1. Check yourself before you wreck yourself
Science!
Check yourself before you wreck yourself

2. Warm-up
Where do you get your news from? Do you trust this source? Explain your reasoning

3. The dangers of Dihydrogen monoxide
Go to
Look and read over the web pages supporting the ban of dihydrogen monoxide
Compile 10 facts about dihydrogen monoxide from the link above
After compiling your facts about dihydrogen monoxide answer the following question:
After viewing the web pages supporting the ban of dihydrogen monoxide, are you concerned about dihydrogen monoxide use in the school? Why or why not?
What do you think the school should do about dihydrogen monoxide? Support your answer based on facts you complied or any information you may have previously learned

5. Discussion
After watching the movie, how do you feel about dihydrogen monoxide use in the school?
Do you still feel the same way you did before the movie?
What does this tell you about the nature of factual information and the use of persuasion?

6. Homework
Bring in a scientific article from the web – preferably from a source you usually get news

7. Warm-up
List two ways that science can be misleading. Describe one way that the news can misrepresent science.

8. Chocolate diet!
In small groups read the chocolate articles and apply the 5 W’s as you read.
After reading your articles, take turns summarizing your article to your group. Be sure to also include the 5 Ws in your summary and identify any research or scientist in the article.
After everyone has shared, discuss your thoughts on the articles. What kind of experiment(s) do you think were done to find this out about chocolate? Do you believe it? Why or why not?

10. Article “I Fooled Millions Into Thinking Chocolate Helps Weight Loss
Article “I Fooled Millions Into Thinking Chocolate Helps Weight Loss. Here's How.”
Read the article and complete a 2,1,3 KWL chart
Class discussion:
How did this article make you feel? Why?
What made the articles you read before convincing?
Where did all that information come from in the articles?
Does this change your perspective on the information you get? Why or why not?
How can you spot ‘bad science’?

11. How to spot bad science

12. Your turn
Make your own bad science/news guide. (you can base it off of mine but it should be one that will genuinely work for you!)
Check your article against your guide. Does your article pass? Why or why not?
Staple your guide and answer to the front of your article and turn it in when done.
How does this impact your view of where you get your news?
Do you think it’s always easy to spot bad science? Explain your answer.

13. Warm-up
A friend sent you an interesting article on Facebook about how petting your dog can lower your heart rate. List three red flags you will look for in this article to spot bad science (or bad reporting).

14. How to read a scientific journal article
Go to search.ebscohost.com and login - User ID: s Password: password
Click on the first link “EBSCOhost Web”
Scroll down to “Academic Search Premier” and click on it
Search for a scientific topic that interests you
Pick an article
As you are reading the article, complete the guide to reading a scientific paper on a separate sheet of paper.