diff --git a/notebooks/challenge/paleo/exercise_3.ipynb b/notebooks/challenge/paleo/exercise_3.ipynb
index 738b84561..08f91b386 100644
--- a/notebooks/challenge/paleo/exercise_3.ipynb
+++ b/notebooks/challenge/paleo/exercise_3.ipynb
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
     "<div class=\"alert alert-info\">\n",
     "<strong>Exercise: Run a preindustrial simulation with water isotope tracers</strong><br><br>\n",
     "\n",
-    "Download isotope-enabled CESM1.3 (iCESM1.3; [code available here](https://github.com/NCAR/iCESM1.3_iHESP_hires)) code (the version of CESM used in this tutorial does not include water isotope capabilities). \n",
+    "Download (`git clone`) isotope-enabled CESM1.3 (iCESM1.3; [code available here](https://github.com/NCAR/iCESM1.3_iHESP_hires)), as the version of CESM used in this tutorial does not include water isotope capabilities. \n",
     "\n",
     "Create, configure, build and run a fully coupled preindustrial case called ``b.e13.B1850.f19_g17.piControl.001`` following [CESM naming conventions](https://www.cesm.ucar.edu/models/cesm2/naming-conventions) including water isotope tracers. \n",
     "\n",
@@ -66,8 +66,6 @@
     " \n",
     "**# Download iCESM1.3 code** \n",
     "\n",
-    "Set environment variables with the commands:\n",
-    "\n",
     "```\n",
     "cd /glade/u/home/$USER/code \n",
     "git clone https://github.com/NCAR/iCESM1.3_iHESP_hires iCESM1.3_iHESP_hires \n",
@@ -131,7 +129,7 @@
     "cd $CASEDIR\n",
     "./xmlchange JOB_QUEUE=main\n",
     "```\n",
-    "This step can be redone at anytime in the process. \n",
+    "This step can be redone at anytime in the process before running `case.submit`. \n",
     "\n",
     "**# Setup**\n",
     "\n",
@@ -168,7 +166,7 @@
     "- Notice that the steps to set up this isotope-enabled preindustrial simulation are very similar to a preindustrial simulation without isotopes (e.g., Paleo Exercise 1) \n",
     "- In iCESM1.3, it is assumed you will run with water isotope tracers so each compset include isotope settings by default \n",
     "- Use ``./xmlquery`` to explore how ``FLDS_WISO``, ``CAM_CONFIG_OPTS``, and ``OCN_TRACER_MODULES`` differ between this iCESM1.3 case and that of Exercise 1 \n",
-    "- Also, take a look at namelist settings for each CESM component with variables contain ``wiso`` in ``$CASEDIR/Buildconf`` \n",
+    "- Also, take a look at namelist settings for each CESM component with variables that contain ``wiso`` in ``$CASEDIR/Buildconf`` \n",
     "\n",
     "\n",
     "**# Submit the run**\n",
@@ -205,7 +203,7 @@
   },
   {
    "cell_type": "markdown",
-   "id": "65b2cbda-2d54-48ee-898b-4c391f16ca79",
+   "id": "06cb01fc",
    "metadata": {},
    "source": [
     "\n",
@@ -325,22 +323,6 @@
     "</details>\n",
     "</div>\n"
    ]
-  },
-  {
-   "cell_type": "code",
-   "execution_count": null,
-   "id": "472131c7-88f9-4863-a2bc-d7364333542d",
-   "metadata": {},
-   "outputs": [],
-   "source": []
-  },
-  {
-   "cell_type": "code",
-   "execution_count": null,
-   "id": "815be0bc-515a-474b-a3dd-b7ba02831b9a",
-   "metadata": {},
-   "outputs": [],
-   "source": []
   }
  ],
  "metadata": {