a tool students use to make connections,
revise their thinking, and to deepen their
understanding
 shows both the content learned (input)
and the reflective knowledge gained
(output)
 increases student thinking and
achievement

prepares students to be part of the 21stcentury workforce
 increases communication between
stakeholders
 differentiating instruction

› Relevant and rigorous

Interactive Notebooks support effective
instruction

This notebook style uses both the right
and left hemispheres of the brain to
help students:
› sort
› categorize,
› remember
› creatively interact with the new
knowledge they are gaining

Place these terms in the order that shows
how student benefit from interactive
notebooking
› Retain
› Understand
› Process
› Reflect
Process
Understand
Retain
Reflect

Each notebook has:
› A designed cover that reflects the author’s
personality
› An author’s page to give ownership
› Resource pages

Model, model, model
› I modeled the entire first unit
› Then, depending on your class, you may
model, model, model as needed

Notebook
› Spiral or binder
Colored pencils
 Highlighters
 Glue and/or tape


Each unit begins with
› A Unit Cover Page
› AHA connection pages
Odd numbered pages – teacher input
 Even numbered pages – student output


Two options
› Self Reflection Paper
› Research Paper

Students are allowed to use notebook on
any assessment
I use a rubric
 Organizational/management

› No loose papers
› Spot check
› Student choice

Formative/Summative
› AHA – a reflection of what they learned
› Self Reflection paper - summative
Using writing as a way to show thinking and
explain reasoning
 Allowing students to behave like a scientist
 Improving their ability to organize ideas and
information to help them study, and build a
skill they will carry on to high school
 Serving as a portfolio of scientific
understanding

Novels
 Grammar/stems
 Math


http://interactive-notebooks.wikispaces.com/

http://www.sciencenotebooks.org/

http://mysciencelessons.wordpress.com/category/in
teractive-notebook/

http://www.ericdigests.org/2004-4/notebooks.htm

http://www.nsta.org/publications/news/story.aspx?id
=57384

cwmsroyal.pbworks.com
› Click on the “Interactive Science Notebook”
link
› You will find:
 This PowerPoint
 Additional information
 Handouts
Name:
Birthday:
Hobbies:
Your
Picture
Here
My
Interactive
Notebook
Author’s
Page
Draw things that describe you
on this page. You may also use
photos, magazine cut outs, or
computer art.
(Ex. Favorite Food, Favorite
Class, Pets, Family, Favorite
Movie or Book, etc.)
Right – side page
 Includes the unit title
 Student illustrations

These two pages are a spread
 Provides a place for students to record
the key question and the summary
statements about the major concepts
they are learning throughout the unit
 Most important pages of the unit
because they are a reflection of
students’ ongoing learning throughout
the unit

pp. 14 – 15
Scientists learn about the natural
world through scientific inquiry.
They ask testable questions,
design and perform investigations,
and use the data collected as
evidence of their thinking. We
modeled the work of a scientist
with the mystery cube activity…
What is
Scientific
Inquiry?
Pp. 22-23
pp. 18-19
A good hypothesis
must be a logical,
testable answer to
a scientific
question.
Scientists
use the
scientific
method ,,,
Left Side ( Student Output)
Right Side (Teacher Input)
How does a scientific question differ
from other types of questions you may
ask?
precise
Science Starter Activity
Answered
by
collecting
evidence
Scientific
Questions
Based on
observations
testable
Mysterious M & M’s: Questions You
Could Investigate
A, Color
B, Number
C. Etc.
Notes:
•The work of a scientist begins with a
question.
•A scientific question is one that is
precise and can be answered
through…
•Mysterious M & M’s Activity
•Observations using all senses
•Break open candy and make a
drawing
•Complete activity
•Record observations in words
and drawings

Students write a five-paragraph
reflective paper about their work during
the unit
› Count the number of assignments
› Choose four that best supports the AHA
 Justify choices by giving specific examples
why these best support the unit AHA
› Paragraph rating their notebook
› Paragraph about the notebook
Keeps me
organized
“My
notebook has
helped me
learn and
discover new
ideas “
“aha” summaries
reminded me of
what we learned
each day and how
they all tied in
together …”
“The (use of) color
highlights key ideas
and enhances
understanding.”