Science and FOSS Notebooks

Agenda What are Science Notebooks and why should we use them? Benefits Notebook Formats Notebook Set-up Table of Contents Vocabulary Index Notebook Entries Formative Assessmets Next-Step Strategies: Assessment and Feedback Embedded and Benchmark Assessments Tips for Successful Implementation

What are Science Notebooks? An organizer for inquiry questions and what is being learned. It is a record of students’ questions, predictions, claims to evidence, conclusions and reflections. Entries help teachers and students communicate using scientific language. Develops a community of classroom scientists. A tool for formative assessment.

Benefits of Science Notebooks Benefits to Students Benefits to Teachers Organizes information for easy retrieval. Helps students become comfortable expressing what they have learned and questioning what they do not understand. Builds reflective thinking and opportunities for self-assessment. Evidence of students’ learning over time. Provides a medium for giving students productive feedback. Allows teachers to identify misconceptions and therefore adjust instruction.

Notebook Format Notebook Cover or Title Page Subject Title Student Name School Year Class Every notebook should contain: Table of Contents Numbered Pages Entries: Date and Title Glossary or Index

Set Up Your Notebook Create your table of contents: Date Title of entry Page number Safety Rules/Expectations Number your pages

Table of Contents

Vocabulary Index Instructions Turn to the last two pages of your notebook. Fold the pages in half-vertically. Draw a vertical line down the middle on the fold and three horizontal lines across. Write the letters in the upper left hand corner of each box.

Vocabulary Index

Notebook Entries Every entry should contain: Date Page # Lesson Title Focus Question Observations Predictions Conclusions

Intermediate may include: Notebook Entries Primary may include: Intermediate may include: Drawings & Pictures Samples with Labels Data Collections Graphic Organizers Written entries Vocabulary Maps and Timelines Drawings & Photographs Tables & Charts Written Entries Graphic Organizers Inserts or Artifacts Analysis of Findings Vocabulary

Notebook Entries

Making Sense of Data Sentence Frames/Prompts Predictions: I predict that ____________________. I think that ______ will happen because ___________________. The first thing we are going to do _______. The next thing we are going to do is ____. Finally, we will ____. Data Collection: I observed __________; therefore I think __________. My evidence is ____________________. The data show ____________________. Conclusions: So I think this means ________________________. At first I thought ________________but I revised my thinking because the data showed __________. Now I think _______________________.

Formative Assessment Guide future instruction. Address misconceptions. Analyze students learning process and their conceptual science understanding. Provide feedback on student learning – during their learning. Resource tool for future tests and assignments.

Embedded Assessment Cycle

Benchmark Assessment Cycle

Evidence of Student Learning Their entries show the ability to organize. Table of contents, glossary, title, dates… Their entries show participation in science exploration. Questions, observations, data collection… Their entries show understanding. Interpreting and analyzing data, communicating finding… Their entries show extended thinking. Applies skills to new situations, poses questions for future investigations

Next-Step Strategies Strategies for the Whole Class Multiple-choice discussions Line of learning Review and critique anonymous student work Key points Class debate

“Got It/Needs Help” T-Chart Collect the notebooks, and review students’ answers to the focus question to determine if they understand the concept of the lesson. Got It! Needs Help

Tips for Successful Implementation Start off small and model often. Create a class book first. Use sentence starters to get meaningful responses. Read a few a week; this is their book. Keep a notebook for yourself.