science journals

[landreth2007]

Does anyone have any good advice on how to use science journals? These would be the inexpensive students made variety, not any pre-printed ($).

[wig]

Have you tried interactive student notebooks? This site will give you a good explanation and give you some science helps as well.

http://interactive-notebooks.wikispaces.com/

[silvana]

Wiggy you are just so tech savvy......I am impressed =)

[wig]

Nah! Only the really easy stuff.

[silvana]

ok so now I feel bad because your simple stuff seems really complicated to me......dammit woman take the compliment and HUSH!

[teacher5]

For each hands on activity the students need to post the question, make a prediction, have a place to list the materials used and a place to draw/illus. what they used, and then a place to say what they did. You will need to model and teach them to use details and scientific language. They will also need to state what they found out, or I call it the Outcomes. Also, if time permits, they need to go back and re-do or verify results. If they got different results, this needs to be noted, too. Finally, they need to draw a conclusion by answering the intial question. Basically, my pupils are formatted in their journals: Question, Prediction, Materials Used, What I Did (steps), What I Found Out (outcomes), When I Verified (re-do), and Answer to Question (Conclusions drawn). Sometimes we even add other questions to investigate. I am big on structure and format. It makes it clear what the student needs to do and it is easy for you to assess progress. Remember to model for them this format a few times before you assign it independently. You may want to print xerox copies and have them put it in a three hole binider for each activity or just paste it on the notebook page. Good Luck!

[Boxcar]

Those things seem really cool. Sometimes, being a preschool teacher means you miss out on awesome things... Of course, the teachers of older students don't get to play with play dough or do cooking activities... My summer program just had a Red, White, and Blue parade.

[hweber]

I am going to be much better this year about science notebooks. I am going to collect and grade them. To do this, students will make a cover page, and then each subsequent page will be numbered. Handouts will be glued in, vocabulary words defined, experiments recorded in the notebook. I also plan to pose a 'big question' for each topic. For example - How are the three forms of matter different and alike? Then at the end of that topic, they will have to write the question and a paragraph that answers the question. A graphic organizer would be part of the grade as well. I also like the interactive notebooks that people have talked about in several different posts. So will try that too.

[merrynl]

I like to have my students start each day with a journal entry. It's definitions of a couple of vocab words they'll need to know for the day, a question making them think a bit about that day's topic, a question reviewing the day or week before, etc. I have them put other stuff in there too, but it helps get the kids in the habit of coming in and starting to work on science right away. It also has the added bonuses of review, getting them to open their book and look ahead for the day, and also gives me time to do attendance. :)

[Boxcar]

ABC journals are fun for students and can be made scientific... like A is for Atom - write about it.

[muinteoir]

I have students use the composition book, not spirals. They just seem sturdier.

I have wash tubs in the classroom; each class has their own tub to store journals.

When students enter the room, I have a warm-up question for them. The procedure is to enter the room, collect their journals write the date in the journal and write the question & answer in the journal.

After I am finished taking attendance, I show the answer to the question and we spend 1 - 2 minutes discussing the question.

If we are not going to use the journals again that day, I have one person from each table collect them & return them to the tub.

Frequently we do use them again.


Sometimes we draw diagrams or graphic organizers in them.

Sometimes we take Cornell Notes in them.

Sometimes we make observations in them.

Sometimes we write conclusions or reflections in them.


The list can be as long or as short as appropriate for your class.

I have a set of what I call 'table boxes.' These are plastic school boxes for each table. In them I have map pencils, markers, highlighters and other supplies. Each table has a box.

I have the students use the boxes frequently to add color to the notes & drawings.

Students who are absent know that it is their responsibility to get journal information from their study buddy.

I do not grade them. I tried; it made me crazy. At the end of each six weeks, we have a journal test. I ask content questions, not questions like "What was the date when we labeled the phases of the moon?"

Students can use the journal to answer the questions on the test. Students who have kept up with their journals do well. Some kids who don't keep up with journal do well too, just because their they know the content so well. That's the bottom line, though.

After the journal test, we fold down the last page written on, and start over for the new grading period.

I love this website - http://www.sciencenotebooks.org/ - maybe it will be of help to you.

[hweber]

What are Cornell Notes? I have really learned alot about interactive notebooks from these postings. I can't wait to learn if I am teaching science or social studies next year so I can get a model started to show the kids.

[muinteoir]

Cornell notes are just a method of taking notes that helps the kids organize the information. It's used a lot in the AVID program.

Here's one link, google it & you'll get more info than you ever wanted.

http://coe.jmu.edu/learningtoolbox/cornellnotes.html

[hweber]

Thanks muinteoir, I'll look it up.

[landreth2007]

Thanks SO SO MUCH for all of the help! I'm really excited about using these this year. I am working on a Power Point to introduce journals by showing examples of famous scientists' journaling. I want my students to understand the purpose of keeping a written record of their work as young scientists. I also want to show the variety of ways information can be shared.

Thanks again!