Science notebooking: A reflective guide for assessing student learning

In grades, 3-5 students are strongly encouraged to keep authentic science composition notebooks to make student thinking visible. As part of the Amplify Science program, students are asked to take on the role of scientists or engineers to investigate scientific or engineering problems, engaging in real-world applications and problem-based learning. As students investigate, they record their observations, collect evidence, develop models, design solutions, and construct increasingly complex arguments to build on and demonstrate their understanding of key scientific phenomena, science and engineering practices, crosscutting concepts, and disciplinary core ideas in their notebooks. In addition, students develop their literacy skills through these authentic writing tasks related to their work as scientists.