Year 8, 9 Science:
Critical Thinking Project: Analysing a Pseudo Science
AIM: To research and critically analyze a Pseudo Science to determine
the truth of it’s claims. You also might want to survey people’s opinions. Some
of the topics can be practically tested as well.
Procedure:
·
One student per topic.
·
Chose from the topics listed below.
·
Must be presented to the class as a
Power Point.
·
The Power Point should have no less than
10 slides.
·
You must have an Introduction, Hypothesis
(discuss why your topic is Pseudo Science and not Science), Research/
Experiments/Data, Conclusion, Bibliography.
·
DO NOT use full sentences on slides, use
dot points
·
DO NOT put more than 4 or 5 key points on each slide
·
Use notes to help you to present your
slide show to the audience
·
Use a standard, big font on all slides
·
DO NOT use distracting animations or
transitions
·
DATE DUE Friday 11 May
Topics:
Astrology
Homeopathy
Dowsing
Ghosts
Psychics
Cold Reading
Mayan Predictions of Doomsday for 2012
Faking the Moon Landings
ESP (Extra Sensory Perception)
UFO’s
Numerology
Cancer caused by Mobile Phones
Geocentrism (the Earth is the center of the Universe)
Some Websites
Mr Alan, April 2012
: Critical Thinking Project: Analyzing a Pseudo Science Rubric Name______
9 - 10
points
|
7 - 8
points
|
5 - 6
points
|
0 - 4
points
|
|
Grammar, Spelling,
Mechanics
|
There
are no grammatical or spelling errors.
Capitalization,
punctuation correct throughout.
|
There
are 1 or 2 grammatical, spelling or capitalization / punctuation errors.
|
There
are no more than 3 grammatical, spelling or capitalization / punctuation
errors throughout
|
There
are several grammatical, spelling or capitalization / punctuation errors
throughout
|
Attractiveness and
Organization
|
The
Power Point has exceptionally attractive formatting. Well-organized
information.
The
content and ideas are presented in a unique and interesting way. Contains
>10 slides.
|
The
Power Point has attractive formatting and well-organized information.
Presentation
shows some originality and inventiveness. Contains >10 slides.
|
The
Power Point has well-organized information.
Presentation
shows an attempt at originality and inventiveness. Contains >10 slides.
|
The
Power Point's formatting and organization of material are confusing to the
reader. Presentation shows very little attempt at original thought. Contains
<10 slides.
|
Informational
Interest and
Based in Fact Using
Critical Thinking Concepts
|
The
Power Point contains facts, figures, and/or information that make the Power
Point exceptionally interesting to reader and is based on fact using the
concepts of Critical Thinking and the Scientific method.
|
The
Power Point contains facts, figures, and/or information that make the
articles interesting to readers using the concepts of Critical Thinking and
the Scientific method.
|
The
Power Point contains some facts or figures but is marginally interesting to
read. Does not always use the concepts of Critical Thinking and the Scientific
method.
|
The
Power Point does not contain facts or figures that might make it interesting
to read nor provides much information based on fact and does not use the
concepts of Critical Thinking and the Scientific method.
|
Graphics / Pictures
|
Graphics
go well with the text and there is a good mix of text and graphics. Uses dot
points on slides.
|
Graphics
go well with the text, but there are so many that they distract from the
text.
Uses
dot points on most slides.
|
Graphics
go well with the text, but there are too few and the Power Point seems
"text-heavy" or not enough text and it seems “picture-heavy”. Does
not use dot points on slides.
|
Graphics
do not go with the accompanying text or appear to be randomly chosen. Slides
are messy and use too many animations/ transitions.
|
Presentation
|
The
slide show was presented in a very clear, concise manner, making use of notes
to elaborate on the dot points on each slide.
|
The
slide show was presented in a clear, concise manner, making use of notes to
elaborate on the dot points on each slide.
|
The
slide show was presented clear, concise manner, but not making use of notes
to elaborate on the dot points on each slide.
|
The
slide show was not presented in a very clear, concise manner, and did not make
use of notes to elaborate on the dot points on each slide.
|
TOTAL /50
Week of Monday Jan 9 2012
We now start the Scientific Enquiries.
Here is a list of possible topics for each science.
You may work alone or in pairs.
Physics
1. Vortex rings
in water (drop coloured water into clear liquid)
2. Making very
big drops of oil in water and alcohol mixtures.
3. Slinkies
4. Popcorn
Chemistry
1.
Behaviour of
Water
2.
Food
Additives
3.
Green Household
Cleaning Products
4. Chocolate
Here are the STEPS you need to follow to complete this 6 week project.
Ideas and evidence
• Discuss the importance of developing empirical questions which can
be investigated, collecting evidence, developing explanations and
using creative thinking.
• Test predictions with reference to evidence gained.
Plan investigative work
• Select ideas and turn them into a form that can be tested.
• Plan investigations to test ideas.
• Identify important variables; choose which variables to change,
control and measure.
• Make predictions using scientific knowledge and understanding.
Obtain and present evidence
• Take appropriately accurate measurements.
• Use a range of equipment correctly.
• Discuss and control risks to themselves and others.
• Present results as appropriate in tables and graphs.
Consider evidence and approach
• Make simple calculations.
• Identify trends and patterns in results (correlations).
• Compare results with predictions.
• Identify anomalous results and suggest improvements to
investigations.
• Interpret data from secondary sources.
• Discuss explanations for results using scientific knowledge and
understanding. Communicate these clearly to others.
• Present conclusions to others in appropriate ways.
Some Resources
http://simon-davies.suite101.com/everyday-chemistry-investigation-projects-a118530
Designing Good Science Posters
Use the ideas and pictures of good posters in the following sites:
This is a good design to use:
Week of Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Physics
New Topic starting Friday 7 Oct is SOUND.
We will do a Web Quest only for this topic
http://www.webquest.hawaii.edu/kukulu/webquests/webquest7/
A good website to use is http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/sound/
This will be due after the Diwali break, Friday 11 November
Chemistry
The Web Quest project is found here:
http://mvhs.shodor.org/activities/chemistry/periodicf/webquest.html
Hwk due today is filling in the Research Guide Sheet found here;
http://mvhs.shodor.org/activities/chemistry/periodicf/guidesht.html
The poster is Due Wed 19 Oct.
Update
Wednesday May 11
Yr 8,9 Biology
New topic is Ecology
in Spotlight text ch 8
Hwk is to copy classification diagrams p44 and do questions a) to f)
Next week bring in Checkpoints text!
Year 8,9 Physics
Topic is Sound.
Hwk is write up fully your plan for the "Noisy Neighbors" Investigation, p159; which will be done if our sound meter arrives!!
Mr A
Feb 28
Yr 8 Biology: Homework is draw and label the Heart on p22 and do questions a) to f)
Yr 8 Physics : Homework is to re-draw your diagram (if necessary) of refraction from the prac and do questions e) to h) on p139.
Mr A
Jan 10 2011
Year 8 Biology: Chapter 8B in text p 13, start here and do at least the first couple of pages.
Year 8 Physics: The homework should have been completed as listed below on Dec 7.
So continue from p132 or 133 and do at least 3 or 4 pages. If you finish this you can read the Web Quest as detailed below.
Mr Alan
Nov 29 2010
Unfortunately I won't be back at DSB until next Monday due to illness.
Please try to complete the work listed below.Year 8 Biology: Chapter 8B in text p 13, start here and do at least the first couple of pages.
Year 8 Physics: The homework should have been completed as listed below on Dec 7.
So continue from p132 or 133 and do at least 3 or 4 pages. If you finish this you can read the Web Quest as detailed below.
Mr Alan
Nov 29 2010
Year 8 Biology
Next two topics for year 8 Biology which will be completed in 2011 are “Breathing and Circulation” and “Respiration”.
· Chapter 8B in text pp 13-26
AW
Year 8 Physics
Next topic for year 8 Physics is “Light”
· Chapter 8K pp129-14
This is the Web Quest Project that will be done Term 2 2011
http://tiny.cc/2ek0q
Use this website for "The Physics of Color" , as the one on the webquest doesn't work
Dec7; Homework for next term p131 finish off "Lighting Up Materials' and "Copy and Complete" #1 and 2 only
AW
This is the Web Quest Project that will be done Term 2 2011
http://tiny.cc/2ek0q
Use this website for "The Physics of Color" , as the one on the webquest doesn't work
Dec7; Homework for next term p131 finish off "Lighting Up Materials' and "Copy and Complete" #1 and 2 only
AW
