How do we help students move from exciting experiments to strong scientific explanations? In this interactive session, educators will learn how to intentionally integrate Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning (CER) writing using the high-engagement phenomenon of Alka-Seltzer rockets. Participants will experience the investigation as learners, analyze student-friendly data, and practice crafting claims supported by measurable evidence and scientific reasoning. The session models scaffolds, sentence frames, and discussion strategies that support students at varying writing levels while maintaining scientific rigor. Attendees will explore how to use CER as both a formative assessment tool and a sensemaking strategy, helping students explain why results occurred—not just what happened. Leave with adaptable lesson structures and practical tools to make CER writing meaningful, accessible, and fun.
