2. Sentence Stems My question QUESTION Today I (we) want to find out PROBLEM I think ____ will happen because PREDICITION I noticed (observed) OBSERVATION Today I learned CONCLUSION I wonder REFLECTION Questions I have now NEXT STEPS/QUESTIONS
3. Time Allow for classroom discussion time Provide examples.
Finding a starting point in integrating Science Notebooks into your curriculum could me the biggest stumbling block, but it doesn’t have to be. Using Writing Prompts or sentence stems help facilitate learning is a great first step.Encouraging students to record the date & time to further promote accurate scientific findings.
Students will develop proficiency if given time and multiple opportunities to record experiences.Early on, students might seem unsure about how to answer a specific stem. It’s at this point that classroom discussions centered around the topic of “What to Write” become paramount.
As you begin to integrate the science notebook into your curriculum, know that the shape of what a Science Notebook entry can take many forms.Graphic organizers also serve as a way to help students find the connections and relationships in their scientific investigations.
The science notebooks give teachers access into students’ thinking – what they do and don’t understand, what misconceptions they have, what organizational skills they are using. Teachers can use the notebook assessments to guide their next steps in instruction.
The integration of science notebooks can be helpful when addressing the needs of students of multiple ability levels in a single classroom.For example, a student who may have poor writing skills can use visuals to show evidence of learning.
Ongoing feedback in any classroom is a critical component of the Science Notebook. Students who are reluctant or less skilled writers show improvement when teachers engage them with individualized feedback.
One way you can provide the feedback is in the form of a sticky note on a notebook page. This form of ongoing interaction can also challenge higher-level students as teachers ask more involved questions during an investigation or course of study.
For English Language Learners, teachers can encourage students to draw their observations and pair up with another student to help the create his/her own questions re: the investigation. The science notebook should serve as a window into all students’ thinking; providing structure and support that promotes achievement.
Science Notebooks help develop & strengthen students’ powers of observation and their ability to communicate their scientific ideas. Remembering that time and practice are essential to mastering inquiry skills, Science Notebooks can be an extraordinary measure of what a student is learning and how they are making sense of their science learning.
