In this presentation, we will draw on our “Ellie and Ricky” series of books to show how students can be engaged in science investigation using stories and journals as a tool for self-guided observation and interpretation.
“Ellie and Ricky” serve as STEAM ambassadors in four richly illustrated chapter books, exploring four different regions of Oregon (the Cascades, Central Oregon, the Coast, and Portland). Each book combines storytelling, natural history illustrations, and personal journal pages that follow the adventures of two 11-year-old budding scientists. We will discuss how the science-based narrative provides teaching opportunities to address NGSS standards, including plant and wildlife adaptation for survival, effects of changing environments, and ways for becoming citizen scientists.
Workshop hands-on activities will focus on journals in particular, encouraging kids to think like scientists while they record their discoveries in a variety of media—science writing, drawing, map-making, poetry, data collection, engineering, and design. Using activities with small personal journals, participants will consider how to encourage, recognize and value individual student approaches to observing natural phenomena. We will demonstrate how a student’s own journal can be a tool to record data, seek patterns, and discover connections that are personal and relevant. Journals can provide a place to record the questions and surprises that emerge when students take the time to closely observe the world around them, while providing a foundation for contributing information about the places they care about.
