Mythbusters: Home

Scientists are people who collect and evaluate information about a wide range
of topics.

A good scientist must:

• be curious—Are you interested in learning?
• be enthusiastic—Are you enthused about a scientific topic?
• be careful—Are you accurate in everything that you do?
• be open minded—Are you willing to listen to new ideas?
• Question everything—Do you think about what you read and observe?

The Mythbusters program tests what the creators call myths; hypotheses taken from folklore, history, movies, the Internet and urban legends. Students will design and carry out an experiment, represent and analyze the data, and create a MythBusters video episode to present the project to classmates. 

Wonder – What crazy questions can we ask?
Research – What is already known about those questions?
Guess – What do you think the answers are?
Test – Design experiments to answer the questions.
Discover – Test and test again…and break some stuff too.
Results – What did your experiments tell you?
Share – Shout it from the rooftops!  Make a TV show about it!

So. You're minding your own business, filling up your mom's gas tank, when your cell phone rings. Hmmm. Should you answer it? Because you've heard you shouldn't use cell phones near gas stations since they can produce small sparks that can ignite big fires.  But wait! Could that actually be true?  Sounds like a job for MythBusters!

Taking our cue from the wildly popular Mythbusters TV show on the Discovery Channel, you are going to create your own myth to bust.  You and your partner will design and produce an 8-10 minute filmed segment of your experiment.

•GOAL

To prove or debunk an urban myth, then design and produce a Mythbusters episode to demonstrate your group’s exploration of the myth through the scientific method.

Guidelines & Limitations

1.            Be creative with your myth.  Focus on a topic to relevant to members of our school community.  Inquiring minds want to know!

2.            Your myth must be approved by Mr. Burton.

3.            Tests requiring flammability or explosives are not allowed.

4.            There must be actual science in your myth that can be explained to your audience.

5.            No animal cruelty.

6.            Your myth must be testable.  Data collection is required for scientific and mathematical analysis.  You may need to supply your own testing materials.

7.            All group members must participate in your Mythbusters episode.

8.            Video and digital photos must be taken throughout project.

9.              Your video format should follow the same style as the Mythbusters show.

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