1. How to Set up a Lab Notebook
The Scientific Method

2. Cover of Notebook
Name
Name of course
Class period

3. Table of contents
Leave the first page of your notebook blank to list table of contents
Number the pages of your notebook as you go

4. Every lab write-up will include the following
Title and Date
Question
Background Information
Hypothesis
List of Materials
List of Procedures
Data/Data Analysis/Observations
Conclusion

5. Title and Date
Animal Behavior Lab
8/6/2014

6. Question
Write a question or purpose statement about your investigation

7. Background
After you research your lab topic/subject, summarize what you’ve learned. This may take a paragraph or two.

8. Hypothesis
An if/then statement

9. List of Materials
Create a list of EVERYTHING required to execute the experiment
Example:
2 small petri dishes
2 ml deionized water
10 pill bugs
Etc……

10. List of Procedures
Use a numbering format to list all the steps you followed to execute the experiment. THIS SHOULD NEVER BE IN PARAGRAPH FORM! TOO HARD TO FOLLOW THAT WAY!
1. Soak a large sheet of circular filter paper with 5 mls of distilled water
2. Line the bottom of a large petri dish with the wet filter paper
3. Place 10 pill bugs in the petri dish

11. Observations/Data/Data Analysis
Collect your data and note observations
Then organize it into chart form (independent and dependent variable)
Then create a graph (independent variable on the x-axis and dependent variable on the y-axis)
Write a statement about the trends you observe in the data

12. Charts and Graphs

13. Graphs should ALWAYS be drawn on GRAPH PAPER and should include the following:
Title
Labeled axis
Indicate units next to labeled axis
Legend
Line graph vs. bar graph

14. Conclusion In paragraph form
Never simply write: “Our hypothesis was correct.” Write a description about what you learned from performing the experiment and what you will do next.