Biology Interactive Notebook (IntNB) Packet
Table of Contents
Where to find it in this
packet
Page Description
Biology IntNB Cover Page
Guidelines
Page 1
Set-up and Maintenance of IntNB
Page 2
Right-side Essentials
Page 3
Left-side Essentials
Pages 4 and 5
Lab Group Page
Page 6
Tables of Contents
Pages 7 – 9
Where it will go in your
IntNB
Using a separate piece of
paper, glue this to page 1
of your IntNB
Glue this to page 2 of your
IntNB
Glue this to page 3 of your
IntNB
Glue this to page 4 and 5
of your IntNB
Glue this on page 6 of your
IntNB
Glue this on pages 7 – 9 of
your IntNB
Biology IntNB Cover Page
On the back of this page, or on a separate piece of non-lined paper, design the cover page
for your IntNB. Glue this cover page to the first page of your IntNB.
Guidelines (Each of the following is worth 1 point)
1. 4+ Colors: Be creative, include images and/or photos
2. Neat: Use a solid colored piece of paper, not notebook paper.
3. Biology-related theme: You may choose any one of the themes that we are
going to cover first semester: General Science Review, Chemistry, Ecology, Cell
Biology, Mitosis, Protein Synthesis, Photosynthesis and Respiration
4. Name of Class and Period
5. Your Name: If you want to, include a picture of yourself!
1
Set-up and Maintenance of Interactive Notebook (IntNB)
Materials Needed
Most of the materials needed for this class will be used to support and maintain your IntNB.
A complete list of class materials can be found in the course syllabus.
1. Spiral-bound notebook
(at least 8.5” X 11”)
2. Glue stick
3. Pack of 3” X 5” index cards
4. At least 10 envelopes for storing
vocabulary cards
5. Blue or black pen
(Notes may be in pencil)
6. Colored pencils and/or highlighters
7. Scissors
8. Metric ruler
Setting up your IntNB
We will do this together in class, but you may use this as a guideline. The following list of
IntNB sections will be set-up at the beginning of each semester, as you will have at least one
IntNB per semester.
1. Numbered pages: Every page will have a number in the outer-most bottom
corner. As a reference, every right-hand side page will be an odd number.
2. IntNB Cover Page: The very first page of your IntNB will serve as the cover page.
This will be any theme within Biology, and will be the first peer-checked assignment
in this class.
3. Table of Contents: The second, third and fourth pages of your IntNB will serve as
your Table of Contents. It is here that the student will record all entries – graded or
not graded.
4. IntNB Reference pages: Pages 5 – 10 will include the types of assignments you
will have as a reflective (or left-side) assignment, as well as the rubric for grading
peer-checked assignments.
5. Index: The last 13 pages of your notebook are reserved as your index. Each page,
front and back, will be reserved for a letter of the alphabet. In this section, you will
put the prefixes, roots, and suffixes we will cover in this Biology class.
Maintaining your IntNB
The IntNB will be clearly divided between right and left page assignments. The table below
provides a brief overview of the types of assignments and activities students should expect
to place on either the right or left side of their notebook.
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Left-side: Output Page
Students Process New Ideas
Warm-up exercises
Summaries and reflection of
concepts/labs/activities
Graphic organizers, poems, timelines
and any other student generated
work
Vocabulary cards
Unit cover designs
Unit reflections
Right-side: Input Page
Teacher Provides New Information
 Class notes – must be Cornell-style
notes
 Pre-lab write-ups and data
 Discussion notes
 Reading, book and video notes
 Handouts with new information
 PowerPoint slide print-outs
 Unit cover and back handouts
2
Right-side Essentials
Name and Date
Write your name and date in the top right-hand corner at the beginning of each right-side
assignment (this includes notes and labs).
Correcting Mistakes
If you misprint or write something in the wrong location, you may not erase it or conceal it
in any way. Simply put a single line through the mistake, and initial and date the line. When
you go to science classes beyond this Biology class, erasing or marking over information to
the point that you cannot read what was written is called “concealing data.” You will
practice proper lab notebook procedures in our IntNB.
Cornell-style Notes
Most of your classes at Foothill will require Cornell-style notes. The following will serve as a
guideline for setting up your Cornell notes.
1. Divide your page: On the right side of your IntNB, draw a vertical line, dividing
your page into one-third on the left and two-thirds on the right.
2. On the right of the divide: Record your notes on the right side of the vertical line.
These include all terms and definitions as well as any other emphasized material.
3. On the left of the divide: Write down the bigger concepts or vocabulary terms that
are listed on the right of the divide.
4. Summary: At the end of lecture-based lesson, you will write a three-sentence
summary of the big concepts in that lecture.
Pre-Lab Write-ups
Prior to each lab activity, you will write a “pre-lab write-up.” The results and conclusion will
follow, but are not included in your pre-lab write-up. This will include the following:
1. Title: This will be the name, either a creative one that you devise or the one given
for the lab.
2. Purpose: This will be one sentence stating what it is you are going to do or test in
the lab.
3. Hypothesis: Besides the conclusion, this is one of the most difficult and thoughtprovoking aspects of your lab write-up. Each hypothesis must be written in “If
(Independent Variable), then (Dependent Variable) because (your reasoning for
choosing the specific dependent variable).” Some lab activities may not have an
hypothesis.
4. Procedure: This will be a list of steps. You will summarize the procedure from the
lab provided, but it should be written so that another person could use your
notebook to follow the lab steps, either written or drawn (see number five, below).
5. Left-side flow-chart: On the left side of each lab write-up, you will draw a flowchart/cartoon of each step of the procedure. This is the part of the pre-lab write-up
that your peers will grade prior to performing the lab.
3
Left-side Essentials
Left-side Assignment Requirements and Point-value
These are typically creative assignments, and are often peer-checked. The guidelines will be
straightforward. Unit cover designs, unit reflections, lab procedure flowcharts as well as
your vocabulary cards will be assigned on a regular basis and the guidelines for each are
listed below. Two points from each left-side assignment will typically be
1. 4+ Colors: Studies have shown that color is a helpful mnemonic (memory) device.
As such, left-side assignments are generally required to be colorful.
2. Neatness: If the student was asked to make a flowchart, the lines must be straight.
The purpose of this requirement is so that students spend time reflecting on the
concept, rather than hastily putting something together.
Unit and subunit cover pages: Each major unit and subunit in this Biology class will have
a front cover page. The cover page will have key roots, prefixes and suffixes, as well as a list
of objectives for the specific unit of study. This cover page will be glued to the right side of
the notebook, while the student will design a “Unit Cover Page” to the left side of the
IntNB. The guidelines for the cover pages are:
1. 4+ Colors
2. Neatness
3. Unit Image: Must include an image that reflects what the unit means to you (this is
generally a way to check for background knowledge before the unit begins).
4. Name of Unit: Must include the name of the unit, as a unit title page.
5. Tabbed: You may put a post-it note or other small piece of paper to serve as a tab,
and this must be easily accessible and labeled with the name of the unit.
Unit and subunit reflection: At the end of each major unit of study, students will affix
their unit back page (provided at the beginning of each unit) to the right side of their IntNB.
The unit back page consists of vocabulary words that have been covered in the unit, as well
as a list of California State Standards covered in the unit. To the left of the unit back page,
students will reflect on the unit in writing. The guidelines for the “Unit Reflection” are:
1. Highlighted Standard: On the unit back page (glued to the right), select a standard
that you feel you really came to understand, and have work to reflect that
understanding.
2. Work Tabbed: Find the example of the work that reflects your understanding of
the specific standard, and tab it in your IntNB. If the exemplary work was separate
from your IntNB, put it in your folder, but make a note next to the highlighted
standard that it is in your folder. If the work is intangible or too big to put in your
folder (i.e., a discussion, a large 3-D project, etc.), represent it graphically, and place
that in your folder.
3. Writing: Two paragraphs should be written to the left of the Unit Back Page. The
first paragraph should address your understanding of the standard prior to covering
it in class. The second paragraph should address your understanding after the
activity, discussion, project, etc. If you would like to write more, please feel free.
4. Vocabulary Words: Within your writing, you must incorporate at least three of
your new vocabulary words in the Unit Refection. Highlight all vocabulary used.
5. Neatness: If your handwriting is difficult to read, you may type this and glue it into
your IntNB.
4
Vocabulary cards: You will be given a list of vocabulary words that must be defined on
index cards on a regular basis. These cards will be placed in an envelope that is glued or
taped into your IntNB. Each vocabulary card is worth one point, but each of the following
requirements must be met to receive one or two points (see point value below):
1.
2.
3.
4.
4+ Colors and Neat
Vocabulary Word on front of card
Definition on back of card
Image of term on either side of card: Depending upon your learning style, you may
choose to put the image on the front or back of the card. Many visual learners
benefit from putting the image on the front with the term.
5. Use the term in a sentence: This should be put on the back of the card, beneath
the definition.
Lab Procedure Flowchart: Each pre-lab write-up must include a flowchart or cartoon
illustrating the steps of the procedure.
1. 4+ Colors
2. Neatness
3. Each procedural step must be drawn separately. This may not include any
words, except for chemical symbols or numbers if time or measurement is included.
The figures may be stick figures.
4. Arrows in order: Each step must be connected to the next with an arrow.
5. Accuracy: The equipment drawn must represent the tool that will be used in the
experiment.
Concept Maps:
1. All connecting lines need a directional arrow (or two arrows if the
concepts are interrelated)
2. All connecting lines need a word or phrase that indicates the
relationship (why are the concepts connected?)
Rating each of the following from 0 to 3(and some items only to a 2)
Organization section:
Logical main concept (only goes up to a 2)
General to specific
Levels of hierarchy shown
Branching demonstrated
No repetition of descriptors
Prepositions, verbs, or adverbs for all linkages
No linking lines crossed
Some cross linking shown (only goes up to a two)
5
Point value for Left-side Assignments: As you may have noticed, almost every left-side
assignment has a lift of five requirements. Each left-side assignment is typically worth
between one and five points.
1. One point: Every requirement must be followed to earn one point (e.g., many of
the vocabulary cards)
2. Two points: Each vocabulary word that is underlined is worth two points.
3. Five points: Each requirement is worth one point.
4. Extra-credit can be earned if a student has created work above and beyond the
requirement. It is required that the student and/or his or her group check with Mrs.
Akl prior to assigning extra-credit for any assignment.
Other Types of Left-side Assignments
These will be modeled and described when they are assigned in class.
Timelines
Drawings
Charts and Graphs
Brainstorming ideas
Acrostic Poems
Cartoons
Venn Diagrams
Tables
Warm-up Exercises and Reflections
Pictures and Diagrams
Foldables
Magazine covers
6
Index Entries
7
Lab Groups
When you are assigned to a new lab group, write down your new lab partner’s names and email addresses or phone numbers in the space provided. Make sure you write down the
name of your group (i.e., “red group” or “cell group”) and your seat number for that group.
Science Symbol:
Lab Partner’s Name
Seat Number:
Phone Number
Letter Group:
Lab Partner’s Name
Seat Number:
Phone Number
Color Group:
Lab Partner’s Name
E-mail Address
Seat Number:
Phone Number
Insect Group:
Lab Partner’s Name
E-mail Address
E-mail Address
Seat Number:
Phone Number
E-mail Address
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Table of Contents
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Peer Signatures
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Table of Contents
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