Science Notebook Guide Who needs a Science Notebook? What materials do I need to make a Science Notebook? When is it due? Where will I keep it? Why do I need one? AND . . . How do I make MY Science Notebook?

Who needs a Science Notebook? EVERYONE DOES! Why are Science Journals important? This interactive tool is an important document of daily work. A scientist will . . . Record data Make sketches Respond to questions Keep track of questions they may have

What materials do I need to make my Science Notebook? 1. A composition book (your choice of design!) 2. Scissors 3. Glue (not glue stick)

When is this SN due? Your job as a 6th Grade Scientist begins on the SECOND day of school. [Day One is reserved for getting to know each other] You must be ready to make GREAT observations, record and illustrate what you observe, make inferences about what you observe, and finally come to a conclusion about your work. Your Science Notebook (SN) is where you will record all your Science class work!

Where will this SN be kept? Your Science Notebook is your property. You are responsible for taking it home to review your work each night and prepare your thoughts and/or questions for the following day.

Why do I need one? Your Science Notebook (SN) will be a place to build your explanation of science concepts using a variety of thinking tools. You will organize and reflect on your experiences. You will clarify your thoughts to help you better communicate what you know. You will make graphic organizers (concept maps or learning logs) so you can connect daily ideas to the overall unit concepts. The BEST reason Scientists (even those in 6th Grade) use a Science Notebook is to monitor their own development by reviewing their work and identifying the items that best represent their progress.

How do I make my SN? STEP #1 Visit the website at http://www.gcisd-k12.org/Domain/1209 Click the tab “Science Notebooks” (under the dancing pencils) to find the attachments to the five (5) pages you need to PRINT (in 100% full page format) to complete the process for setting up your Science Notebook (SN). Safety Rules Steps for Success Common Equipment in the Laboratory Guide for Writing Your Lab Reports SMART Phrases

Putting it together Step #1 INSIDE the front cover Cut along the dotted line of the Safety Rules page. When you are finished, put dots of glue along the edges of the back side. Place the sheet onto the INSIDE of the front cover like this and press out along the edges to smooth them. Pick a color and neatly fill in the bubble word “Safety Rules”.

Table of Contents If you looked closely at the picture of the page to the right of the Safety Rules, you see that the Table of Contents page comes next. You can make this yourself by putting the title TABLE OF CONTENTS at the top of the page. Next, put the word DATE in the first line of the left hand margin and the word PAGE at the first line of the right hand margin. Use a ruler to draw a line straight, neat line under these headings like this DATE ENTRY/ACTIVITY PAGE

Next Step? You need two more “Table of Contents” so . . . turn the page of your Science Notebook and repeat the Table of Contents process on the next two pages!

Steps for Success A Flip to the next clean page in your SN. STEPS FOR YOUR SUCCESS 2. Listen in class and be a participant. Copy notes or practice problems. These are a great source of help to you when doing homework. 1. DON’T BE LAZY! 3. Complete YOUR assignments neatly and on time. 4. Do you own work – copying your classmates work does not allow you to Homework is practice of class work! practice concepts and understand the next lesson, or help the teacher know Delays in turning in work will affect your grade. if you have understood the concept! Use your class notes as a reference. If you still don’t understand, ask the teacher for help. Have your thoughts with previous notes and have any necessary supplies ready. 3. Food and drinks without caps are not allowed in the lab for safety reasons, Pagers, cell phones, walkmans, radios need to be turned off and stowed Hats are NOT allowed at HMS. The school dress code will be strictly enforced! Don’t argue – YOU were given school rules. It is up to you to read them, understand them, away to prevent unnecessary distractions. 1. Be in your seat and ready to work when the music ends/bell rings! This includes having your own pencil/pen, your Binder Reminder, notebook or paper, an eager attitude and a desire to learn. and follow them! Class Procedures You should have checked the Agenda Board and write the plan in your Binder Reminder to help you be aware of what we are going to do in class today. 2. Be prepared for class every day! If you are absent, YOU are responsible for obtaining and completing make-up work. The Daily Agenda for your class is updated on this website each day. Know what we did in class before you return OR call a friend OR check with your Table Captain for the general idea of the missed lesson. WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE ABSENT If there were any worksheets assigned, you will find your copy in the class period file with your name and the date it was assigned written at the top in red! That is my signal that your were absent and a late work deduction will not be given. Flip to the next clean page in your SN. [SN = Science Notebook] In the upper left hand corner, put the capital letter A as the page number like the heading of this page. Take the sheet titled “Steps for your Success”. Cut around the edges so it will fit on the page in your SN. Put glue around the back edges and glue onto the SN page. Don’t forget to add the page A title to the Table of Contents at the front of your SN!

Common Lab Equipment B You will now work on the next clean page in your SN - the page to the right of Page A. In the upper left hand corner, put the capital letter B as the page number. Now, find the sheet with the title of “Common Lab Equipment” and cut around the outside edge of the pictures. Glue this paper to the page. Don’t forget to add the page B title to your Table of Contents!

Guide for Writing Lab Reports C Turn to the next blank page. Put the title and Page C at the top. Find the sheet labeled “Guide for Writing Lab Reports” and cut to fit onto the SN page. Glue the page down and smooth the edges. This chart will be a great place to refresh memory about the information needed in each step of a lab report to provide good scientific support of your findings! HINT: Your efforts will be reflected in your lab grade! GUIDE FOR WRITING YOUR LAB REPORT QUESTION What do you have to investigate? HYPOTHESIS Using prior knowledge, what do you expect to happen? FORMAT: If I do . . . then . . .will happen because . . . PLANNING Decide how to plan the process to get your data • Paragraphs, • Bullets OBSERVATIONS Use both qualitative and quantitative data • Measurements should be specific, accurate, and units labeled • tables/charts – use headings • drawings with titles and labels CLAIM . . . EVIDENCE • State your claim based on your evidence (data collected from observation) • What do you claim to be true (scientific statement) • How can you prove what you are stating? (back it up) • EX: I claim that when . . . , then . . . . (happens). REASONING The justification that shows why your evidence supports your claim. Explains why your data counts as evidence using scientific principles. WOW (Wonderings) Three (3) statements or questions that relate to the investigation. • Shows change in your way of thinking • A new question that may be investigable • A question that would provoke a deeper understanding • A question that would start a class discussion Conclusion • Restate the question as your “topic sentence” • Use data from your claims and evidence chart to answer the focus question. Every claim must be supported by evidence • Tie in reasoning to help support what you have learned Reflection Refer back to your hypothesis. You thoughts after the experiment. This reminds me of . . . because . . . Now I think that . . . because . . .

SMART Phrases for Science Write-Ups D Cut around the SMART Phrases page leaving a ½” border. Glue the paper to the page - don’t forget to smooth the edges down. Don’t forget to number page “D” and include this in your Table of Contents. This is another format to help you do your best on lab reports!

Finish numbering pages! Return to page D. Starting with the next page, you can begin numbering your pages in the upper outer corner of each page starting with number 1. Continue to the last page of your SN.

IF you followed the directions . . . all the necessary parts are included in your SN and it’s time for the fun part! You will personalize your SN by decorating the front cover. BEWARE: There are three requirements 1. Your name must be neatly written. 2. A picture of yourself (not in a group). 3. All details must be school appropriate. The extra decorations are only limited by your creativity!