Process

STEP ONE

First divide your science detectives into two separate teams to investigate the two areas of research:

TEAM ONE - The Flat Earth Team (Old World View)

Your team will investigate the hypothesis put forward by the flat earth society and others. Their views may be found at:

The Flat Earth Society (Note: This is a very slow loading page - please be patient)

The Flat Out Truth:

Documenting the Existence of "The International Flat Earth Society"

Be sure to take point form notes from each web page documenting arguments or proofs you will use later to convince your audience that the earth is flat!

When finished, prepare a one page point-form handout for your audience outlining the evidence for the earth being flat

TEAM TWO - The Spherical Earth Team (New World View)

Your team will investigate the hypothesis put forward by learned scienctists including Eratosthenes and Aristotle as well as famous explorers including Christopher Columbus. Their views represent the views of the vast majority of scientists and the public. These views may be found at:

Bad Astronomy

Earth is Round

The Round Earth and Christopher Columbus

Be sure to take point form notes from each web page documenting arguments or proofs you will use later to convince your audience that the earth is a sphere!

When finished, prepare a one page point-form handout for your audience outlining the evidence for the earth as a sphere

STEP TWO

Now that both your teams have gathered evidence for both sides of the argument ...

Prepare a 10 minute oral presentation on the true shape of the earth. Begin with the OLD WORLD VIEW outlining the views of Aristotle and Eratosthenes and then the NEW WORLD VIEW outlining what we know today and how it can be proven. Make your arguments for both sides convincing but in the end you must convince your audience that the NEW WORLD VIEW that the earth is a sphere is correct.

Feel free to use any visual aids necessary to make your argument convincing! (i.e. charts, powerpoint presentation, handouts for the audience, etc.)

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