Science Notebooks

What are some commonalities in the articles you read and the presentation?  In the presentation and the articles I was able to access, science notebooks were referred to as a communication tool. Students are able to record their thoughts in both words and drawings about the topics they are learning about in the classroom. I also read that notebooks can be used to collect data and record important thoughts for students to refer back to.

Are you currently using science notebooks in your classroom?  If so, how are you using them?  I have been using science journals in my classroom for the past eleven years. When we used the FOSS curriculum, there was a big focus on organization for our science journals. We would have students number all of the pages in their notebooks (composition books) at the beginning of the year, and then we would spend a significant amount of time throughout the year making sure everyone was on the correct page and we were adding everything we recorded to our table of contents. After years of doing this, I decided the organization part was taking away from the science learning we could be doing. I continued to have students record ideas, but  was not as concerned about keeping everyone on the same page. They are supposed to be reflective of each student's learning, and this allowed students to use as many pages as they needed. When we switched to our National Geographic curriculum a few years ago, the focus on science journals moved to having kids create a similar "4 square model" to record thoughts from each lesson. I think this approach is more appropriate for my third graders because it is provides a template for each lesson.

What are two new things that you learned from the readings and/or PowerPoint or something that reinforces what you are already doing with science notebooks in your classroom? I was reassured by the part in the PowerPoint that mentioned reinforcing literacy skills is a benefit of using science journals. Writing is an area our students always struggle with, so providing more practice in the area of science will hopefully continue to improve this. I was also encouraged when I read in the article that notebooks can assist with collaboration for teachers. We have used student notebooks to compare work and check for understanding.

What are some advantages and disadvantages you see of using science notebooks? The list of advantages could go on and on. Students get additional practice with writing, they have a tool to organize their thinking, they have materials to reflect on past experiences...there are so many benefits! A disadvantage I have experienced is focusing too much on the organization piece, which takes time away from science learning. Finding a balance is important!

In what way, if any, do science notebooks help support what we have explored this week with regards to "How Students Learn Science"? Science notebooks encourage students to think about their thinking, which is a big part of scientific inquiry.