Science notebooks have traditionally been used for recording science lab activities, but they can be used every day, in many ways, to help students develop their writing, thinking and inquiry skills, and for teachers to assess student learning.

Summaries and Questions

Each day, have students summarize what they have learned during science. Structure this by having students record three to five facts or observations, and one or two questions they are pondering. The questions can be gathered on a classroom chart for discussion and further study. Assess summaries for misconceptions or omissions.

Comparisons

There are many opportunities for students to observe and compare. For example, students can compare individual organisms, animals from the same eco-system, structures different animals use for mobility, food gathering or defense, chemical reactions, attributes of various systems or cycles. Students can use grids, Venn diagrams or T-charts to find common attributes between seemingly different things.