Transcript Lesson bundle - Battling ideas - Presentation

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Battling ideas
A skill development activity for GCSE
OBJECTIVES
● Recall that science explanations are
provisional
● Recognise that explanations are more
convincing when their predictions are
successfully tested
● Explain why the theory of plate
tectonics is now accepted
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SS1
Engage
Which number comes next?
1
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Engage
Which number comes next?
3
Previous number: 1
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Engage
Which number comes next?
5
Previous numbers: 1, 3
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Engage
Which number comes next?
7
Previous numbers: 1, 3, 5
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Engage
Was your prediction correct?
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Previous numbers: 1, 3, 5, 7
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Engage
Round 2
This time, work out a rule
that predicts the next number.
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Engage
What could the next number be?
1
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Engage
What rule connects these numbers?
Predict the next number.
2
Previous number: 1
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Engage
Were you correct?
If not, try to find a better rule.
2
Previous numbers: 1, 2
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Engage
Were you correct?
If not, try to find a better rule.
4
Previous numbers: 1, 2, 2
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Engage
Were you correct?
If not, try to find a better rule.
8
Previous numbers: 1, 2, 2, 4
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Engage
Were you correct?
Describe the rule that links the numbers.
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Previous numbers: 1, 2, 2, 4, 8
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Engage
Did your first idea produce a
successful prediction?
Did you change your
rule when you had
more numbers to base
it on?
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Engage
The numbers are like scientific
observations. Scientists keep generating
new ones.
The rule is
like a science
explanation
or theory.
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Engage
A science explanation is
convincing if it generates
accurate predictions.
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Explore
Scientists often think of different
explanations.
How can we decide
which one is best?
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Contest 1
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Explore
Explore
In tonight’s Battling Ideas contest, our
two boxers are competing to explain
something very puzzling...
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Explore
The trees around
Mammoth Mountain
are dying.
This region
of California is
volcanically
active.
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Explore
In the red corner, we
have ‘Rain’, his idea
is...
... acid rain produced by
volcanic gases kills trees.
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Explore
In the blue corner,
we have ‘Deadly’, his
idea is...
...one of the volcanic gases
is deadly and kills the trees
directly.
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SS2
Explore
Choose which idea to support.
After each round, record:
whether it generates
a correct prediction...
..and how confident
you are that the
explanation is
correct.
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Explore
Round 1: Trees are also dying in Europe. Why?
“I predict that
there is a deadly
gas in the air
around the trees.”
“I predict that the
rain in Europe is
acidic.“
Who’s right?
Round 1
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Observation: The pH of Europe’s rainwater is
low, but the air is safe to breathe.
Rain
1
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and the winner is...
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Explore
Explore
Round 2: Does volcanic activity cause acid rain?
“I predict that volcanic
activity releases deadly
gases without forming
acid rain.”
”
“I predict that
acid rain forms
wherever volcanic
gases are released.”
Himalayas
1
Who’s right?
Round 2
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Explore
Observation: The rainfall around volcanoes on
Hawaii is highly acidic. The rain on other parts of
the islands is not.
Rain
2
1
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and the winner is...
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Explore
Round 3: The lakes on Mammoth mountain contain
many different types of fish.
“I predict that
the deadly gas
won’t harm the
fish”
“I predict that acid
rain falling in the
lakes will kill the
fish”
2
1
Himalayas
Who’s right?
Round 3
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Explore
Observation: Fish populations in the lakes are
healthy.
Deadly
2
1
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and the winner is...
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1
Explore
Round 4:
It’s 1986, and 1700 people are going to die near Lake
Nyos in Cameroon. This area is volcanically active.
What do you think is going to kill them?
“I predict
volcanic activity
released
a deadly gas.”
“I predict that acid rain
falling in the lake poisoned
their drinking water.”
2
1
Plants were
also killed.
Himalayas
Who’s right?
Round 4
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1
Explore
Observation:
High levels of carbon dioxide were detected near
the lake. When large amounts are released, this dense gas displaces the
oxygen at ground level.
Deadly
2
2
1
1
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and the winner is...
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Explore
Round 5: Are there high carbon dioxide levels
around Mammoth Mountain?
“I predict that
carbon dioxide levels
are high around
Mammoth Mountain.
“I predict that carbon
dioxide levels around
Mammoth Mountain
Are normal”
2
1
2
Himalayas
Who’s right?
1
Round 5
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Explore
Observation:
In the soil around the dead trees, the
carbon dioxide level is 100 times the normal value.
Deadly
3
2
2
1
1
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and the winner is...
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Explore
Tonight’s overall winner is...
Deadly
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Contest 2
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Explore
Explore
In tonight’s Battling Ideas contest, our
two boxers are competing to explain
something very puzzling...
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Explore
...mysterious ridges on the
surface of the planet Mercury.
Photographs from the
Messenger spacecraft
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Explore
In the red corner,
we have ‘Shrink’, his
idea says...
The ridges are formed as
Mercury cools and shrinks.
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Explore
In the blue corner, we
have ‘Plates’, his idea
says...
The ridges are pushed up when
the plates of Mercury’s crust
push together.
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Explore
Round 1: What happens to the shape of hot
rocks as they slowly cool?
“I predict
that they will
shrink.”
“I predict
that they will
crack.”
Who’s right?
Round 1
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Explore
Observation: Measurements of hot objects show
they get smaller (contract).
Shrink
1
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and the winner is...
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Explore
Round 2: Where are there mountain ridges on
Earth?
“I predict that mountain
ridges are found where the
Earth’s plates meet and
push together.”
“I predict that
mountain ridges
are found
anywhere on Earth.“
Himalayas
1
Who’s right?
Round 2
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Explore
Observation: Mountain ranges are found where the
Earth’s plates are moving towards each other.
Plates
1
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and the winner is...
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1
Explore
Round 3: On Earth, lava flows are found only in certain
places. Are there lava flows on Mercury?
“I predict NO.
The planet has
cooled so there will
be no molten lava.”
“I predict YES.
Molten lava can
escape between
the plates.”
Himalayas
1
Who’s right?
Round 3
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1
Explore
Observation: The smooth area shows where lava
has covered the craters.
Plates
2
1
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and the winner is...
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1
Explore
Round 4: Are there active volcanoes on Mercury?
“I predict NO. With
no plates there can
be no active
volcanoes.”
“I predict YES.
They will exist
where the
plates meet.”
Himalayas
1
Who’s right?
Round 4
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2
1
Explore
Observation: There are lava flows on Mercury
dated at about 3 billion years old but no evidence
of active volcanoes.
Shrink
2
2
1
1
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and the winner is...
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Explore
Round 5: What is Mercury’s surface like?
“I predict
Mercury has a
wrinkled
appearance”
“I predict that
Mercury has
mountains only in
some places.”
2
1
2
Who’s right?
1
Round 5
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Explore
Observation: Images from probes have shown
great curved cliffs hundreds of km long across much
of Mercury’s surface.
3
2
1
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Shrink
This cliff is over a
mile high.
and the winner is...
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2
1
Explore
Round 5: Has Mercury’s diameter changed
over time?
“I predict
Mercury’s
diameter has got
smaller.”
diameter
“I predict that
Mercury’s
diameter has
stayed the same.
2
1
2
Who’s right?
1
Round 5
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Observation: New measurements show that
Explore
Mercury’s diameter has shrunk by 1 or 2 km.
3
Shrink
2
2
1
1
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and the winner is...
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Explore
Tonight’s overall winner is...
Shrink
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Explain
A science explanation is
always provisional.
It could
change.
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Explain
A science explanation becomes more
convincing if the predictions it makes are
confirmed by observations.
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Explain
As observations confirm predictions,
more scientists may be convinced
by the explanation...
..but this does not
prove it is
correct.
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Explain
New observations could
be made in the future...
..that disagree with
our predictions.
Then the provisional
explanation will be
revised, or replaced
with a better one.
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Credits
Picture
Treekill, Erzgebirge
Mammoth mountain ski area in summer
Student sheet
19, 23 and 37
25 and 31
Credit
wikipedia.org
wikimedia.org
Dead vegetation at Lake Nyos
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wikipedia.org
Mercury – large expanse of smooth plains
material
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NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics
Laboratory/Carnegie Institution of Washington
Mercury’s vast expanses
of smooth plains
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Messenger.edu
Lobate scarps
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NASA
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