Examining the Evidence

P. T. Barnum and the Feejee Mermaid

The Balloon Boy

New Orleans Crocodile

BBC Spaghetti Tree broadcast

Loch Ness Monster

Bigfoot

Cottingley Fairies

Can you use a piece of evidence to try and fool the class?• You will make a short (2-3 slide) presentation to show the class on

Monday. • Slide #1: The title of your article and your name.• Slide #2: A summary of your story along with one photograph as

evidence to support your story.• Slide #3: (optional) Other pictures or information to support your story.

• But…are you really trying to fool them?• Each of you will come up to the front of the room and draw a paper

from the beaker. • If it has an “R” you will be doing a real story that students might think is

fake. • If it has an “F” you will do a fake story to try and convince the class it is

real. • Email your presentations to kishjj@milwaukee.k12.wi.us BEFORE

Monday!

In your notes, after the Cottingley Fairies questions…• Reflect on the role of evidence in the process of science

Real science vs. pseudoscience

Bad data Good data

The weather was worse in March than it is now.

1. Measurable data2. Low scientific error3. Scientific explanation4. Low bias