My kindergartners always love their science notebooks! Probably because they love science so much, and I always find that it's easy to get kids to write about things they love. In Texas, kindergarten science is supposed to be 80% hands-on. That's so much easier than it sounds. It might be something as simple as pulling weeds up out on the playground and examining their roots up-close. Or seeing how fast we can melt an ice cube.
My main objectives with science notebooks are to get the kids to record their observations accurately and with details, and to write, write, write! From day one, I want to see them at least attempting some labels--even if they are just single letters. I've found that when the expectations are set high, the kids strive to meet them. By the end of the year, my kids are usually writing pages and pages in their science notebooks!
This year, we are really going to focus on asking lots of questions, making predictions and supporting claims with evidence.
Here are 2 good books about science notebooks, although, like with most everything, they weren't exactly written with kindergartners in mind. So the ideas most definitely have to be adapted.
Using Science Notebooks in Elementary Classrooms by Michael P. Klentschy
Science Notebooks: Writing About Inquiry by Brian Campbell and Lori Fulton
As I develop my science lessons throughout the year, I will post them on-line with lots of pictures and printables, so check back to this page often to see what's new!
