Science Journals

We use Apologia's science texts for junior high and high school. Instead of following the traditional approach of memorizing bits of information for a test (and consequently forgetting it later most of the time), the kids make notebook pages. I feel like this encourages better retention and every time they sit down with their notebook they invariably flip through previous work, naturally reviewing what has been covered before.

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Many times when I have displayed these notebooks parents react with a sense of awe and become overwhelmed with the idea that their children could never produce something so artistic and neat. It really is not that complicated. If you study these pages, you will see that stencils and colored paper are really the key. They sketch the diagrams in the book and occasionally, when a diagram is complex, just make copies. Then they cut it out and mount it on a piece of colored paper, give it a title with the stencils, and maybe add a written narration or some sentences copied directly from the text and Voila! they have a completed page.

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I buy hardcover sketch books from Hobby Lobby or Michael's but a three ring binder with page protectors works nicely too. Even a sewn composition book can be used.

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These first three pages are from General Science:

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Here are some pages from the Anatomy book Fearfully & Wonderfully Made. This text assigns pages from an advanced anatomy coloring book, as you can see in this first page. The second and third pages are hand drawn.

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