Are you ready for Power Bracelets? Well what are they and why would you want them. Supposedly they improve your balance and improve "energy flow". Names like iRenew and Power Balance they are fantastic examples of pseudoscience. With endorsements from famous celebrities and everyday people, they have been big sellers.
"POWER BALANCE bracelets contain two Mylar Hologram's which are embedded with frequencies that react with your body's electro-magnetic field. When the static POWER BALANCE Hologram comes in contact with your body's energy field, it begins to resonate in accordance with each individual's biological energy system, creating a harmonic loop that optimizes your energy field, maintains maximum energy flow while it clears the pathways so the electro-chemical exchange functions like the well-tuned generator it was designed to be, resulting in immediate improved balance, increased core strength, greater flexibility, increased range of motion and overall well-being." (unattributed quote on amazon and other sites)
Have your students explore more with the Pseudoscience - Power Bracelets lesson
Teacher background information:
Pseudoscience collectively refers to the collection of theories, assumptions, and methods erroneously regarded as scientific. More information about pseudoscience and how it compares to actual science can be found HERE.
This lesson could be used as a mini-unit and it intends to serve as an introductory lesson into the world of pseudoscience. Students will engage and explore ‘POWER BALANCE BANDS’, which wearers claim to improve stability and athletic performance. Students will then learn how pseudoscience differs from actual science and explain what makes something pseudoscience. Finally, they will explore a topic of their choosing, determine if it is pseudoscience or based on actual science, and construct a research project that they will present to the class. This lesson is recommended for the beginning of the year or at a time when you would like to introduce the nature and mechanisms of science to students.
Official Power Balance Website - Even the website does not include ANY claims. However, user testimonials do.
Intro to Pseudoscience: The Power Balance
Unit Overview, Outline, and Document List
Key Information:
Grade Level: targeted for 8th grade, the lesson can be modified for many classes
Class time: The Power Balance lesson should take about 1 hour of class time
Resources: Slides, worksheets, reading and assessments are provided