IPS/Butler University Laboratory School

Through our different science explorations I have been hearing things like “we need to be more scientific,” “we want to learn how to use science tools” and “we need notebooks, scientists have notebooks.” Last week I gave the students some science notebooks and today a few students began to record their thinking.  We have been exploring the idea of temperature and there have been three tubs of water for the students to use the thermometers with.  This morning one tub was warm, one had ice in it and was “freezing” and one was in between.  I asked the students: “Will the water stay the same temperature all day long? Can you keep track in your science notebook?”  Cameron and CJ immediately began taking the temperature of the water and writing it down. I asked them how we could tell if the water would change temperatures and Cameron decided we would have to check it again later in the day.  During morning meeting Cameron and CJ shared how they recorded their thinking in their notebooks.  This sparked more interest and discussion with the rest of our friends.  At the end of the day we had a group of students who checked on the water again.  We found out that two of the buckets were the same temperature and the one with the ice was a little colder.  The students also asked me great questions about using the thermometer that led to a discussion about Celsius and Fahrenheit.  We will continue using our notebooks and learning about science tools this week!

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