Science Notebooks
TEKS Objective
The student is expected to collect, record, and compare information using tools, including computers, hand lenses, rulers, primary balances, plastic beakers, magnets, collecting nets, notebooks, and safety goggles; timing devices, including clocks and stopwatches; weather instruments such as thermometers, wind vanes, and rain gauges; and materials to support observations of habitats of organisms such as terrariums and aquariums.
Essential Understanding
The student uses age-appropriate tools and models to investigate the natural world.
Science Background
Science Notebooks: Lawrence Hall of Science/FOSS (PDF) - Resource guide to science notebooks that provides strategies for incorporating notebooks into inquiry based science activities for grades K-6.
Science Notebooks
Lawrence Hall of Science/FOSS, www.lhsfoss.org
STC Curriculum and the Role of Notebooks and Writing: National Science Resources Center (PDF) - Explores the importance of science notebooks, along with strategies for using them in your class and evaluating students’ science notebook entries.
Science Notebooks: Alaska Seas and Rivers Curriculum (website) - Explains the benefits of science notebooks for both teachers and students, and provides tips about setting up and organizing science notebooks, as well as the kinds of information to include in a science notebook.
Signature Lesson
Measuring and Recording the Weather Using Science Notebooks: Minnesota Science Teachers Education Project (website) - Students use standard tools (rain gauges, thermometers and barometers) to measure and compare weather conditions over time. They record their data and questions, and describe trends and findings, in their science notebooks.
- Supporting Lessons
- Extensions
- Assessment Ideas
- Literature Connections
- Related
TEKS - Additional Resources
Supporting Lessons
Guided Leech Activity and Record Keeping in a Science Notebook: Minnesota Science Teachers Education Project (website) - Students observe leeches (you may substitute ladybugs or crickets) and develop questions about the organisms. The teacher and students jointly decide which question to explore further, and create a scientific investigation to test/answer the question. The class uses science notebooks throughout to record questions, data, and results.
Elaboration Lessons and Extensions
Structures of Life: University of Louisville (PDF) - Students observe and investigate the life cycle of plants, from seeds to adult plants. Science notebooks serve as a tool for recording students’ observations, data, questions, etc.
Assessment Ideas
Primary Science Rubric: Science Notebooks in K12 Classrooms (Document) - This simple rubric uses a scale from 1-3 to help you evaluate the science content, table of contents, scientific drawings and daily entries in students’ science notebooks.
Literature Connections
Inventions: My Science Notebook. Podesto, M. (ISBN-13: 978-0836892147)
The Moon: My Science Notebook. Podesto, M. (ISBN-13: 978-0836892154)
The Body: My Science Notebook. Podesto, M. (ISBN-13: 978-0836892123)
Additional Resources
FAQs on Science Notebooks: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PDF) - Educators naturally have many questions when using science notebooks for the first time. This document provides answers and includes suggestions for overcoming common barriers when introducing notebooks to your class.
FAQs on Science Notebooks
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, science-ed.pnnl.gov
Science Notebooks in K-12 Classrooms: Science Notebooks.org (website) - Science notebooks can improve students’ science understanding, while also enhancing their reading, writing, mathematics and communications skills. This site provides examples of student work from science notebooks and tips for using science notebooks in your class.
TEKS Navigation
Grade 2
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