CER
This part of the CER model represents the clues or scientific data.
What is evidence?
This is an educated guess or prediction about what will happen in an experiment.
What is a hypothesis?
This is the variable that the scientist changes or manipulates on purpose in an experiment.
What is the independent variable?
This type of data involves numbers and measurements like height, temperature, or mass.
What is quantitative data?
The number of trials scientists should conduct to make their results more reliable.
What is multiple trials (or more than one)?
In the CER model, this is your answer to the scientific question or problem.
What is the claim?
This step comes after you analyze your data and involves stating whether your hypothesis was supported or not.
What is the conclusion?
This is the variable that is measured or observed in response to changes in the experiment.
What is the dependent variable?
This type of data involves descriptions and observations like color, texture, or behavior.
What is qualitative data?
When designing an experiment, you should only change this many variables at a time.
What is one?
This part of CER connects your evidence to your claim by explaining the science behind it.
What is reasoning?
Scientists do this to their experiments to make sure the results are reliable and not just a coincidence.
What is repeat/replicate the experiment?
These factors must be kept the same in all groups of an experiment to ensure a fair test.
What are constants?
Scientists organize their data into these visual displays to identify patterns and trends more easily.
What are graphs/charts/tables?
This is why scientists need a large sample size in their experiments.
What is to make results more reliable/accurate/reduce the effect of outliers?
A student says "Plants grow better in sunlight." To make this a complete CER response, they are missing this component.
What is evidence (or reasoning)?
This well-tested explanation for natural phenomena is supported by many experiments and observations over time, not just a guess.
What is a theory?
This group in an experiment receives no treatment and is used for comparison.
What is the control group?
When data from an experiment doesn't match the expected results, scientists should do this instead of ignoring it.
What is analyze it/investigate further/report it honestly?
A student wants to test if music helps plants grow. They play rock music to one plant and no music to another. The problem with this experiment is this.
What is they need more plants/multiple trials/a larger sample size?
When writing reasoning in CER, you should include this type of information to explain why your evidence supports your claim.
What is scientific knowledge/principles/concepts?
Before conducting an experiment, scientists do this to learn what is already known about their topic.
What is research/background research?
A student tests how fertilizer affects plant growth. They use different amounts of fertilizer but forget to give all plants the same amount of water. This mistake affects these variables.
What are constants/controlled variables?
This is the difference between an observation (evidence) and an inference.
What is: an observation is what you directly see/measure, while an inference is a conclusion based on observations?
This term describes when scientists share their methods and results so other scientists can try to get the same results.
What is replication?