email:___________________________________________

*Source: [Link]
 Science Notebook Instructions – Getting Started!

The Cover: Personalize your cover. Decorate it with anything you like – science pictures, sports, music groups, etc.
No foul language, pictures of death, naked people or any other images/words inappropriate for school.

Number the pages in the upper-right corner, do all the pages in your notebook

Inside the front cover write your Name and Class Period. Then, on the first page of your notebook, create an
author page introducing who you are as a person and what you hope to get out of Science this year. (Cactus Man)

On page two glue in the Class Syllabus Be sure to see Mrs. Reigel to choose a
On page three glue in Mrs. Reigel’s Class Procedures ribbon to place in the back of your
On page four glue in Science Interactive Notebook Guidelines #1 notebook for a bookmark.
On page five glue in Interactive Science Notebook Guidelines# 2
On the next four pages use a ruler to create a table of contents similar to the one below, include the items listed
below in your table of contents.
Date Assignment Name Page # Grade/
Stamp
8/25/14 Author Page 1
8/25/14 Biology Course Syllabus 2
8/25/14 Mrs. Reigel’s Procedures A-Z 3
8/26/14 Interactive Science Notebook Guidelines #1 4
8/26/14 Interactive Science Notebook Guidelines #2 5
8/26/14 Table of Contents 6-9
8/26/14 Science Safety Contract 10
Figure 1: How to Organize Your Notebook
Left side (OUTPUT) Right side (INPUT)
The left page demonstrates YOUR understanding of the Science interactive notebooks are used to help you learn
information from the right side page. You work with the input, and remember important scientific concepts. Why do they
and INTERACT with the information in creative, unique, and work? This notebook style uses both the right and left-
individual ways. The left side helps focus your attention and brain hemispheres to help you sort, categorize, remembers,
guides your learning of the science content and concepts. and creatively interact with the new knowledge you are
gaining.
What goes on the LEFT side? What goes on the RIGHT side?
OUTPUT goes on the left side! INPUT goes on the right side!
• Always use color and organize information… It helps • Always write the date on each page
the brain learn. • Always TITLE each assignment

What could go on the left side? Guidelines:

• Brainstorming Mind maps Summary Techniques • The right page is for writing down information you
• Concept maps Venn diagrams Alphabet Review are given in class (INPUT)
• Pictures Drawings 1-word/image summaries • Write down information from:
• Diagrams Writing prompts 321 Reviews lectures
• Flow charts Poems/Limricks Parent interview about… readings
• Homework Songs/Raps I now understand… presentations
• Worksheets Self reflections The important thing is… videos
• Labs Quotes/Cartoons Venn diagrams • You may use Cornell Style Notes on the right pages
• Class work or teamwork activities Tables/Graphs • Lab activities go on the right side.
• 1 word/image summaries Self-reflections • Any other type of INPUT you get in class
• CD label with the “big idea” as the title and supporting • No staples, only glue or clear tape
points as song tracks
• I learned…/I wonder…/I am surprised…/I know
understand/ I rediscovered…/The important
thing about…
• THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS, WHAT YOU SEE
HERE IS JUST A START. WE WILL DO MORE OVER
THE COURSE OF THE YEAR.
 Grading of Notebooks
Notebooks will be graded several times a quarter. Sometimes I will grade them and sometimes they will be
peer graded. Additionally, I will sometimes use the notebooks for open-note quizzes and test. If a student
should do poorly on a notebook assessment, they will have a limited amount of time to make corrections to
improve their grade. Bottom-line – keep your notebook up-to-date.

Below is the rubric I will use at the end quarter.

ISN Quarter Assessment Rubric

Category 12 15 18 20
Unsatisfactory Partially Proficient Advanced
Proficient
Shows little processing Shows some Shows basic Shows In-Depth
Self Reflection

of science content & or processing to science reflections to science reflections and relates
Connections

cannot make content but content and make science content to real
Left Side

connections. reflections are minimal connections life personal

minimal or hard to to experiences experiences
BLANK PAGES! understand
RED ALERT!!!

Category 12 15 18 20
Unsatisfactory Partially Proficient Advanced
Proficient
Information is missing or Some information is All information given Very detailed, shows
not completely done. missing. Still needs is recorded. Shows care & attention to
Right Side

Detail of

Presentation on improvement on some care & attention. science concepts.

Input

information needs to be presentation of Minor corrections Added some additional

improved information given. needed in presentation information

Category 6 7 8 10
Unsatisfactory Partially Proficient Advanced
Proficient
Page Many page numbers Few page numbers All page numbers All pages numbers are
numbers are missing and or all missing and or a few written but only one is correctly placed and
are incorrectly placed incorrectly placed missing or out of place are very neatly written

Table of 5 or more entries Missing 4 or more Includes all dates, titles Includes all dates, titles
Contents missing and/or entries and/or messy & page numbers. 3 or & page numbers. Very
incomplete and hard to follow less entries hard to read neatly organized &
or miss recorded written
Color & Uses no color &/or Uses some color & Uses color & basic Uses color & detailed
Diagrams diagrams diagrams but not diagrams/charts or diagrams/charts or
consistently in the graphs graphs consistently &
appropriate place where appropriate
Organization 5 or more pages 3 pages are incorrectly No more than 3 pages Every page is in placed
& Neatness missing or incorrectly placed, attention to are placed incorrectly. neatly in the
placed. Student needs neatness & detail is Attention to neatness & appropriate place.
to utilize before/after needed. Student needs detail apparent Great attention to
school time to improve to utilize master copy. neatness & detail

STUDENT ASSESSMENT ___________/50 TEACHER ASSESSMENT ___________/50