Students need to develop their observation skills at every age. Capitalize on children’s innate desire to collect things to encourage classroom collections of natural objects. Set aside a corner of the room for interesting objects, hand lenses, magnification tools, and perhaps a document camera and screen. Add paper and colored pencils to encourage drawings and journaling. Provide word banks with specific science vocabulary words and add post-it notes that students can use to collect their questions on a Wonder Board.
Teach the Observe-Talk-Record strategy: students observe an object using their senses, share their observations with a partner (I notice, I wonder, It Reminds Me Of), and then make an observational drawing of the object with the goal of capturing as much data as possible: texture, shape, size, colors, patterns, and details or animal body parts. A gallery walk to view each other’s work allows time for students to learn new recording techniques for future work. Doing this outdoors gives students freedom to choose what to observe and record, and repeated opportunities helps to grow skills and confidence.
Observation, language and recording skills need constant practice, modeling and intentional teaching to become second nature for students. This is a skill upon which all scientific endeavors are based and one that must not be overlooked. Set up a weekly visit to the outdoors for brief periods of observation and journaling and encourage students to talk about their discoveries.
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