1. Claim-Evidence-Reasoning (CER) How does weathering and erosion occur?
Mary Tweedy, Curriculum Support Specialist
Keisha Kidd, Curriculum Support Specialist
Millard Lightburn, Ph.D., District Supervisor K-5

2. Florida Standards (formerly Common Core) Integration
Benchmark Focus
Science
SC.4.E.6.4 Describe the basic differences between physical weathering (breaking down of rock by wind, water, ice, temperature change, and plants) and erosion (movement of rock by gravity, wind, water, and ice).
Florida Standards (formerly Common Core) Integration
LAFS.5.W.3.9: Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
LAFS.5.SL.1.1: Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 5 topics and texts, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.
LAFS.K12.L.3.4 : Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases by using context clues, analyzing meaningful word parts, and consulting general and specialized reference materials, as appropriate.

3. Claims Claims are the statements that answer your original question.
The claim must be accurate, specific, and answer the question.
The claim is usually one sentence in length.
Helping students succeed—Before they write
Talk about why you’re using the CER framework:
This is how you make an argument or explanation convincing.
This is what scientists do. Explain each part.

4. Evidence
The evidence is all the scientific data that supports your claim.
It can come from a variety of sources such as:
textbook, reading selections, videos, lab
investigations, class notes, etc.
It should include both qualitative and quantitative data.
It is important to have numerous pieces of evidence in order to prove your claim.
Explain each part…
The evidence includes the clues: the observations made and the data collected.

5. Reasoning
Reasoning is the explanation that connects your claim to the evidence that supports it or why you think your claim (answer to the question) is correct .
It shows why the data you chose counts as evidence.
It shows a detailed understanding of the scientific principles involved and uses correct science vocabulary.
This explanation acts as a conclusion.
If evidence is from an experiment, it can be the “conclusion” of the lab.
It is usually several sentences in length.
Explain each part…
Reasoning is why the scientists think their answer is correct. Scientists explain how the evidence helps answer the question.

6. How does weathering and erosion occur?
Discovery Education Video: Weathering and Erosion
Choose from the resources listed above to provide students with information to answer the question. All the resources will not need to be used, but students will likely need to review more than one to find the information needed.

7. Erosion and Deposition Using DE Science Content
When you close this presentation, you can review the following recommended resources for Erosion and Deposition.
Exploration: Erosion and Deposition
E Book: The Changing Shape of Beaches
Video: Erosion
Use the PowerPoint version of this presentation for hyperlinks to these resources or you can get to them through the browser or search feature.

8. Getting Started: Prewriting Science Ideas
What is a possible claim?
What science words will you want to include?
Where will you look for your evidence?
What sentence starters can you use to present your evidence?
What reasons show that this is good evidence?
What writing words can you use?
Prewriting: What can you do to help your students? Ask the above questions for support. Help them think through the science ideas. Talk about a writing words they might include.
(You can gradually reduce support.)

9. Show Your Evidence Sentence Starters
According to the text…
On page ___, it said …
The author wrote…
For instance…
From the reading, I know that…
Based on what I read…
The graphic showed…
For example…
Help students with writing words they might include

10. Writing Words
“Uncertainty” words: usually, generally, suggests, indicates
Sequencing words: first, second, third
Therefore
Because
If… Then…
However
Additional writing words students might want to include.

11. Claim-Evidence-Reasoning (CER)
Assignment: Write a scientific explanation that answers this question: How does weathering and erosion occur? Claim (Write a sentence that states how weathering and erosion occur.) Evidence: (Provide data about how weathering and erosion occur including quantitative data to support your claim.) Reasoning: (Write a statement that connects your evidence to your claim about how weathering and erosion.)
You will also communicate what you know by making a scientific explanation. When you make a scientific explanation, be sure to include
what your question is,
the evidence that helps  answer your question,
your claim, or what you think the answer is, your reasoning, or  why you think the answer is correct.

12. When can a CER be used?
Use it to engage in structured, argumentation to explain a scientific concept.
Use it after an experiment to explain why a hypothesis was proven correct or not.
Use it to justify an answer choice for a multiple (FCAT type) test question is correct.
Use it to discuss claims made in videos or documentaries.

13. After an Experiment

14. Claim, Evidence, Reasoning after Viewing a Video or a Documentary
What is the claim the reporter is making?
What evidence does he or she cite in the report that supports that claim?
What is the scientific explanation?

15. Multiple Choice Question
Claim
– The correct answer choice is …
Evidence
- Facts from background information
- Data from the table or graph if applicable
Reasoning
- Reasons for excluding other answer choices
- Scientific background knowledge that explains
why the answer is correct beyond what is given in
the graph, table or background information.

16. CER Grading Rubric

17. Providing Feedback on a Student’s CER
What to Comment on:
How to Comment:
Components of the explanation:
- claim
- evidence
- reasoning
Science content of explanation
Holistic quality of explanation
Explicit and clear feedback
Point out strengths and weaknesses
Provide suggestions on how to improve
Ask questions to promote deeper thinking
Department of Mathematics and Science

18. CER Resources
McNeill, K. L. & Krajcik, J Supporting grade 5-8 students in constructing explanations in science: The claim, evidence and reasoning framework for talk and writing. New York, NY: Pearson & Bacon.
McNeill, K. and Martin, D Claims, Evidence, and Reasoning: Demystifying data during a unit on simple machines. Science and Children, 48(8).
cosmos.bgsu.edu/nwoSymposium/2013%20stuff/PresenterMaterial/Claim%20Evidence%20Reasoning%20(Elizabeth%20Buckholtz)%20NWO%20Symposium,% pdf