Why Lab Journals- What’s the Big Deal?

Have you ever wondered how scientists keep track of their experiments?  A lab journal is a notebook (digital or paper), where scientists can document what they’ve completed and their findings.  Regardless of age, every student should use lab journals to show what they’ve learned while developing habits that will help them later.  In the process, teachers and moms will find this is an incredibly useful tool! Here are just a few reasons we love lab journals!

Lab journals encourage scientific thinking.

Following the scientific method when completing experiments helps students learn and practice observation, hypothesis-making, and analysis.  It teaches them to think methodically and explain their experiments clearly.  These skills and habits will prepare them for writing lab reports, develop critical thinking, and help them in later (even college) science courses.

They help students develop organization and responsibility.

Because a lab journal keeps all experiments, data, and notes in one place, it’s a handy way to encourage the habit of organization.  Unlike a math book or an English paper, science is about discovery and trial and error.  A lab journal helps students develop responsibility by keeping detailed and accurate records of their science adventures. Remembering to add information to the journal helps students complete their work, which can sometimes get missed in science!

They help students remember what they’ve learned.

A teacher (or mom) knows that different students learn in various ways. God has gifted each student with strengths and weaknesses. Students can be visual, audible, and tactile learners. Some have executive functioning difficulties, and some have a passion for learning about animals. A lab journal encourages students to use their unique gifts by writing, drawing, analyzing, and building. Each activity reinforces further understanding and strengthens memory!

Lab journals are a simple way to track progress and keep records.

By keeping a lab journal, your student is documenting his or her progress all year.  It’s easy to see how your student has improved over the year, and it’s a good overview of everything they have completed in science.  It’s great fun to see how drawings or writing styles have improved over a short time, much less from year to year. As you flip through pages, you can see how critical thinking skills develop over time.

So – Why Lab Journals?

1. Lab journals encourage scientific thinking.
2. They help students develop organization and responsibility.
3. They help students remember what they’ve learned.
4. Lab journals help students and parents track progress and keep records.
5. They foster creativity and curiosity.

Foster creativity and curiosity by using lab journals regularly!

Lab journals allow students to draw diagrams, make observations, and brainstorm new ideas. They help them see that failing is a part of learning. Lab journals can also encourage curiosity by prompting students to ask more questions about the world around them.

If you find it challenging to put together your own lab journal for students, we have done that for you in the Mystery of Science curriculum.  Each lab journal includes sections to write or draw, define words, apply knowledge (critical thinking), and research further topics.  More importantly, it provides an outline where even elementary age students can follow the plan of the scientific method (and forms for using!).  Assessments are included for measuring comprehension and space is given for drawings. 

Consider a lab journal a fun way to develop organizational and critical thinking skills! Create a habit to help your kids with consistency, and make your own life easier by using it to keep a record of what your student has completed.  Who knows? Your student’s lab journal could be the first step to a big discovery!