Free printable · Grades 6 to 12
Free claim, evidence, reasoning (CER) graphic organizer
A CER organizer walks students through a scientific explanation: a one-sentence claim, the data that back it, and the science idea that connects the two. This free set has a full page with sentence starters for 7th grade science and a half-page version, two to a sheet, for high school or a quick exit ticket.
More pages in this PDF
Half-page CER, two to a sheet (high school)
Make your own in seconds
Ask for a CER organizer for any subject or grade, with your own question filled in, or with more support, and SCAFLI makes it.
Try asking for:
- “CER graphic organizer”
- “claim evidence reasoning organizer”
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What it is
A writing organizer for science explanations. Students answer the question (claim), back it with numbers or observations (evidence), and explain the science idea that links them (reasoning).
How to use it
- Model one CER together with a simple question first.
- Have students write the claim last if the data come first in your lab.
- Use the half-page version as an exit ticket after a lab or a reading.
Three quick tips
- Evidence is what was seen or measured; reasoning is the rule that explains it.
- Ask for a number or a unit in every piece of evidence.
- Let students say it to a partner before they write it.
Questions
- Does it work outside science?
- Yes. Ask for a CER organizer for social studies or ELA and the sentence starters change to fit.
- What grades is it for?
- The full page is written for 7th grade science, and the half-page version works in high school.
- Can I add my own question?
- Yes. There is a line for the question, or ask SCAFLI to print your question on the page.
A starting point for your own professional judgment. Use initials only on any page about a student.