Interactive Science Notebook (Ack: Mrs Ryan, AZ science teacher)

InteractiveScience Notebooks A tool for scientists to record their thinking and their learning before, during and after a science investigation. Bring this notebook with you everyday to class. Everything from science class will be written in this notebook. Some important handouts will be filed into this notebook organized under different science folders. You will be graded on your notebook from time to time.

Front Cover Information The blank on the front cover should clearly show your FIRST AND LAST NAMES, and SCIENCE PERIOD #. First & Last Name Science Period Mr. Murali Find a scientific picture to place on the cover below the title. Place a picture of you somewhere on the scientific picture, Your first and last name needs to be centered at the bottom of the page. The cover helps in identifying and returning the binder to the correct student if it was ever to become lost.

HOW TO ORGANIZE YOUR SCIENCE BINDER Your binder will have eight to ten labeled dividers. Do not throw away any science papers. They will all be organized into this binder. Binder Cover (Should Have a Plastic Sleeve) First Items Seen in Binder Table of Contents and two sheet covers: Table of Contents Handout Two Protected Sheet Covers with Yellow Envelopes in each. One Labeled - "Science Vocabulary" and One Labeled “Shark Tickets" Divider #1: Digging In Warm Ups Divider #2: Learning Set 1 –The Build a Better Boat Challenge Cover Page with the big question: How do Scientist work together to solve problems? Divider #3: Learning Set 2 – The Lava Flow Challenge Divider #4: Learning Set 3 – The Basketball Court Challenge Divider #5: Science News " This section will contain a collection of article summaries about what’s going on in the “science world today” Divider #6: "Demos/Puzzlers/ExtraCredit" A wealth of science enrichment activities that students can work on after completing their classwork or at home if they're looking for some higher level thinking activities. *** Science Notebook ***Students will keep the table of contents updated with each new unit. Missed reflections and homework activities must be made up after any absence or tardy. Science notebooks will be graded quarterly for effort and completeness. Folders…. Keep two folders in your science notebooks. Use one for homework and one for pass back work to be filed in correct section of notebook.

Notebook Expectations Must have for class every day. Must have a content page at the front to add new entries with title for each folder Each entry or item added has the title in the center, underlined, and the date on it. Handouts, warm up questions, Project data sheets, Assignments etc need to be organized into separate sections. Do not lose any papers. If you are absent, check the weebly for the topic you missed. Copy the entry from someone at your table, or see Mr. Murali

Notebook Expectations Writing is neat and legible. Use a ruler when creating graphs and charts, and add color to make them easier to read. When answering questions about a topic you read about, repeat the question in your answer, and write complete sentences.

Walk-In/Warm up Work Each day, take out your science notebook when you enter the classroom. Use the pages under the warm up questions folder. Write the title “Warm Up” and the date in the TOP RIGHT CORNER for that entry. Copy the question from the screen, then answer it. You may look back at your previous notes to help you answer the Walk-In question. Earn points each day for being on-task within the allocated time.

Title for Notes After we go over the Warm up work, we will begin the work for that day. Science work goes in order from the FRONT of your notebook. Write the title in the center of the page, and the date in the TOP RIGHT CORNER. Write notes and work for the day below the title.

Why Do Titles and Dates Matter? Titles and dates help you to find notes or topics that are being discussed in class. If you are absent, you can check the class webpage for which notes you need to make up, by looking for the dates you were absent on.

Notebook Check and Points Mr. Murali will check your notebook from time to time. These count toward the 21st Century Skills part of your grade, so it is important to get these points! Easy points to get if you have: titles, dates, neatly written notes, and neat coloring where appropriate.

If You Forget Your Notebook… We are all human. If you forget your notebook once in a while, quietly get scrap paper from the paper bins to use for that day’s notes. Copy them into your notebook when you get home. If you forget frequently, this is a problem with responsibility and organization. We will have a chat about changes you need to make, and your parents may need to be contacted so they can help you get organized. 

What To Do If You Are Absent Always check the Weebly even before you return to school. We will practice using the class webpage so you get used to where to look. Check the folders at the front table if there was a handout given out.

Ideas for Getting Caught Up Exchange phone numbers and email addresses with classmates in each class, so you have a few people you can contact for make-up work. Email Mr. Murali at kmurali@kiheicharter.org to ask for notes and handouts, when possible. Borrow a classmate’s notebook to copy the notes you missed.

Now, let’s practice… Open your science notebook. We will practice writing the date, the Warm up work, and title for today’s notes. Remember: write neatly so you can read and learn from your notes later! 