Are you a science teacher wondering how to start incorporating CER in science lessons without rewriting all your curriculum?
You’re not alone. Many teachers want to improve science writing but feel stuck trying to make time for it in hands-on labs and NGSS expectations. The good news? Adding CER (Claim, Evidence, Reasoning) doesn’t require a full overhaul.
Let me show you how easy it is to weave CER into what you’re already doing—with minimal prep and maximum impact.
What Is the CER Strategy?
CER stands for Claim, Evidence, Reasoning—a writing strategy that teaches students to respond to scientific questions clearly and concisely. It gives them a structure to explain their thinking using data and scientific reasoning—something that’s now emphasized in the NGSS standards.
If you’re new to CER, check out this post:
👉 How to Implement CER in Your Science Classroom
Why I Stopped Doing Full Scientific Method Write-Ups
With the shift to NGSS, the old-school, linear method of writing lab reports started to feel outdated. I realized students didn’t need to go through every single step in a formal write-up. Instead, I gave them a CER graphic organizer that walks them through:
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Stating a hypothesis (that might later become their claim)
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Making observations
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Using evidence from the lab
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Applying scientific reasoning to explain their results
This made writing more meaningful—and manageable—for both students and me.
Incorporating CER in Science Lessons You Already Teach
You don’t have to throw away your lessons to add CER. One simple approach? Have students replace the lab conclusion section with a CER response.
Instead of writing vague summaries, students now:
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Make a claim based on their findings
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Use evidence from their data
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Connect it all using scientific reasoning
It’s a small switch that leads to better writing and stronger science understanding.
CER Helps Students Argue Scientifically
One of the best parts of CER is how it supports scientific argumentation—another NGSS pillar. Some students are natural arguers (we all have one in class), but others need support to structure their ideas. CER helps everyone learn to:
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Make a clear statement
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Back it up with data
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Justify it using science
And when students get the hang of it, you’ll start seeing better answers, stronger comprehension, and more confidence in both ELA and science.
Ready to Make CER Work for You?
Don’t waste hours creating materials from scratch. Grab ready-made CER posters, graphic organizers, writing practice worksheets, and rubrics to save your sanity and support your students.
👉 Claim, Evidence, Reasoning Posters & Practice Worksheets
Want to try it first?
🎉 Join my Science Squad here and get a FREE CER graphic organizer straight to your inbox!
Looking for more ways to use CER in your science classroom? Check out these related posts to strengthen writing, deepen understanding, and make science more engaging:
