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What is the purpose?
The purpose of a science journal is to write and/or draw freely about different topics on climate change and practice writing skills. This can include students' thoughts, feelings, observations and knowledge. Teachers should avoid criticizing students' writing. Science journal is a great way for students to gain confidence in their writing skills and express themselves creatively!
What are the expectations?
Students should use a notebook and decorate it with tape, stickers, markers, magazines, etc. to their liking. They are encouraged to be creative with it. There are four different writing prompts: 1) pictures/graphs, 2) questions, 3) statements, and 4) free writing. Sometimes, students are asked to summarize lectures in their science journals. Students are expected to write down the prompt and date in every entry.
When can it be used?
Science journals will be placed every morning on students' desks first thing in class to help students warm up to ideas that will be addressed and express their background knowledge on that topic. They will be given 10 minutes to complete the prompt prior to class starting. Students can be asked to summarize lectures during class time.
How are science journals assessed?
They will be assessed based on Science Journal Entry Rubric (see below). Teachers are encouraged to take pictures of students' entries to keep track of their growth and collect data to provide evidence of their growth.
Teacher tips: To make any adjustments or print, click on the top right of the rubric below to open up the Google Doc version of rubric
Suggested writing prompts for science journal
Lesson 1
1) Respond to the following three pictures (i.e. polar bear on melting cap, sea turtle with plastic wrapped around its neck, koala in bushfires) What are your thoughts, questions, concerns? (see below for pictures) ASL Version
2) Respond to the following three pictures (i.e. deforestation, global warming, protest). What are your thoughts, questions, concerns? (see below for pictures) ASL Version
3) Summarize the Overview of Climate Change lecture in 3 sentences of what you have learned. ASL Version
4) Can we live without trees? Why or why not? ASL Version
5) Have you been in a protest? If so, what did it feel like? If not, would you be interested in protesting? For which one? ASL Version
6) Free writing: You can write about what you have learned about your theme, your experience with researching, creating PowerPoint slides, and/or sharing information with your family and friends, and your feelings/thoughts towards climate change. ASL Version
Teacher Tips: To make any adjustments or print, click on the top right of the picture below to open up the Google Doc version of pictures with links
Lesson 2
1) What are 3-5 things you or others may negatively impact the environment?
2) Summarize the community meeting in 3 sentences what you have learned.
3) How do you decide what information to trust?
4) What is the difference between fact and opinion?
5) Document the Greenhouse Effect Experiment.
6) How does greenhouse gases relate to human activities? What effects does it have on humans, animals, and our planet?
7) Respond to the following picture. What is the takeaway message? (see below for picture)
8) Have you met a Deaf scientist before? If so, explain who it was and what this person does? If not, who would you like to meet?
Teacher Tips: To make any adjustments or print, click on the top right of the picture below to open up the Google Doc version of the picture with a link
Lesson 3
1) What are different ways you can collect data?
2) Have you experienced interviewing people and/or been in one before? If so, describe the experience.
Lesson 4
1) How will you plan to minimize the impact you have on the environment?
2) How was your experience of trying to minimize your impact so far? Has it been easy or hard to do?
3) What are two things you learned from doing the research project - micro and from your classmates' presentations? Will you change something? If so, what is it?
Lesson 5
1) Explain how our planet is changing based on our actions in two ways.
2) What is one or two thing(s) you have learned or found interesting while researching about your topic?
3) Have you noticed recent changes in the weather or unusual weather patterns where you live? If so, describe them.
4) Respond to the following picture. What is the takeaway message? (see below for picture)
Teacher Tips: To make any adjustments or print, click on the top right of the picture below to open up the Google Doc version of the picture with a link
Lesson 6
1) How do you think your topic impacts us humans, animals and our planet?
2) Respond to the following picture. What is the takeaway message? (see below for picture)
Teacher Tips: To make any adjustments or print, click on the top right of the picture below to open up the Google Doc version of the picture with a link
Lesson 7
1) What would be your next step in solving the issue that damages our planet, animals and us?
Lesson 8
1) What do you think call to action means?
2) What do you know about climate change? What do you think we should do about it?
3) How is your call for action creative piece going? Write down any questions and/or curiosity you have about your topic?
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