Science Geeks

Pre-trial (preparation day) Task.

You must divide tasks and choose who wants to complete the presentation roles. There are AT LEAST TWO presentation roles - NICOLAUS COPERNICUS and GALILEO GALILEI. You can read about what they must present below. BEFORE the end of the meeting on preparation day, students must have agreed to WHO will be presenting in character AND inform the instructor.

The Science Geeks have TWO presentation characters and a support staff to help them out.

Rules of Play:

1) If multiple students wish to present, you can double/triple up and do a collaborative presentation. Just remember that you are ALL representing the SAME CHARACTER.

2) Students who are unable to present (i.e. the Lab Geeks) but still wish to earn full credit will need to be VERY ACTIVE participants. This means CHEERING ON your team, providing them with material for their presentations, BOOING the opposing council and, MOST IMPORTANTLY, questioning the OPPOSITION. The WORSE you make the OTHER team look, the BETTER your team does!

3) Remember that you ARE your ROLE. The more you get into the spirit of this, the more fun it will be. Choose costumes and/or zoom backgrounds that are period-appropriate!

4) Game roles are described below.

5) EVERY student should fill out and submit the pre-trial Google Form BEFORE gameplay commences.

Nikolaus Copernicus (presenter ) –

You must do a presentation about heliocentrism. In your presentation, you must show the science behind why the Sun is the middle of everything. You should cover what heliocentric means, how the heliocentric theory accounts for planet brightness variation and how your model explains retrograde motion. Retrograde motion can be particularly tricky so put some TIME AND EFFORT into understanding and presenting that aspect of the science well! You can present your view as scientific theory if you want to avoid the ire of the Catholic Church, or you can present it as science fact if you aren’t afraid of them. The following site should help in creating your presentation:

Source: http://www.pas.rochester.edu/~blackman/ast104/copernican9.html

Galileo Galilei (presenter) –

You must do a presentation that presents additional evidence supporting heliocentrism as correct. This presentation should include:

1) Proof the heavens are not perfect

2) Proof that Jupiter has moons (you can show pictures)

3) Proof that Venus has phases and why that means Earth isn't at the middle. This can be particularly tricky so put some TIME AND EFFORT into understanding and presenting this particular aspect of the science well.

4) You should refute Aristotle’s claims that heavy objects fall faster. You can prove yourself as a great scientist by disproving Aristotle.

Source:

https://spacecentre.co.uk/blog-post/galileos-telescope-changed-our-view-of-the-solar-system/

Lab Geeks (supporters) –

You are scientists and support anything related to science. You should cheer for your fellow scientists (Galileo and Copernicus). You should also vehemently oppose religious arguments being presented as science. If someone starts talking all church-y, feel free to boo/hiss and be genuinely obnoxious!

This is a minimal effort role, so you will receive a minimal grade (“C”) for choosing it. You can turn this “C” into an “A” by questioning the other factions representatives AND helping your faction present their case well.

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