1. 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?

2. 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

3. 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) Why glue? Glue makes a permanent bond with paper. However, don’t forget the rule for using glue. You know it! “Dot – Dot – not a lot” and remember to push down to spread glue. It’s a good idea to keep the page open until the glue dries.

4. 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!

5. 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. Scientists are always prepared and ready for the unexpected

6. 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. o You will organize and reflect on your experiences. o You will clarify your thoughts to help you better communicate what you know. o 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.

7. How do I make my SN? STEP #1 Visit the website at http://www.gcisd-k12.org/Domain/1209http://www.gcisd-k12.org/Domain/1209 Click the tab “Science Notebooks”. Under the dancing pencils you will find the attachments to the four (4) pages you need to PRINT ( in 100% full page format ) ●Safety Rules ●Lab Report Checklist and Inquiry Guide ●SMART Phrases ●Common Equipment in the Laboratory Now you are ready to complete the process for setting up your Science Notebook.

8. 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”.

9. Table of Contents If you l ked closely at the picture on the page to the right of the Safety Rules, you saw 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

10. 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 clean pages!

11. Lab Report Checklist A 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 half sheet titled “Lab Report Checklist” and glue around the back edges and press onto page A. Don’t forget to add the page A title (“Lab Report Checklist”) to the Table of Contents at the front of your SN! IT LOOKS LIKE THIS This AWESOME TOOL will help you write your BEST lab report. LAB REPORT CHECKLIST PROBLEM: Write it in the form of a “question” HYPOTHESIS: Your prediction that refers to the question /problem Written as “If (refer to variable), then (state what you THINK, because... (why do you think that?” PROCEDURE: Numbered steps Independent variable identified – it is what “I” change Dependent variable identified – variable’s response to I.V. Controlled variable identified DATA TABLE: (place to record your data) Column for independent variable (y-axis named) Column for dependent variable (x-axis named) Units of measurement are identified in the axis-name Titled (format: “y-axis name” vs. “x-axis name”

12. INQUIRY GUIDE B Turn to the next blank page. Put the title (“Inquiry Guide”) and Page B at the top. Glue the half sheet labeled “Inquiry Guide” onto the SN page. Press the page down to smooth the edges. This will be a great place to refresh your 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! “INQUIRY” GUIDE Inquiry is curiosity; the need to explain how the world works. It is the curiosity that leads you toward questions and the investigations that you conduct. an understanding of how to get and make sense of data.  Individuals try to convert information and data into useful knowledge. We want to understand what our data means.  Inquiry involves a context for questions, a framework for questions, a focus for questions, and different levels of questions leading you to an explanation. Explanation = Claim + Evidence + Reasoning C MAKE A CLAIM Your conclusion needs to address the original question of E PROVIDE EVIDENCE Give scientific DATA that supports the claim. The R WHAT IS YOUR REASONING? You should give justification that links your claim

13. SMART Phrases for Science Write-Ups c 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 “C” and include this in your Table of Contents. This is another format to help you do your best on lab reports!

14. Common Lab Equipment D You will now work on the next clean page in your SN - the page to the right of Page D. In the upper left hand corner, put the capital letter D 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 D title to your Table of Contents!

15. 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.

16. 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. 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. Extra decorations are only limited by your creativity!