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Battling ideas A skill development activity for GCSE

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. SS1. Engage.

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Battling ideas A skill development activity for GCSE

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  1. Battling ideas A skill development activity for GCSE

  2. 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

  3. SS1 Engage Which number comes next? 1

  4. Engage Which number comes next? 3 Previous number: 1

  5. Engage Which number comes next? 5 Previous numbers: 1, 3

  6. Engage Which number comes next? 7 Previous numbers: 1, 3, 5

  7. Engage Was your prediction correct? 9 Previous numbers: 1, 3, 5, 7

  8. Engage Round 2 This time, work out a rule that predicts the next number.

  9. Engage What could the next number be? 1

  10. Engage What rule connects these numbers? Predict the next number. 2 Previous number: 1

  11. Engage Were you correct? If not, try to find a better rule. 2 Previous numbers: 1, 2

  12. Engage Were you correct? If not, try to find a better rule. 4 Previous numbers: 1, 2, 2

  13. Engage Were you correct? If not, try to find a better rule. 8 Previous numbers: 1, 2, 2, 4

  14. Engage Were you correct? Describe the rule that links the numbers. 32 Previous numbers: 1, 2, 2, 4, 8

  15. Engage Did your first idea produce a successful prediction? Did you change your rule when you had more numbers to base it on?

  16. Engage The numbers are like scientific observations. Scientists keep generating new ones. The rule is like a science explanation or theory.

  17. Engage A science explanation is convincing if it generates accurate predictions.

  18. Explore Scientists often think of different explanations. How can we decide which one is best? © OCR 2012

  19. Explore Contest 1

  20. Explore In tonight’s Battling Ideas contest, our two boxers are competing to explain something very puzzling...

  21. Explore The trees around Mammoth Mountain are dying. This region of California is volcanically active.

  22. Explore In the red corner, we have ‘Rain’, his idea is... ...acid rain produced by volcanic gases kills trees.

  23. Explore In the blue corner, we have ‘Deadly’, his idea is... ...one of the volcanic gases is deadly and kills the trees directly.

  24. SS2 Explore Choose which idea to support. After each round, record: whether it generates a correct prediction... ..and how confident you are that theexplanation is correct.

  25. 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

  26. Explore Observation: The pH of Europe’s rainwater is low, but the air is safe to breathe. Rain 1 and the winner is...

  27. 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 Who’s right? 1 Round 2

  28. Explore Observation: The rainfall around volcanoes on Hawaii is highly acidic. The rain on other parts of the islands is not. Rain 2 1 and the winner is...

  29. 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 Himalayas Who’s right? 1 Round 3

  30. Explore Observation: Fish populations in the lakes are healthy. Deadly 2 1 1 and the winner is...

  31. 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 Plants were also killed. Himalayas Who’s right? 1 1 Round 4

  32. 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 and the winner is...

  33. 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 2 Himalayas Who’s right? 1 1 Round 5

  34. Explore Observation: In the soil around the dead trees, the carbon dioxide level is 100 times the normal value. 3 Deadly 2 2 1 1 and the winner is...

  35. Explore Tonight’s overall winner is... Deadly

  36. Explore Contest 2

  37. Explore In tonight’s Battling Ideas contest, our two boxers are competing to explain something very puzzling...

  38. Explore ...mysterious ridges on the surface of the planet Mercury. Photographs from the Messenger spacecraft

  39. Explore In the red corner, we have ‘Shrink’, his idea says... The ridges are formed as Mercury cools and shrinks.

  40. 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.

  41. Explore Round 1: What happens to the shape of hot rocks as they slowly cool? “I predict that they will crack.” “I predict that they will shrink.” Who’s right? Round 1

  42. Explore Observation: Measurements of hot objects show they get smaller (contract). Shrink 1 and the winner is...

  43. 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 Who’s right? 1 Round 2

  44. Explore Observation: Mountain ranges are found where the Earth’s plates are moving towards each other. Plates 1 1 and the winner is...

  45. 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 Who’s right? 1 1 Round 3

  46. Explore Observation: The smooth area shows where lava has covered the craters. Plates 2 1 1 and the winner is...

  47. 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.” 2 Himalayas Who’s right? 1 1 Round 4

  48. 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 and the winner is...

  49. 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 2 Who’s right? 1 1 Round 5

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