Data Detective Worksheet Slice Data Detective
Case File: The CER Investigation
Detective Name:
Date:
The CER Toolbox
Claim
A one-sentence answer to the question.
"I think that..."
Evidence
The data or facts from the graph.
"The data shows..."
Reasoning
Why the evidence supports the claim.
"This happens because..."
Case #1: The Lunchroom Survey
Level: Easy
1086420
Pizza
Tacos
Salad
Burgers
Lunch Food Choice
Number of Students
Investigation Question: Which food is the most popular choice for lunch?
Detective Word Bank
highest bar students 8 votes popular
CLAIM (Answer the question):
I claim that
EVIDENCE (What data do you see?):
The data shows that
REASONING (Explain your thinking):
This food is the favorite because
Case #2: The Morning Trend
Level: Medium
Detective, look at how the temperature changes. What is the overall pattern?
20°C15°C10°C5°C0°C
8:00 AM9:00 AM10:00 AM11:00 AM
Temperature
Time of Day
Investigation Question: What happens to the temperature as time passes?
Detective Word Bank
increases warmer goes up trend
CLAIM:
As time passes, the temperature
EVIDENCE:
At 8 AM it was 5°C, and by 11 AM it was
REASONING:
The data shows this pattern because
Case Solved? Review your Evidence!
Data Detective Slides Final Science & Literacy Investigation
Data Detective
Uncover the truth hidden inside graphs using Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning.
Today's Mission
Content Goal
I can use graphs to write a Claim , Evidence , and Reasoning .
Language Goal
I can write complete sentences using words like "increases" and "highest."
The Detective's Toolbox
Step 1: Claim
The Answer
A single sentence that answers the question.
"I claim that..."
Step 2: Evidence
The Facts
The numbers and patterns you see in the graph.
"The data shows..."
Step 3: Reasoning
The "Why"
Explain how the facts prove your answer.
"This means..."
Case: Pizza Power
Question: What is the most popular lunch?
Observation
1050
Pizza
Burgers
Tacos
Lunch Preference Survey
Detective Task:
Find the Claim (The answer)
Find the Evidence (The data)
Find the Reasoning (The why)
Pattern Detective
Reading the Line Graph
Reading Trends
Line graphs show how data changes over time.
Upward "Increases"
Downward "Decreases"
Start
End
TREND: UP
Open Case Files
Detective, it's time to find the clues and write your evidence.
Check Word Bank
Complete CER
Data Detective Teacher Guide Data Detective
Teacher Facilitation Guide
Grade Level: 5 English Proficiency: Level 3
Content Objective
Students will analyze visual data (bar and line graphs) to construct a structured scientific argument using the **Claim, Evidence, Reasoning (CER)** framework.
Language Objective
Students will write simple and compound sentences to describe data trends and support claims using provided sentence starters and academic vocabulary (e.g., "increases," "highest bar").
WIDA Level 3 Support Strategies
Visual Scaffolding: Use of icons (search icons for evidence, toolbox for CER) to anchor abstract concepts.Sentence Frames: Pre-filled starters reduce the cognitive load of syntax, allowing students to focus on content.Controlled Vocabulary: Word banks include both academic terms (increases, trend) and descriptive terms (highest bar).
Required Materials
Data Detective Slides
Data Detective Worksheet
Straight-edges (optional)
Instructional Steps
1
Introduction: Opening the Case
Display the Title Slide . Explain that today, the students are "Data Detectives." Their job is to find the truth by looking at clues in pictures (graphs).
Facilitation Note: Use a physical prop (like a magnifying glass or a folder) to build engagement for younger students.
2
The Framework: The Toolbox
Use Slide 2 to define Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning. Do a "Turn and Talk" for each term:
Claim: "If your mom asks 'Who ate the cookie?', what is your claim?" (Answer: "I claim that the dog ate the cookie.")Evidence: "What clues (data) do you have?" (Answer: "There are crumbs on the dog's fur.")Reasoning: "Why does this prove it?" (Answer: "Since crumbs are part of cookies, and they are on the dog, the dog must have eaten it.")
3
Guided Practice: Pizza Case
Model the first case using Slide 3 . Physically point to the bars on the screen. Ask students to identify the "highest bar" before they write anything on their worksheets. Focus on the Language Objective by reading the sentence frames aloud together.
Answer Key
Case #1: Lunchroom Survey
Claim: Pizza is the most popular choice for lunch.
Data Detective TIDE Edition Teacher Guide Data Detective
TIDE + CER Facilitation Guide
Grade Level: 5 English Proficiency: Level 3
Framework Integration: CER + SRSD TIDE
To support writing development, this lesson maps the scientific CER framework onto the TIDE mnemonic from SRSD (Self-Regulated Strategy Development).
T Topic
Claim
I Important Info
Evidence
D Detailed Exam
Reasoning
E Ending
Conclusion
Content Objective
Students will analyze visual data to construct a scientific argument using the **TIDE** structure (mapping to Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning).
Language Objective
Students will use transitions (e.g., "The data shows," "This means") to connect Important Information (Evidence) to their Topic (Claim).
WIDA Supports
• Visual coding of T-I-D-E
• Bimodal input (visual + audio)
• Heavy use of sentence frames
Instructional Steps
1. Model the Mnemonic: Use Slide 2 to introduce TIDE. Emphasize that in science, our Topic (T) is our answer or Claim. Our Important Info (I) is our Evidence from the graph.
2. Interactive Writing: During guided practice, use color-coded markers (Blue for T, Green for I, Orange for D) to highlight student responses on the board.
3. Transfer to Worksheet: Students complete the Case Files. Remind them to check the "TIDE Toolbox" on their page for help.
Answer Key (TIDE Style)
Case #1: Pizza
(T): Pizza is the most popular lunch.
(I): The graph shows pizza has 8 votes.
(D): Since 8 is the biggest number, it proves it is the favorite.
Case #2: Temp
(T): The temperature gets warmer over time.
(I): At 8 AM it was 5°C and at 11 AM it was 18°C.
(D): This shows an upward pattern as the sun gets higher.
Data Detective TIDE Worksheet Data Detective
TIDE Writing Edition: The Case of the CER
Detective:
Date:
The TIDE Detective Toolbox
T: Topic
Claim
Answer the question in one sentence.
I: Imp. Info
Evidence / Data
Use numbers and data from the graph.
D: Det. Exam
Reasoning
Explain why the data proves your claim.
E: Ending
Conclusion
Wrap up your scientific argument.
Case #1: Pizza Power
Guided Practice
1086420
Pizza
Burger
Tacos
Lunch Choice
Number of Students
Question: Which food is the most popular choice for lunch?
Detective Word Bank
highest bar 8 students favorite data
T
Topic (Claim)
I claim that
I
Important Information (Evidence)
The data shows that
D
Detailed Examination (Reasoning)
This proves my claim because
E
Ending (Conclusion)
Therefore,
Case #2: The Morning Trend
Independent Work
20°C15°C10°C5°C0°C
8 AM9 AM10 AM11 AM
Temperature
Time of Day
Question: What happens to the temperature as time passes?
Detective Word Bank
increases trend goes up pattern
T
Topic (Claim)
As time passes, the temperature
I
Important Information (Evidence / Data)
At 8 AM it was 5°C, and by 11 AM it was
D
Detailed Examination (Reasoning)
Since the numbers are getting larger, this means
E
Ending (Conclusion)
Therefore,
Data Detective TIDE Worksheet Final Data Detective
TIDE Writing: Scientific CER Case Files
Detective:
Date:
The TIDE Detective Toolbox
T: Topic
The Claim
"I claim that..."
I: Imp. Info
Evidence / Data
"The data shows..."
D: Det. Exam
Reasoning
"This is because..."
E: Ending
Conclusion
"Therefore..."
Case #1: Pizza Power
Guided Practice
1050
Pizza
Burger
Tacos
Question: Which food is the most popular choice for lunch?
Word Bank
highest bar • 8 students • favorite • data
T
Topic (Claim)
I claim that...
I
Important Info (Evidence / Data)
The data shows...
D
Detailed Examination (Reasoning)
This proves it because...
E
Ending (Conclusion)
Therefore...
Case #2: The Morning Trend
Independent Work
20°C10°C0°C
8 AM9 AM10 AM11 AM
Question: What happens to the temperature as time passes?
Word Bank
increases • goes up • trend • pattern • data
T
Topic (Claim)
I
Important Information (Evidence / Data)
D
Detailed Examination (Reasoning)
E
Ending (Conclusion)
Case Solved! Review your TIDE writing.
Data Detective TIDE Slides Final TIDE Edition
Data Detective
Mastering CER Writing with the TIDE Framework
Today's Mission
Content Goal
I can use graphs to write a scientific argument using TIDE .
Language Goal
I can write complete sentences using words like "increases" and "evidence."
The TIDE Framework
T
Topic
The Claim
"I claim that..."
I
Info
Evidence
"The data shows..."
D
Detail
Reasoning
"This means..."
E
Ending
Conclusion
"Therefore..."
Case Investigation
Question: Which food is most popular?
Detective Mode
1050
Pizza
Burger
Tacos
T: Pizza is the favorite lunch.
I: The bar shows 8 students.
D: 8 is the highest number.
E: Therefore, most kids love pizza.
Catch the TIDE
Use your worksheet to solve Case #1 and Case #2!
Step 1: Read the Graph
Step 2: Write T-I-D-E
