Close and careful observing is something that scientists do often, and can lead to questions to investigate. This activity gives you the chance to take a group of objects that seem all the same from far away and observe them scientifically to notice their differences.
By learning the skill of scientific sketching, students will learn to better observe and document the natural world. This simple-to-lead activity gets them closer to constructing explanations for the variation of traits seen within a species.
In this lesson, students pop open their notebooks and get them ready for the year. Students will take time to insert a Table of Contents, number the pages, and complete their first reflective entry.
In this lesson, students will practice rapid ideation—an important step in design thinking—by brainstorming solutions to issues surrounding global water use and conservation.
In this lesson, students peruse sample pages from the notebooks of many different scientists.
Lay the foundation for sketching by explicitly teaching the following techniques. That way, students will build the confidence and skills they need to sketch during science investigations.
What are some strategies for allowing your students to share the content in their science notebooks?
By examining invertebrates, students as young as preschoolers can experience the process of inquiry, spark and satisfy curiosity about living things, make and test predictions, and communicate the results of the investigation.
Gain a new perspective of the dynamic process of science and how it relates to you with this iTunes U course co-produced by the California Academy of Sciences and University of California Museum of Paleontology.
Setting aside time for reflection allows your students to recognize their own learning. The process of reflecting also helps the learning stick. Fill your teacher toolbox with prompts and strategies that promote reflection on both the content and the practice of science.
Learn how science notebooks can help your students plan and carry out hands-on investigations. From collecting data to constructing explanations, using notebooks can solicit and deepen your students’ thinking.
Explore this section to learn the basics of setting up science notebooks with your students.