Have you ever played the game telephone? One person whispers a message to the person next to them and then the whisper goes around the room. Inevitably the message is quite confused by the end. This game is a great model for how people's experiences passed down over generations have led to some strange beliefs. Understanding where these ideas come from and how to know if they are accurate is the goal of the Folk Science Lesson

Students will determine if swallowing a watermelon seed would cause it to start growing in their stomach. Students will discover what is required for seed germination and what is not. Students will discover how the digestive system works. Students will have a connection to the evolution of seed plants and seed dispersal by animals and its importance in the ecosystem.