How do you know?

This year I've got a lot of students who are vocally resistant to science - evolution in particular, but science in general is suspect in the minds of a lot more students than I've witnessed before. A frequent challenge is "how do they know that?" and a frequent answer (provided by the student asking the question in the first place) is, "they don't, they're just guessing." That's a literal quote, mind you.

So, after deciding last year to retire the activity, this year I am again dusting off the "Black Box" lab to address the idea that science is about just guessing what's going on in the world, or because we can't "see" the structure of an atom, or the solar system, or macroevolution, we shouldn't have much confidence in the models presented by scientists. Where this thinking ultimately leads is to a rationalization for rejecting science in favor more comfortable or "convenient" explanations, such as creationism.

I can't say a lot about the activity, since the element of mystery is crucial, and I wouldn't want a student to stumble upon this blog and spoil it. I'm attaching the lab sheets that I revised last week, without teacher's guide - if you want a copy, send me an e-mail and I'll get it to you.

Black Box Lab - Student Edition