This month NSTA published Engaging Students in the Scientific Practices of Explanation and Argumentation in each of its journals and is also offering the article FREE online to members and nonmembers alike. The article provides an excellent overview of students engaging in meaningful explanation and argumentation by providing four examples of students immersed in these practices.
This article is a perfect companion to the recent Science and Engineering Practices in K-12 Classrooms by Roger Bybee. This article could be very useful in professional development sessions with K-12 teachers as we move forward with implementing the upcoming Next Generation Science Standards.