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?
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Record data
Record notes
Study for tests
Track progress
Communication of thoughts and
learning
Biology Notebook Set-up
Notebook Supplies
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Spiral notebook
Glue or glue stick
Pens and pencils
Scissors
Colored pencils or crayons
Right Side/Left Side;
What Goes Where
Left Side
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
• Starting with the
first page, number
the first 50 pages.
Numbers should be
small and at the
bottom outside
corner of each
page.
Cover
1
2
3
Step 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
2
Page #
3
Table of
Contents
Table of
Contents
Date Description
Page #
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. 