What is a theory? Why do people believe some theories more than others?

We are learning to… Use evidence to decide how good a theory is. Use evidence to help the Yorkshire Museum with a problem. Answer these questions ‘Have we got enough evidence to make a decision?’ and ‘What further evidence could we look for?’

What I’m Looking For… You have used the evidence to decide how good your theory is. You have explained how the evidence supports or goes against your theory. You have decided if the evidence presented to you is good enough to make a decision about your theory and have made a list of further evidence needed if it isn’t.

THE PROBLEM LETTER FROM MUSEUM The Yorkshire museum has been around for about 170 years. In about 1830 we collected various things like minerals, fossils and bones from the cave. We’ve found some bones in a store cupboard and are thinking of putting some of them on show in our new “Ice Age” exhibition. However, we have a problem. We don’t know where the bones have come from and we don’t have much time to find out. Could you please test out some theories for us. We have some key pieces of evidence you can use but you may need to find some of your own.

EVIDENCE A – A Map

EVIDENCE B – Cave Earth

EVIDENCE C – List of animal bones WolfBear TigerHyena FoxWeasel ElephantRhinoceros HippopotamusHorse OxDeer Rabbit or HareWater-rat MouseBirds

EVIDENCE D – Chewed bone

EVIDENCE E – Jaw bone

I wonder which theory is correct?