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Science Notebooks

Science Notebooks

TEKS Objective

The student is expected to collect, record, and analyze information using tools, including calculators, microscopes, cameras, computers, hand lenses, metric rulers, Celsius thermometers, mirrors, spring scales, pan balances, triple beam balances, graduated cylinders, beakers, hot plates, meter sticks, compasses, magnets, collecting nets, and notebooks; 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, materials, equipment, and models to conduct science inquiry.

Science Background

Science Notebooks in K-12 Classrooms: ScienceNotebooks.org (website) - Information on how to incorporate science notebooks into your teaching, samples of student work, tips to support the use of notebooks, and strategies to integrate science to language arts and math.

Science Notebooks in K-12 Classrooms
ScienceNotebooks.org (website), www.sciencenotebooks.org

Science Notebooks: Reading Rockets (website) - Short article about using science notebooks as a tool that enables students to record and reflect on what they are learning, and also communicate their understanding of scientific concepts.

Science Notebooks
Reading Rockets (website), www.readingrockets.org

Signature Lesson

Science Notebooks: Science Notebooks in K12 Classrooms (PDF) - This activity demonstrates the value of science notebooks, and helps students set up their own notebooks to collect, record and analyze data from their own investigations.

Science Notebooks
Science Notebooks in K12 Classrooms (PDF), www.sciencenotebooks.org

Supporting Lessons

Science Notebooking, How to Get Started: Teachers Network (website) - Step by step explanation of how to get started using notebooks, along with several fun lessons and activities.

Science Notebooking, How to Get Started
Teachers Network (website), teachersnetwork.org

Using Description to Write in Science: Utah Education Network (website) - Lesson integrates language arts skills, particularly descriptive writing, into a science lesson.

Using Description to Write in Science
Utah Education Network (website), www.uen.org

Elaboration Lessons and Extensions

The Science Journal: Science Lines (website) - Students use a variety of strategies to develop and improve their science journaling skills, and understand the importance/value of science notebooks.

The Science Journal
Science Lines (website), ed.fnal.gov

Assessment Ideas

Use the Science Writing Rubric. Adapt as necessary for descriptive writing.

The Science Writing Rubric, www.uen.org

Literature Connections

The Mad Scientist’s Notebook. Snoke-Harris Elizabeth (ISBN-13: 978-1600590092)

Inventions (My Science Notebook). Podesto, Martine (ISBN-13: 978-0836892147)

Detective Notebook: Crime Scene Science. Campbell, Andrea (ISBN-13: 978-1402706523)

Related Science TEKS

(4.2A) Plan and Implement Descriptive Investigations
The student is expected to plan and implement descriptive investigations, including asking well-defined questions, making inferences, and selecting and using appropriate equipment or technology to answer his/her questions.

(4.2B) Collect Data
The student is expected to collect and record data by observing and measuring, using the metric system, and using descriptive words and numerals such as labeled drawings, writing, and concept maps.

(4.2C) Graphs, Tables, Charts                    
The student is expected to construct simple tables, charts, bar graphs, and maps using tools and current technology to organize, examine, and evaluate data.

(4.2D) Analyze Evidence and Explain                          
The student is expected to analyze data and interpret patterns to construct reasonable explanations from data that can be observed and measured.

(4.2E) Value of Repeated Experiments                
The student is expected to perform repeated investigations to increase the reliability of results.

(4.2F) Communicate Conclusions                
The student is expected to communicate valid, oral, and written results supported by data.

Related Math TEKS

4.13A  The student is expected to use concrete objects or pictures to make generalizations about determining all possible combinations of a given set of data or of objects in a problem situation.

4.13B   The student is expected to interpret bar graphs.

4.14A  The student is expected to identify the mathematics in everyday situations.

4.14B   The student is expected to solve problems that incorporate understanding the problem, making a plan, carrying out the plan, and evaluating the solution for reasonableness.

4.14C   The student is expected to select or develop an appropriate problem-solving plan or strategy, including drawing a picture, looking for a pattern, systematic guessing and checking, acting it out, making a table, working a simpler problem, or working backwards to solve a problem.

4.15A  The student is expected to explain and record observations using objects, words, pictures, numbers, and technology.

Additional Resources

Science Notebooking: Science Notebooking Blogspot (website) - This site is designed specifically to help elementary educators incorporate notebooking into their science lessons.

Science Notebooking
Science Notebooking Blogspot (website), www.sciencenotebooking.blogspot.com

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