20 Full Option Science System
Science Notebooks in Grades 3–6
Claims and evidence. A claim is an assertion about how the natural
world works. A student might claim, for instance, that metals stick to
magnets. For the claim to be valid and accurate, it must be supported
by evidence—statements that are directly correlated with data. The
evidence should refer to specifi c observations, relationships that are
displayed in graphs, tables of data that show trends or patterns, dates,
measurements, and so on. Many teachers will provide a frame to help
students include both their claims and evidence in their responses. A
claims–and–evidence construction is a sophisticated, rich display of
student learning and thinking.
Conclusions and predictions. At the end of an investigation (major
conceptual sequence), it may be appropriate for students to generate
a summarizing narrative to succinctly communicate what they have
learned. When appropriate, students can make predictions based on
their understanding of a principle or relationship. For instance, after
completing the investigation on evaporation, a student might predict
the order in which the water will completely evaporate from various
containers, based on surface area exposed to air. Or a student might
predict how long to make a pendulum that swings 15 times in 15
seconds. Predictions will frequently indicate the degree to which
a student can apply the new knowledge to real-world situations. A
prediction can be the springboard for further inquiry by the class or by
individual students.A prediction can show understanding of a relationship.