Science Notebooks in the Classroom

Both the articles on science notebooks and the Power Point pointed to the fact that research indicates that using science notebooks with students helps them organize data and process information. It also helps them improve literacy skills. As the students search for evidence to support claims about science, notebooks should be a visual for them to see the importance and opportunity to share their findings.

Regarding the actual notebook, both the articles and the Power Point recommended using a simple composition notebook and/or blank sheets stapled together.  I see that the Power Point and the NSTA article used the “left-side, right-side” practice of putting students personal thoughts on the left side and information for/from the teacher on the right side.

The science spiral notebooks that my students have used in the past in my classroom are simply for taking notes from the textbook and the teacher (although I suppose some of them may be drawing pictures in them while I’m talking! )  I would like to have my students use their notebooks during observation and times of scientific inquiry in the classroom.  I plan to show my middles school students how to organize their bound notebooks into the left side/right side idea mentioned in the article. They can use the left side for questions, thoughts, “wonderings” and the right side for notes and data from textbook, teacher, and analysis information. I plan to have them put date and time on each entry, so it allows them to see their growth in scientific thinking from beginning of the year to the end. I will also have them continue to use a pocketed folder for loose handouts and digital photos of science studies, if need be.  I hope to periodically check these notebooks to see work and student understanding.

While I’m excited to try these new ideas, one of things I typically have when starting something new is being consistent and remembering to do it. Many times students resort back to old ways of doing things and in the busyness of a class period I forget to enforce necessary things. I could have an example of this notebook in front of the classroom to remind us of the importance of using them.  I also realize that it may take a bit more time at first, so I may be going through some of the first units slower than later units.  Hopefully using these units will be come habit after the first month of school.

The NSTA Power Point was explicate on how they set up the science notebook.  I enjoyed that PPT and this is how I want to plan for next year and how the students will be setting things up.  

I too had notebooks for science but it was really only used as a conceptual tool in the classroom.  The PPT from NSTA was exception.  I am hoping to find a book to read about interactive science notebooks and incorporate this into my 5th and 6th grade science class for the next school year.  

I appreciated your honesty about getting busy and skipping things to just get the standards covered and not taking the time needed for the students and their needs.  Keeping it student centered not teacher centered.

I agree with your point of view. kadashika