Your Science Notebook

QOD: Think, Pair, Share…

Why are science notebooks/journals helpful and benificial?

Researchers of any age need to keep track Researchers of any age need to keep track of their activities. of their activities. They need a place to record their They need a place to record their observations and questions; to reflect on observations and questions; to reflect on their experiences; to record the data from their experiences; to record the data from their investigations and from other their investigations and from other information sources. information sources. Maintaining an organized record is a way Maintaining an organized record is a way to look back, revise, and plan for the next to look back, revise, and plan for the next steps.steps.

Why Do Researchers Keep a Notebook?

Why do WE need a notebook?

• Keep all of your stuff in one spot and easy to retrieve

• Helps keep you organized

• Let’s you express your ideas

• Shows mistakes (which we like )

• Let’s you practice science writing, which is different than English writing

• Makes it easier to study for a test

SCIENTIST’S NOTEBOOKS

• The following slides show real notebooks from scientists who work at Battelle – Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland, Washington.

• Watch carefully as important parts to a scientist’s notebook are shared.

Computational Chemist“Something wrong with this”

Computational Chemist

“will have all of these checked for instability and optimize”

Materials ScientistReference graphs and tables pasted into notebook

Materials ScientistSample

sketch

Materials Scientist

Results (crossed out)

ECOLOGIST

Describing the problem – the purpose of the study

ECOLOGIST

Identifying the site including selection criteria

ECOLOGIST

Specifications regarding the Elk Enclosures

Why are they Important?

• From Galileo to scientists working on cloning, notebooks have been used to document scientific discovery.

• Writing is one of the best ways to learn in science!

Class Discussion

What are some of the things you saw happening in the scientists’ notebooks?

REFLECT…

Brainstorm which of those things do you think you might incorporate in YOUR notebook?

LET’S GET STARTED…

Cover or Title Page

Give your science notebook a title.

Make your notebook reflect your style.

THEN…

Don’t forget to let your notebook reflect your…

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Use the first 3 pages for the Table of Contents… use a ruler to help keep it neat. DATE ACTIVITY

PAGE #

NUMBER YOUR PAGES

1

NUMBER YOUR PAGES THROUGH 30

32

The day’s date goes in the upper right corner – every day!

1

October 12

Page 1 – Science Expectations• Title your page Science Expectations

• As a group of 4 at your table, revisit the first day of school and our first quiz. Your goal is to collaborate to remember the 5 important parts of the quiz.

• Make a numbered list with a COMPLETE SENTENCE for each of the 5 parts of the quiz you took last week.

Page 1 – Science Expectations

• Discuss these 5 expectations as a group and decide why they are essential to the class.

• Now…as an individual write a short paragraph (3-5 sent.) describing how each of these things is essential to the way our science class works.

• Your paragraph should start with the following:– I believe that the above items are important to a healthy

science classroom because….

Shoe Observation Activity

• In science, we need to document and record our observations. Using diagrams and scientific illustrations are great ways to capture what you see.

• Title your page Shoe Observation Activity

• Don’t forget the date!

• Draw a picture of the object your teacher refers to in class.

Move from Sketch to Scientific Illustration

•Go back and label the parts using the information your teacher gives you.

•Add any detail to enhance the realism of your drawing.

•Your drawing now is detailed, accurate, and labeled

ANATOMY OF A PENCIL

Example of a Scientific Illustration

ANATOMY OF A SHOE

Example of a Scientific Illustration

ANATOMY OF A SHOE

Example of a Scientific Illustration

Tape the “Observation Organizer” on your next page

• These cues can help get you started when making initial observations about something or somewhere.

• Using the chart to help you, write five thoughts/observations about your object on the page below your drawing.

Betsy Rupp Fulwiler

OBSERVATI ONS ORGANI ZER

Writing Frame

Think of properties you can see such as size, shape, color, lines, texture, pattern, behavior…

I observed

Think of the other senses of smell, sound, touch, and perhaps taste!

I noticed

Connect it with something that you already know.

I t reminds me of

Add more detail as needed.

This is so because

Be curious and ask questions you could investigate.

I am curious about I t surprised me that I wonder what would happen if

Make a BOX & T-CHART on the next page

OBJECT #1 OBJECT #2

Similarities

Differences

Betsy Rupp Fulwiler

Compare and Contrast

• Now we can create a comparison in the form of a paragraph.

• Write down at least two things that are similar and two things that are different between your drawing and your table partners drawing.

Update Your Table of Contents

• Turn back to your Table of Contents.

• Add the Shoe Observation Activity with the corresponding page numbers and date. You might make a note of the charts if needed.

• Now that you have had a basic experience in using your science notebook you are ready to record your experiences while at work in your science class!

How to be Organized

• Do not tear pages out of your notebook• Use only pencil and/or colored pencil to

write on the pages.• Colored pencils should be used for graphs

and diagrams.• Use only a glue stick or staples to attach

your pages…unless you are adding a page of notes to an existing page.

As a Science Department

– Table of Contents– Number the pages– Notes and daily activities– Practice writing and recording skills– Use it as a thinking and reflective tool– Put in key tools/charts to be used in the future