I created this mini-unit as a way to get my kindergartners really excited about science and to give them more practice participating in inquiry-based science investigations. Having kids record in their own notebooks is optional at this point. I think modeling how to record on chart paper and leaving the journals tucked away is a very good idea. I think the value of this unit is in practicing those key skills: asking questions, developing a plan, making predictions and analyzing evidence/making claims. One more thing--although it has a "rainbow" theme, it is not actually about rainbows. (We learn about rainbows later in the year during our weather unit). Day 1: Mixing Colors This is a very simple activity that involves mixing colored water to create new colors. I start by posing a problem: Yesterday, I painted a rainbow. I really like my rainbow, but it's not very colorful because I only have 3 colors of paint--red, yellow and blue. I wish I had more colors so that I could make a really pretty rainbow. That should activate the children's prior knowledge (schema) on colors. I bet many of them already have experience mixing colors. I write what they already know...