Science notebooks are a powerful and flexible tool to support students’ sensemaking. The science notebook creates a space for students to document their thinking, develop and revise models, plan investigations, and analyze data—all of which serve as a record for students of how their ideas have evolved over time. Additionally, strategic use of science notebooks provides opportunities for purposeful communication that are supportive of both science and language learning.

In this four-part professional learning course, you will build an understanding of how sensemaking is supported by the use of science notebooks by exploring the following:

• Module 1: Explore how scientists use notebooks to do science and engage in a short lesson immersion to experience using science notebooks to begin to make sense of a phenomenon
• Module 2: Examine various notebook organization methods across a continuum from more teacher directed to more student directed.. Learn strategies for gradually releasing responsibility for how the science notebook is organized to students over time.
• Module 3: Experience how different science notebook strategies are intentionally implemented across a learning sequence. Observe how use of the science notebook shifted from more teacher directed to more students directed over the course of a unit by examining students’ notebook entries engaged in figuring out time zones.
• Module 4: Discover how to leverage science notebooks for formative assessment. Gain insights on how to provide productive feedback to students and the considerations to make when determining to grade or not to grade students’ science notebooks. Optional Capstone: An optional capstone is available for those seeking graduate-level credit.

Course Resources

The course provides access to a rich collection of resources titled "Science Notebooks in Student-Centered Classrooms Collection" (referred to as "the collection" throughout the modules). This collection offers additional support for your learning journey.

Optional Textbook

While not required, the course aligns with the chapters in Jessica Fries-Gaither's book "Science Notebooks in Student-Centered Classrooms." Resource #5 within the collection provides a link for purchasing the book from the NSTA Bookstore if you'd like to follow along with the text.