Science+Notebooks

Science Notebooks look different for different grade levels, subjects, and teachers; however, they all have a few things in common: a) they help students record data/evidence/observations in one place b) they can help students organize information in a way that allows them to use their own notes as reference c) they reinforce literacy (writing, quantitative, and science content) d) they can be hard-copy (paper) or electronic e) they can be assessed by teachers (either as formative or summative assessment) f) they reinforce the importance of scientists recording detailed notes/observations/data (if these data are used later on in instruction as students construct scientific arguments)

The following links describe different types of science notebooks, including field notes:

0) http://www.sciencenotebooks.org

1) http://www.firsthandlearning.org/journal_lesson.pdf;

2) http://www.amnh.org/nationalcenter/youngnaturalistawards/journal.html;

3) http://www.gettoknow.ca/events/bioblitz/downloads/bioblitz-field-journal.pdf;

4) http://instruct.uwo.ca/biology/320y/fj.html;

5) http://loki.stockton.edu/~cromartj/ecology/fieldnotes.htm

6) Ready to have your students use their notes to write a science report? This resource is from Scholastic and the American Museum of Natural History and may be useful for your students: []

7) Cornell notes were described by Walter Pauk from Cornell University. []

8) The Field Book Project of the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History []