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Science Notebooks

Science Notebooks

TEKS Objective

The student is expected to collect, record, and analyze information using tools, including microscopes, cameras, computers, hand lenses, metric rulers, Celsius thermometers, wind vanes, rain gauges, pan balances, graduated cylinders, beakers, spring scales, hot plates, meter sticks, compasses, magnets, collecting nets, notebooks, sound recorders, and Sun, Earth, and Moon system models; timing devices, including clocks and stopwatches; and materials to support observation of habitats of organisms such as terrariums and aquariums.

Essential Understanding

The student knows how to use a variety of tools and methods to conduct science inquiry.

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

Guidelines for Scientific Record Keeping: National Institutes of Health (PDF) - Good science requires good record keeping. This pamphlet outlines the importance of notebooks in real science research.

Guidelines for Scientific Record Keeping
National Institutes of Health, www.nih.gov

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.

STC Curriculum and the Role of Notebooks and Writing
National Science Resources Center, www.nsrconline.org

Signature Lesson

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); collect, record and analyze information about the subjects; and develop questions about the organisms. The class jointly decides which question to explore further, and creates a scientific investigation to test/answer the question. Science notebooks are used throughout to record questions, data, and results.

Guided Leech Activity and Record Keeping in a Science Notebook
Minnesota Science Teachers Education Project

Supporting Lessons

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.

Measuring and Recording the Weather Using Science Notebooks
Minnesota Science Teachers Education Project

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.

Structures of Life
University of Louisville, www.louisville.edu

Assessment Ideas

Primary Science Rubric: Science Notebooks in K12 Classrooms (DOC) - 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.

Primary Science Rubric
Science Notebooks in K12 Classrooms, www.sciencenotebooks.org

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)

Related Science TEKS

(3.1A) Science Safety
The student is expected to demonstrate safe practices as described in the Texas Safety Standards during classroom and outdoor investigations, including observing a schoolyard habitat.

(3.1B) Recycling/Disposal of Science Materials
The student is expected to make informed choices in the use and conservation of natural resources by recycling or reusing materials such as paper, aluminum cans, and plastics.

(3.2A) Plan and Implement Descriptive Investigation
The student is expected to plan and implement descriptive investigations, including asking and answering questions, making inferences, and selecting and using equipment or technology needed, to solve a specific problem in the natural world.

(3.2B) Collect Data
The student is expected to collect data by observing and measuring using the metric system and recognize differences between observed and measured data.

(3.2C) Graphs, Tables, Charts
The student is expected to construct maps, graphic organizers, simple tables, charts, and bar graphs using tools and current technology to organize, examine, and evaluate measured data.

(3.2D) Analyze Evidence and Explain
The student is expected to analyze and interpret patterns in data to construct reasonable explanations based on evidence from investigations.

(3.2E) Value of Repeated Experiments
The student is expected to demonstrate that repeated investigations may increase the reliability of results.

(3.2F) Communicate Conclusions
The student is expected to communicate valid conclusions supported by data in writing, by drawing pictures, and through verbal discussion.

(3.4A) Tools for Collecting and Analyzing Information
The student is expected to collect, record, and analyze information using tools, including microscopes, cameras, computers, hand lenses, metric rulers, Celsius thermometers, wind vanes, rain gauges, pan balances, graduated cylinders, beakers, spring scales, hot plates, meter sticks, compasses, magnets, collecting nets, notebooks, sound recorders, and Sun, Earth, and Moon system models; timing devices, including clocks and stopwatches; and materials to support observation of habitats of organisms such as terrariums and aquariums.

(3.4B) Safety Equipment
The student is expected to use safety equipment as appropriate, including safety goggles and gloves.

Related Math TEKS

3.13A    The student is expected to collect, organize, record, and display data in pictographs and bar graphs where each picture or cell might represent more than one piece of data.

3.13B    The student is expected to interpret information from pictographs and bar graphs.

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.

http://science-ed.pnnl.gov/resources/literacy/pdf/FAQs_sciencenotebooks_elem.pdf

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.

Science Notebooks in K-12 Classrooms
Science Notebooks in K12 Classrooms, www.sciencenotebooks.org

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