1. Keeping a Field Notebook
*In addition to original content, this presentation shares information about science notebook strategies and lessons learned from school districts in: the Washington State LASER Alliances, El Centro and Pasadena, CA and Gilbert, AZ . Also adapted from presentation by Chris Bergmann of the Poudre School District in Fort Collins, CO*

2. Why Do Researchers Keep a Notebook?
Researchers of any age need to keep track of their activities.
They need a place to record their observations and questions; to reflect on their experiences; to record the data from their investigations and from other information sources.
Maintaining an organized record is a way to look back, revise, and plan for the next steps.
Students copy down 2 of these

3. What is a field notebook?
A field notebook: a notebook used by a researcher to take notes while out in the field
Note: ‘the field’ can be anywhere outside of the class or laboratory (usually means somewhere outdoors, but in our case will be around the school)
The goal of the notebook
to create a complete record which provides accurate and useful information about what was done or observed while in the field

4. Why do WE need a notebook?
Will be designing and carrying out your own experiment in the coming weeks!
Your field notebook will…
Keep all of your research in one spot
Help keep you organized
Let’s you express your ideas/thoughts
Shows mistakes (which is good!)
Let’s you practice science writing, which is very different than English writing
Write down 2 reasons why we need a field notebook for our class

5. Examples of Scientists’ Notebooks
The following slides show real notebooks from scientists who work at Battelle – Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland, Washington.
Watch carefully as important parts to a scientist’s notebook are shared.

6. Computational Chemist
“Something wrong with this”
“will have all of these checked for instability and optimize”
Notice the date in the top left hand corner of the page. Notice the page is numbered. Notice he has all this tata in the first table on the page then next to it writes “something is wrong with this” indicating some sort of error but he doesn’t know what (maybe the numbers didn’t turn out the way he wanted

7. Materials Scientist Sample sketch Results (crossed out)
Reference graphs and tables pasted into notebook
Materials Scientist
Sample sketch
Crossed out results but didn’t make it so you can’t read it (made it so you can still see it, but know to disregard it for now)
Results (crossed out)

8. Ecologist Describing the problem – the purpose of the study
Specifications regarding the Elk Enclosures

9. Guess who’s field notebooks these are…
Mine are a little different from yours are because these are waterproof (need to be since I work in the ocean and they get wet frequently!) I also write in pencil, since most ink will run if gets wet

10. My Field Notebooks!

11. best ways to learn in science
Why are they Important?
From Galileo to scientists working on cloning, notebooks have been used to document scientific discovery.
Without documenting experimental design, findings, etc. science cannot progress
*Writing is one of the
best ways to learn in science

12. Class Discussion
What are some of the things you saw happening in the scientists’ notebooks from the previous slides?
Write down at least 3
Which of those things do you think you might incorporate in YOUR notebook?
Write down at least 2

13. How to be Organized
When making entries in your notebook, follow these guidelines:
1. Write the entry immediately after the work was performed.
2. Write the date of each new entry at the top of every page.
3. Title each new section clearly and add it to the Table of Contents.
4. Write legibly and in clear, understandable language.
5. Use the active voice in the first person when making an entry so it clearly indicates who did the work. Your experimental entries should read like a story.
6. Illustrate as necessary. A picture can be worth a thousand words!
7. Record everything - no detail is insignificant.
8. Title, label, and date all graphs and tables.
9. Include print-outs, photographs, etc. into notebook if you use them. These can be taped, stapled or pasted into it, but no loose-leaf papers!
10. Never erase an entry from your notebook. What you think is “a goof” may later turn out to be to be a great asset!
Guidelines for making notebook entries (write down the bold print on the slide)
Each new section could be an experiment, observation, etc.

14. Let’s get started setting up your field notebooks!
Take out your notebooks
Write a title on the cover
Write your name and the year on the cover

15. Table Of Contents Use the first 3 pages for the Table of Contents
DATE Title of Section PAGE #

16. 1. Number your pages (1-xx)
2. Save a spot at the top of the page for the date that you record something (an experiment, observation, background research, etc.)
Date: 1 2

17. You’re ready to start your field notebook!