The Art of Science Learning Leonardo’s Notebooks
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is the systematic study of the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world through observation and experimentation! !!For more than 40 years, Leonardo da Vinci gathered his observations and ideas in his now famous “Notebooks”. They include over 100,000 drawings and more than 6,000 pages of notations. Without a doubt, observation was at the core of his scientific exploration.!!Teachers that promote the use of Leonardo da Vinci’s style science notebooks in their classrooms will be fostering higher order of thinking and increasing comprehension and retention in their students. Sketching, labeling, and coloring as forms of note taking have a radical impact on creative problem solving and deep information processing.!!These types of notebooks not only become enabling tools that create windows to the world and promote creativity, but they are also an excellent instrument for tracking and assessing students’ learning.!!
Science!
The purpose of the interactive notebook is to enable students to be creative, independent thinkers and writers. Interactive notebooks are used for class notes as well as for other activities where the student will be asked to express his/her own ideas and process the information presented in class.!
InteractiveNotebooks!
“The noblest pleasure is the joy of understanding.”
Leonardo da vinci
!! !Teachers that promote the use of Leonardo da Vinci’s style science notebooks in their classrooms will be fostering higher order of thinking and increasing comprehension and retention in their students. !!Sketching, labeling, and coloring as forms of note taking have a radical impact on creative problem solving and deep information processing.!!These types of notebooks not only become enabling tools that create windows to the world and promote creativity, but they are also an excellent instrument for tracking and assessing students’ learning.!
Using interactive science notebooks on the style of Leonardo da Vinci’s notebooks help students develop, practice, and improve their science observation skills. !!Students learn to monitor and take control of their own learning. Plus, the use of these notebooks engages students in real science processes and techniques. !!They have the opportunity to record data and information following the steps of the scientific method. !!They learn to use sketching as a powerful form of note taking. !!They can compare and analyze findings while collaborating with other, just as real professional scientists do.
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Most of us are familiar with the modalities in which learners obtain information. They are visual, auditory, reading-writing, and kinesthetic. In order to help students obtain new information, teachers have to be able to engage at least two of those modalities.!!Now, if we truly want to help students internalize information, while increasing retention, we need to couple any two of the modalities with an emotional experience. !!It is precisely there that lays the power of using notebooks. When students are creating these interactive notebooks by exploring, observing, sketching, coloring and labeling, they are engaging all of the learning modalities simultaneously with the opportunity of multiple emotional experiences. Furthermore, we need to remember that children love to draw and color. Therefore, these activities become a form of play, which carries a high emotional charge.!!Additionally, science notebooks help students with reading, writing, math, and communications skills that are fundamental in the 21st century workplace. Furthermore, using these notebooks help students to develop visual literacy, while increasing understanding and retention. !!
This type of science notebooks are excellent formative assessment tools. They facilitate learner-centered assessment with activities that dynamically involve students in a constant reflection on what is being learned, how it is being learned, and why it is being learned. !!These notebooks expose students’ thinking and reflect their understanding. Additionally, notebooks enable communication with parents and can be used to show evidence of student learning.!
In order to create an interactive science notebook students will need:!!- A notebook or a sketchpad!- A pencil and a sharpener!- Eraser!- Crayons or color pencils!!It is important to encourage and allow students to make it personal. Although the teacher should guide the process of organization and model to the students how the sketches are to be created during guided instruction, students should feel free to personalize their notebook.!!The teacher should model the creation of each sketch in the students’ notebooks while being used during guided instruction. Always finding ways to connect to real-life experiences. But at the same time the teacher should value students’ unique style of sketching. Be flexible with any personal ideas that could be added to the final product and celebrate student work when you see a sketch that deserves praise.!
A notebook or a sketchpad!
A pencil and a sharpener!
Eraser! Crayons or color pencils!
Science Notebook Kit!
“The painter has the Universe in his mind and hands.”
Leonardo da vinci
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This document is a sample of the material received by teachers
participating in the professional development workshop “The Art of Science Learning” The full version includes a detailed instructions on
how to create an interactive science notebook on the style of Leonardo da
Vinci’s notebooks. !!!
Questions or comments about this article, please write to:!
!For more information about the Workshop “The Art of Science
Learning” please visit: !!
www.enablinglearning.com
Phone: +1 800 939 3833 Fax: +1 866 386 2136!
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