CER Introduction and Practice for "Engaging in Argument from Evidence" MS-LS1- 1

This highly engaging lesson (Google and PDF versions) provides students with the structures to begin writing scientific explanations using a claim, evidence, reasoning platform. The lesson outlines why we use claim, evidence and reasoning (C.E.R) in Science and provides them with a fun and easy way to start their practice for writing a scientific argument.  

Once they have the fundamentals of C.E.R, they are provided with other opportunities to practice including  a prompt;  “How do we determine if something is living or not?” which looks more closely at the complexities of classifying viruses .  Students will use a reading on “The seven characteristics of life” and a worksheet to guide them as they construct their claim, evidence and reasoning work. 

 With the current interest in viruses, this probe can lead to a lively debate or possible “tug of war” (protocol directions provided) and is a great example of how current thinking in biology, about what constitutes "living things", has changed.

The science and engineering practice of “engaging in argument from evidence” is the NGSS standard addressed in this lesson.

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What does this product include?

Printable student worksheets with activity instructions and analysis questions.

Detailed teacher notes including  possible student responses for the student questions.

Claim, evidence and reasoning scoring rubric

A teacher slide presentation.