Mythbusters

Facilitators: Alicia Hawkins, Kimberly Smith , Maggie Jinkins, and Mary Thornton

Overview
In this module students will be exposed to various experiments (myths) in which they will utilize the scientific method to determine if the myth is proven or busted. Students will learn the history of myths; use the steps of the scientific method to explore various scenarios; brainstorm problem solving strategies for certain situations, and then apply these strategies. At the conclusion the students will take away critical thinking skills which will enable them to view the world as possibilities to be examined and not just certainties to accept.

Guiding Questions
• How do you find answers to puzzling information?
• How do you determine when to question information?
• What is the scientific method?

Focusing Questions
Core:
• What is a myth?
• What is a hypothesis?
• How do you analyze data?
• How do you prove/disprove myths?
• What is research?

Connections:
• How do myths negatively or positively affect our environment?
• How does the myth busting of today compare with history?

Practice:
• Why should myths continue to be evaluated?
• What jobs use the scientific method?

Identity:
• How does myth busting affect you future actions and views?
• Do you see ways to use the scientific method in your life?
• How important are myths to you?

Principle and Generalizations:
• Problem solving is essential for success now and in the future
• Not all information obtained is factual and may need to be researched
• Myth have been influenced by culture throughout history

Learning Experiences

Students will become myth busters to solve several myths by performing experiments to observe if the myth is PROVEN or BUSTED.

Attention Getter:
Students will experiment with mentos in various forms with different soft drinks. We will discuss the different outcomes and begin discussion to get the students started for the day.

Center Myth:
Can salt be changed into sugar? The students will use salt and flower to change into sugar. Myth is PROVEN.

Center Myth:
Can raisins be trained to swim and dive? The students will use raisins and can of clear soda to prove that raisins can dive up and down in the soda. Myth is PROVEN.

**Group Myth:
Water will not float on oil. The students will use cooking oil, food coloring, and water to prove that water can float on oil. Myth is BUSTED.

Center Myth:
You can not fool your taste buds. The students will be testing several foods to see if their taste buds can be fooled. Their taste buds will be fooled by placing a stronger alternate flavor around their mouth. These flavors will drown out the flavor of food tasted. Myth is BUSTED.

Center Myth:
Can you relight a candle without touching the wick? Students will use various sizes of candles and a glass cylinder to find results. The stream of smoke rising from the blown out candle will relight when a match is placed in it. Myth is PROVEN.

**Group Myth:
Is it possible to knock out a building ground floor without disturbing the rest of the building? Students will stack several groups of pennies except for one (“shooter”) penny. The shooter penny will be used to knock out the bottom penny without disturbing the rest of stack. This myth may be PROVEN for some and BUSTED for others. It can be done but may take a few tries.

Center Myth:
A drinking straw will cut through a raw potato. Students will use a straw to prove that it will cut through a raw potato only if one end of the straw is held with middle & thumb fingers with pointer finger covering the end. Myth is PROVEN.

Center Myth:
Can you draw a U.S. flag with yellow, black, and green markers? Student will use a 3”x5” lined note card to draw an American flag. If you stare at the flag for 30 seconds, an American Flag will appear on a white piece of paper.

Center Myth:
A paper clip will not float when put in water? Students will explore surface tension of water. When a paper clip is dropped in water it will sink to the bottom; however, when the paper clip is lowered on the surface of the water it will float. Students will break the water tension with soap to see the paper clip sink. Myth is BUSTED.

**Group Myth:
Is a bubble always round? Student will make their own bubble mix. Using wire and bubble mix students will try to see if they can make different shape bubbles. Myth is PROVEN.

Center Myth: Mobius magic.
Can you make a surface with only one side and one edge? Students will use paper strips and scissors to make a Mobius strip and then try to color the strip red on one side and green on the other. This is impossible because the strip has only one side. Myth is PROVEN.

When you cut the Mobius strip in half lengthwise you will get two separate circles of paper. Students will make their own Mobius strips and will cut along the middle of the strip. They will be left with one long strip with two half twists in it. Myth is BUSTED.

When you cut this new strip in half you will continue to get another longer strip with half twists in it. Students will continue to cut this strip along the middle. They will get two strips wound around each other. This second cutting produces two linked bands. Myth is BUSTED.

At this point students will be allowed to explore paradromic rings (Rings produced by cutting a strip that has been given half twists and been re-attached into equal strips )with strips of paper and scissors to determine what results from X cuts and X half twists. A chart will be created to track the results. For example: a strip joined with 1 half twist then with 2 cuts will result in 4 apparent pieces, but will actually result in 2 bands.

Reflection Opportunities
The students will be reflecting in a journal throughout the day when proving and busting myths. Students will also write down a plan to reveal the truth about a chosen myth and take the knowledge gained throughout the day to experiment with this myth at a later opportunity. Students will be able to reflect the scientific method as it applies to experiences and everyday life. Reflections will include opportunities to discuss and write about focusing and guiding questions.