I.
Title: Correlation between killing frost and full moon?

Recommended grade level: 9-12

Subject: any science

Author: Larry Glynn

School: Colfax High School

II.

Objectives:  Students will gain understanding about pseudoscience vs science by designing their own experiment to answer the question: Does the first killing frost in the fall usually occur when there is a full moon?  This is a common belief of many rural Wisconsin people.

Standard A.8.3  Defend explanations and models by collecting and organizing evidence that support them and critique explanations and models by collecting and organizing evidence that conflicts with them.

III.

Equipment or materials needed:  Access to weather records and moon phase records

IV.

Procedure:

1.        Discussion about the difference between science and pseudoscience.

2.        Discussion about the common rural WI claim that the first killing frost usually occurs during the full moon.

3.        Ask the students to use scientific method to answer the question: Does the first killing frost of the fall usually occur when there is a full moon?

V.

Assessment: This Lab will be graded the same as any other Lab write-up.