Science Notebook, Log or Journal

“The purpose of science is to answer our

questions about the nature of the world –

whether we like the answers or not.”

Alan Leshner

Field notes: observations and

experiences while in the field

Species Accounts: information of each species observed; a new page per species

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Basic Styles

Drawings Sketches Scientific Illustrations

Tables, Charts, and Graphs Graphic Organizers Notes Reflective and Analytical Entries Conclusions Investigation Formats Writing Frame/ expository and creative

writings

Types of Entries

Scientists and their Journals

The first telephone Drawing by Alexander Graham Bell, 1876

(Series: Subject File, Folder: The Telephone, Drawing of the Telephone, Bell's Original, 1881 - 1966)

used for patent – proved he was first.

(you don’t need to be an artist!)

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Leonardo DaVinci

A design for a flying machine, (c. 1488) Institut de France,

Paris

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonardo_da_Vinci

Excerpt from Journals of Lewis & Clark

http://lewisandclarkjournals.unl.edu/read

White Salmon Trout(coho salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch),

March 16, 1806, Codex J, p. 133r

No “correct” format Adjust to your style and needs

Basics: Table of Contents Numbered Pages Dated Entries

Organizational Elements

Date, including the year Time of day Specific Location and habitat Description of weather: temperature,

cloud cover, precipitation, wind speed and direction

Activity title Headings (Predictions, Observations,

Results, Conclusions, Reflections)

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Suggested Elements for Field Studies

To organize thoughts and information To reflect To refer to later for recall, use in reporting

and discussions, future study To self-assess To work on expository writing To create a final product

To develop a scientific habit of mind

Uses by Students

Keep the notebooks in one place in class Maintain a master copy of everything in

the notebook Model on overhead, model in the field, model

on a poster board Use post-it notes to assist in finding a page Have students use a rubric to evaluate Use a document camera to display examples

of acceptable work Have students check a partner’s work for

specific items

Tips for ease of use

To identify evidence of student learning To identify conceptual understanding To identify students’ misconceptions To collect evidence of student growth

over time To guide instruction To differentiate curriculum

Uses by Teachers

Allows for Differentiation

ASCD, (Dec. 2006, Jan. 2007) Educational Leadership: Science in the

Spotlight Calhoun, J. & Mintz, E. (2004). Project Notebook. Science and

Children, Nov-Dec, 30-34. Campbell, B. & Fulton, L. (2003). Science notebooks. Portsmouth,

NH: Heinemann Gilbert, J. & Kotelman, M. (2005). Five good reasons to use science

notebooks. Science and Children, 43 (3), 28-32. Klentschy, M. NSTA, (2008). Using Science Notebooks in

Elementary Classrooms. Marcarelli, K. (2010). Teaching Science with Interactive

Notebooks. Corwin Press. Shepardson, D. P., Britsch, S. J. (1997) Children's Science Journals:

Tools for Teaching, Learning, and Assessing.

Resources