Warm Up to Science: TEKS-Based Engagement Activities for Grade 4, Spanish page 8

Notebooking

Many of the warm-up activities ask students to record the question and their answers in a notebook, which reduces the
number of copies needed. Keeping a science notebook also provides an effective way for students to save information about
experiences for future use and to reflect upon those experiences (Marcarelli, 2010). The process of notebooking

creates a space for students to reflect about experiences and encourages insight into activities, allows students opportunities to create, encourages students to process what they are learning, allows for the free flow of students’ ideas and feelings, gives a broader perspective over time and encourages students to reread and identify recurring themes, provides students with a safe format to communicate in a healthy and constructive way, and involves student expression and exploration of thought.

An interactive notebook is another tool students use in activating prior knowledge, recording learning experiences, and
revising their thinking about the topic or concept. The input is the content learned, and the output is reflective thought gained
through learning experiences. Benefits of using of an interactive notebook include developing students’ thinking skills,
increasing communication, and differentiating instruction (Marcarelli, 2010).

References

Keeley, P. (2008). Science formative assessment: 75 practical strategies for linking assessment, instruction, and learning.
Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.