Turn Myth-Busting into Meaningful Science Learning with This Free CER Activity

What do the Loch Ness Monster, crop circles, and aliens have in common?
They’re all mysteries that capture the imagination—and they’re perfect for helping middle schoolers learn how to think like scientists.

If you’re looking for a way to bring engagement and rigor together in your classroom, my free Fact or Fiction activity might be just what you need.

What Is CER, and Why Does It Matter?

CER stands for Claim – Evidence – Reasoning, and it’s a framework students use to explain scientific phenomena clearly and logically. Instead of just giving an answer, students are taught to:

• Make a Claim: A statement or conclusion that answers a question.
• Support it with Evidence: Scientific data that backs up the claim.
• Add Reasoning: A justification that connects the evidence to the claim using scientific principles.

In other words, CER helps students move beyond “just guessing” or “picking the answer they like” to thinking critically, evaluating sources, and defending their ideas using real science.

And let’s face it—middle school is the perfect time to build those habits. Students are naturally curious (and sometimes skeptical), which makes them ideal detectives for separating science from myth.

Introducing: Fact or Fiction – A CER Activity Disguised as a Mystery Investigation

In this free 3-part resource, students become scientific investigators as they explore a mystery of their choice—like the Nazca Lines, Atlantis, or even the Chupacabra. Their job? Research both sides of the mystery, evaluate the evidence, and make a claim about whether it’s fact or fiction.

This activity is flexible enough to be used as an individual project, partner activity, or whole-class discussion, and it integrates perfectly into units on the scientific method, media literacy, or research skills.

Here’s what’s included:

✅ Complete directions to guide students through the CER process
✅ A list of suggested mysteries for students to select from
✅ A suggested rubric to score student projects

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Why Teachers Love It:

💬 “My students were so into this. I’ve never seen them so invested in citing evidence.”
💬 “The CER format made it feel like a science lesson, even though they were talking about Bigfoot!”
💬 “Great for early finishers, extension projects, or end-of-unit review!”

Want to Try It Out?

This 2 page activity is totally free and designed to make your life easier while helping students build real science skills.

Bring some critical thinking—and a little mystery—into your classroom!