Interactive Science Notebooks: Start here!
Are you new to Interactive Science Notebooks? Just looking for some new ideas? Wanting tips for implementation? Hoping to be more organized? You’ve come to the right place! This page will direct you to all of my posts and resources about interactive notebooks.
When I was forced into using interactive notebooks my first year teaching (district non-negotiable), I stumbled through implementation. As years went on, my students and I figured out how to make notebooking work best for us. In my blog posts and resources, I share strategies that maximize instruction time, allow for student reflection, and make notebooking a breeze for you!
About Interactive Science Notebooks
Intro to Science Notebooks Video: Read now
In this post, I answer the following questions:
- What are science notebooks?
- What are science notebooks NOT?
- What should be included?
- What is input?
- What is output?
ISN Mini-Lesson- Including Input and Output: Read now
This post is about how notebook mini-lessons work in my classroom.
Classroom Management and Organization
Notebook Grading Solution: Read now
Don’t spend your weekends reading and responding to students in their notebooks! I’ve got a time-saving tip to avoid stacks and stacks of notebooks that need grading and feedback.
5 Ways to Make Your Science Notebooks More Interactive: Read now
Notebook is a verb! It’s active. Students are talking. You’re talking. They’re doing stuff. You’re doing stuff. It’s interactive! This post focuses on how to make science notebook lessons interactive, productive, and focused on student learning, retention, and reflection.
Notebook Organization for Departmentalized Classes: Read now
Do you teach multiple classes of science each day? See what easy strategies I use to maintain just 1 teacher notebook.
Science Notebook Visual Rubric: Read now
I use a rubric with my students for their science notebooks. However, words and checklists are not always enough. My modeling of proper notebook care is not always enough. So, I made a visual rubric which shows examples of the level of quality.
Getting Started with Students: The First Weeks
Back to School Interactive Notebook Tips: Read now
In this post, get advice on cover decoration, that pesky table of contents, numbering pages, and making extra copies.
New Year, New Notebook: Read now
See photos of my notebook for the first weeks of school! Photos include the rubric, cover page, teamwork challenge, safety, communication, science tools, introducing the scientific method, and making scientific observations
Smooth Sailing Back to School Tips: Read now
These are all things you can do BEFORE school starts to make sure you’re prepared. Here are 4 things I take care of before school starts.
Student Reflection
Teaching Output: Read now
It’s important that we give our students time to reflect on new learning. Here are some videos I made about teaching your students how to process new learning by using sentence stems, diagrams, personal connections, and more.
Science Thinking Maps: Read now
See examples of how I use Thinking Maps with my students.
The Scary, Scary Output of Science Notebooks: Read now
Are you looking for advice and photos of output examples? Check out this post.
Accommodations, Modifications, and Teaching Quality
Starting Out with Sentence Stems: Read now
To help students become more articulate with written and verbal communication, I implemented sentence stems. Read about how I use them.
Time to Teach… Better Bar Graphs: Read now
Have you seen what students often do when left to their own devices with bar graphs? Yikes! As with everything regarding Interactive Science Notebooks, I explicitly teach students how to make better bar graphs.
Drawing Diagrams: Read now
Teach your students the ABCD Method to create detailed diagrams.
Supporting ELLs in the Science Classroom: Read now
Here is a list of 10 things you can do for ELLs when planning a science lesson.
Special Education Accommodations: Read now
This post discusses how I provide accommodations listed on IEPs.
Resources from The Science Penguin
What do we keep in our interactive notebooks? Just about everything! Any investigations, labs, stations, observations, or foldable pages go in our notebooks. I offer many science resources on Teachers Pay Teachers for grades K-5.
Interactive Science Notebook Packs for K-2
- Kindergarten Science Interactive Notebook: Along with hands-on activities, students can practice writing and drawing their observations and new information.
- Primary Science Interactive Notebook: Ideal for grades 1 and 2, these 30 notebook activities address life cycles, phases of the moon, rocks, weather, landforms, matter, and more. See it on TpT.
- Science in a Snap Units: These units help teach the standards for matter, moon phases, force and motion, life cycles, and adaptations. See them on TpT.
- 2nd Grade NGSS Notebook: If you teach 2nd grade in a state using the Next Generation Science Standards, this pack is for you.
Interactive Science Notebook Packs for 3-5
- All in One Science Interactive Notebook Bundle: This is my go-to resource for grades 3-5. Over 200 printable activities, a set-up guide, and example photos will make your year a breeze. See it on TpT.
- 3rd Grade NGSS Notebook: If you teach 3rd grade in a state using the Next Generation Science Standards, this pack is for you.
- 4th Grade NGSS Notebook:If you teach 4th grade in a state using the Next Generation Science Standards, this pack is for you.
- 5th Grade NGSS Notebook: If you teach 5th grade in a state using the Next Generation Science Standards, this pack is for you.
- Hands-On Science Vocabulary Instruction: Tired of having students copy definitions? Do your students not have the background experiences needed to relate to the vocabulary when it’s introduced? This guide is an opportunity to introduce new science vocabulary using hands-on experiences! See it on TpT.
- Science Informational Text Cards: These cards are the perfect size for notebooks and contains 84 high-interest informational text cards about earth, physical, and life science.
- BIG Science Stations Units: There are 11 units available for various topics that will allow students to explore and practice.
- Science Weekly Five: There are 17 units with stations for students to learn and review new material.
- Experiencing Science Units: Each unit includes hands-on activities with recording sheets to make learning science fun and meaningful. See them on TpT.
My Science Notebook Photos by Topic
Are you interested in seeing examples of my Interactive Science Notebook? Over the course of a year, I photographed my notebook and posted the pictures on my blog for each unit. See every page in my posts organized by topic.
Back to School Notebook: Read now
Properties of Matter: Read now
Mixtures and Physical Changes: Read now
Force and Motion: Read now
Forms of Energy: Read now
Natural Resources: Read now
Weathering, Erosion, and Deposition: Read now
Weather and Water Cycle: Read now
Space Science: Read now
Plants and Photosynthesis: Read now
Ecosystems: Read now
Life Cycles: Read now
Adaptations: Read now
Thank you for stopping by The Science Penguin. I hope this post provided the articles and resources you need to make teaching science fun and organized!
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