Activity: Science Denial: Channel Your Inner Cranky Uncle

Download Lesson Plan Here

Subjects: Science, Language Arts, Digital Media Literacy, Social Studies, Study Skills, Critical Thinking, Logic

Grade Levels: Middle School, High School, Undergraduate

Lesson Length:  1-2 class periods

Overview: This lesson explores science denial, which is the refusal to accept well-established scientific conclusions. In this fun and engaging activity, students learn the techniques of science denial by channeling their inner Cranky Uncle. 

Learning Objectives:

• ​​Students will understand key differences between science and science denial.
• Students will recognize common techniques used to deny science. 

Materials:

• Instructional video
• Worksheet 
• Laptops or phones
• Cranky Uncle game
• Optional Reading: Give Science Denial the FLICC
• Useful Resources:
  • Teacher’s Guide to Cranky Uncle
  • Behind the Curve

Procedure:

• Introduction: What is science denial? (20 minutes) 
  • Have students watch the video and complete the worksheet.
• Part 1: Play the Cranky Uncle game (20-30 minutes)
  • The Cranky Uncle game uses cartoons and humor to familiarize players with common techniques of science denial, summarized by FLICC (Fake experts, Logical fallacies, Impossible expectations, Cherry picking, Conspiracy theories).
  • The game features Cranky Uncle, a science denier, who uses denial techniques to spread misinformation. As players learn the techniques, they make Cranky Uncle crankier and unlock additional levels in the FLICC taxonomy. 
  • Put students into groups of two or three and instruct them to play Cranky Uncle until they reach at least 500 Cranky Points.
    
• Part 2: It’s your turn to be Cranky Uncle! (20-30 minutes)
  • Instructions:
    • Divide students into small groups.
    • Choose a topic to deny. The sillier or more outrageous the better! 
    • Using the FLICC techniques, create a compelling narrative to deny whatever topic you chose. 
    • Depending on the class, students can role play, create posters, write fake social media posts, record short videos, etc. 
  • Recommended: When students are ready, have them share their projects with the class and ask them to identify the techniques used by their fellow gravity deniers.
  • Online Option: If you’re using a learning management system (LMS), have students post their arguments on a discussion board, along with a comment on their submission specifying which of the FLICC techniques they used and how.
    
• Discussion and Debrief (10-20 minutes)
  • Lead the class in a discussion about real-life examples of science denial. What do they think motivates the denial? What harm might come from the denial? Can they recognize the denial techniques (as summarized by FLICC)?

Assessment:

• Teacher discretion can be used to assess student work.

Special Thanks: This lesson was produced in collaboration with the Mental Immunity Project. Additional thanks to John Cook, creator of Skeptical Science and Cranky Uncle.