Interactive Biology Notebooks

What are Interactive Biology Notebooks? A student thinking tool An organizer for questions and what you have learned in class A way to access and process what you have learned with various modalities (writing, drawing, discussion, etc.) A place for recording rough drafts A formative assessment tool for teachers

Why Use Interactive Biology Notebooks? Improve organization skills Improve opportunities for critical thinking Express understanding of material creatively

Why Are We Using Interactive Biology Notebooks? Record data Record notes Study for tests Track progress Communication of thoughts and learning

Biology Notebook Set-up

Notebook Supplies Spiral notebook Glue or glue stick Pens and pencils Scissors Colored pencils or crayons

Right Side/Left Side; What Goes Where Student Output Lots of color Concept maps Drawings Reflective writing Questions Data and graphs Songs Poems Data from experiments Cartoons or cartoon strips Right Side Teacher 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

The Left Side: Getting You to Think About Your Learning Reflection; using 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?

Getting Started – Step 1 On the cover, write your name and period number. If you want, draw a diagram of something that reminds you of biology.

Step 2 Cover 1 Starting with the first page, number the first 50 pages. Numbers should be small and at the bottom outside corner of each page. 2 3

Step 3 2 Table of Contents Date Description Page # 3 At the top of pages 3, 4, and 5 write Table of Contents. Divide each page into 3 columns: date, discription, and page number. (Skip pages 1 and 2.) Table of Contents Date Description Page # 4 5

Step 4 Add the following reflection questions on page 2. You will use these as open response questions. 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?

Examples

Graphic Organizers Help organize thoughts Assist with answering open response and other types of questions

Fish Bones

Venn Diagram

T-Chart

Net

Wheel

Tree

Graphic Organizers There are many different graphic organizers you can use to organize your thoughts and what you learn in class. You may use any type of graphic organizer to help you remember information. At times you will be directed as to which type of graphic organizer to use.

We Are Ready! Remember, always be sure to bring your Biology Notebook with you to class! Scientists write down everything they do, so that they may remember what works, and learn from what doesn’t work. You will also want to remember what you learn in class, so that you may do well in Biology this year. 