Back to School Science Activity: Myth Busting & Science or Fiction Game

Across three engaging rounds, students will bust common science myths, evaluate real-world scenarios like gene editing and lab-grown meat, and race to crack a hidden code in a high-energy bonus round. Every part of the activity is designed to get students talking, thinking, and working together from day one.

This activity is perfect for the beginning of the year, helping you build classroom community while introducing critical thinking, scientific literacy, and evidence-based discussion in a fun and memorable way.

Why Teachers Love It:

• High Engagement – Feels like a game show, not a worksheet, and students get instantly invested.
• Encourages Meaningful Discussion – Students must explain and defend their thinking, not just guess.
• Builds Real Science Skills – Reinforces reasoning, argumentation, and identifying misinformation.
• Flexible Use – Perfect for back to school, scientific method units, review days, or sub plans.
• This activity supports NGSS Science and Engineering Practices, including engaging in argument from evidence, analyzing scientific claims, and constructing explanations. It also reinforces Crosscutting Concepts such as cause and effect, patterns, and stability and change.

What’s Included:

• Student Activity Packet – Complete with 3 rounds, scoring system, and team-based gameplay.
• Teacher Guide – Includes answer key, explanations, facilitation tips, and extension ideas.
• Bonus Myth Bank – Over 35 extra myths for differentiation, reuse, or customization.

This resource is a fun, modern way to kick off your science class while setting the tone for a year of curiosity, critical thinking, and real-world connections.

Grade Levels: 8th – 12th
Total Pages: 21
Teaching Duration: 40 Minutes