Description
Elementary teachers know that learning science involves both the process of thinking and the ability to communicate those thoughts. One of the most effective ways of demonstrating this is through the use of student science notebooks. The earlier students learn to keep records, the better they will be prepared to make this a natural part of their science activities.
Classroom teachers who want to begin using or who are currently including science notebooks as part of their instruction will find that Using Science Notebooks in Elementary Classrooms is a “must-have” resource for the development of scientific inquiry, literacy, and reasoning skills. This book makes the case for using science notebooks strategically—promoting hands-on observing, recording, and reflecting—and demonstrates how best to do so.
Connecting language arts to science through expository writing, the book presents proven techniques such as scaffolds, sentence starters, discussion starters, and other writing prompts to encourage students to build on current knowledge. Every step of the process is examined: introducing notebook writing to the class, creating questions to explore, making predictions, recording observations, making and defending claims, and using the notebooks to provide targeted student feedback. Also included are chapters on the specialized needs of English language learners, offering specific strategies to increase proficiency and fluency in both science and language.
Ideas For Use
In this era of standards, assessment, and accountability, teachers will find this book a valuable resource for helping students develop and demonstrate an understanding of science content. Research-based approaches to using student science notebooks as an effective assessment tool are provided through scoring and standards-based assessment rubrics. Using Science Notebooks in Elementary Classrooms offers a research-based, systematic approach to extend, reinforce, and build on work done in the classroom.
Contents
Introduction
Chapter 1
What Do We Know About Writing and Science?
Chapter 2
What Is a Science Notebook?
Chapter 3
What Are the Essential Components of a Science Notebook?
Chapter 4
Getting Started
Chapter 5
Question, Problem, Purpose
Chapter 6
Prediction
Chapter 7
Planning
Chapter 8
Observations, Data, Charts, Graphs, Drawings, and Illustrations
Chapter 9
Claims and Evidence
Chapter 10
Drawing Conclusions
Chapter 11
Reflection: Next Steps, New Questions
Chapter 12
English Language Development and the Science-Literacy Connection
Chapter 13
Additional Strategies for Increasing the Use of Academic Content Language in the
Writing of English Language Learners
Chapter 14
Assessing Student Progress
Chapter 15
The Power of Feedback
Chapter 16
Implications and Concluding Remarks
References
Index