What is a CER? A Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning (or CER) is a scientific explanation. It is a way that we explain our evidence-based claims. It has 3 parts: Claim Answers the question Evidence Has at least 2 pieces of evidence that support the claim Reasoning Explains how the evidence supports the claim
Which of these are claims? What is a claim? Which of these are claims? The teacher asked the class to answer the question using a Scientific Explanation. Below are some statements from their explanations. Question: Are soap and fat the same substance? Which of the following statements are CLAIMS? What feedback would you give each student to make the statement a claim or to improve the claim? Yes they are. I think soap and fat are different substances. Fat and soap are the same thing. No. Soap is different. Fat is not the same thing. Fat is yellowish but soap is white.
Which of these are claims? What is a claim? Which of these are claims? The teacher asked the class to answer the question using a Scientific Explanation. Below are some statements from their explanations. Question: Are soap and fat the same substance? Which of the following statements are CLAIMS? What feedback would you give each student to make the statement a claim or to improve the claim? Yes they are. I think soap and fat are different substances. Fat and soap are the same thing. No. Soap is different. Fat is not the same thing. Fat is yellowish but soap is white.
What is evidence? What counts as evidence? Personal opinions Something you saw in a movie Text from a science article An interview with an expert Background knowledge A hypothesis Personal experiences A chart or graph Data from a data table A photograph A drawing Measurements An observation you wrote in a notebook A prediction A model Notes you took during class Results from an investigation you conducted
What is evidence? What counts as evidence? Personal opinions Something you saw in a movie Text from a science article An interview with an expert Background knowledge A hypothesis Personal experiences A chart or graph Data from a data table A photograph A drawing Measurements An observation you wrote in a notebook A prediction A model Notes you took during class Results from an investigation you conducted
What is reasoning? Which of the following are examples of REASONING that you might use when making a Scientific Explanation? Question: What color are birch tree leaves? Claim: Birch tree leaves are green Reasoning: The evidence supports my claim that leaves are green. Based on this evidence we know that all leaves have organelles called chloroplast, which have a green pigment called chlorophyll that makes the leaves appear green, therefore since birch tree leaves have chloroplast, the leaves are green in color. The leaves are green because of pigment chlorophyll.
What is reasoning? Which of the following are examples of REASONING that you might use when making a Scientific Explanation? Question: What color are birch tree leaves? Claim: Birch tree leaves are green Reasoning: The evidence supports my claim that leaves are green. Based on this evidence we know that all leaves have organelles called chloroplast, which have a green pigment called chlorophyll that makes the leaves appear green, therefore since birch tree leaves have chloroplast, the leaves are green in color. The leaves are green because of pigment chlorophyll.
Your Resources For writing CERs Rubric (in notebook) Green “Scientific Explanation” guide (in notebooks) Graphic organizer (this handout, & Ms. Ealey has copies) Sentence Starters (this handout, & Ms. Ealey has copies) Model CER: “who ate the birthday cake?” (in notebook)