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Inquiry Starter Set: The Frivolity of Phrenology

Album Description

Image from: Vaught's practical character reader (1902) 

Objectives:

1.Understand the basic principles and claims of phrenology.

2.Analyze historical documents to identify characteristics of pseudoscience.

3.Discuss the impact of pseudoscientific beliefs on society.

4.Develop critical thinking skills by evaluating the validity of scientific claims.

Activity 1: Document Analysis:

1.Divide students into small groups and assign each group one of the documents.

2.Provide each group with a set of guiding questions:

•What claims are made in this document about phrenology?

•How does the document present phrenology as a credible science?

•Are there any obvious signs that these claims are not based on scientific evidence?

•What language or imagery is used to persuade the reader?

3.Have each group present their findings to the class.

Activity 2: Critical Thinking Discussion:

1.Facilitate a class discussion using the following questions:

•Why do you think phrenology was popular during the late 1800s and early 1900s?

•What aspects of phrenology made it seem scientific to people at the time?

•How can we tell the difference between science and pseudoscience today?

•Are there any modern examples of pseudoscience that we need to be aware of?

Conclusion:

1.Summarize the main points discussed.

2.Emphasize the importance of critical thinking and the scientific method in evaluating claims.

3.Assign a short reflective essay for homework: “How can learning about historical pseudosciences like phrenology help us understand the importance of scientific literacy today?”

Extension Activity:

•Have students research another historical pseudoscience and present their findings in a similar format, comparing it to phrenology.

  InquiryStarterSet 

Vaught's practical character reader,

Teaching Notes

Lots of images on the pages of this book. Examples: 

Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/item/03018663/

Reference note

Created / Published

  • Chicago, L. A. Vaught, 1902.

Notes

  • -  Advertising matter: p. 256-257.
  • -  Also available in digital form.

Image 15 of The evening world (New York, N.Y.), October 22, 1903, (Night Edition)

Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/resource/sn83030193/1903-10-22/ed-1/?sp=15&q=Phrenology&r=-0.47,-0.161,1.653,0.969,0

Reference note

Created / Published

  • New York, N.Y., October 22, 1903

Genre

  • Newspapers

Notes

  • -  Daily (except Sunday)
  • -  Oct. 10, 1887-Feb. 26,1931.
  • -  Has occasional extra editions.
  • -  Gregory, W. Amer. Newspapers 482
  • -  Apr. 30, 1889 published as: Ye World. Ye centennial number of Ye evening world.
  • -  Archived issues are available in digital format as part of the Library of Congress Chronicling America online collection.
  • -  Evening ed. of: World (New York, N.Y. : 1883 : Daily).
  • -  Merged with: World (New York, N.Y. : 1883 : Daily), and New York Telegram, to form: Evening world, the world, the New York telegram.
  • -  World (New York, N.Y. : 1883 : Daily) (DLC)sn 86071683 (OCoLC)13846132
  • -  Evening world, the world, the New York telegram (DLC)sn 86071844 (OCoLC)14116421

Image 38 of The Montgomery advertiser (Montgomery, Ala.), February 16, 1919, (Magazine and Comic Section)

Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/resource/sn84020645/1919-02-16/ed-1/?sp=38&q=Phrenology&r=-0.838,-0.053,2.675,1.569,0

Reference note

Created / Published

  • Montgomery, Ala., February 16, 1919

Genre

  • Newspapers

Notes

  • -  Daily
  • -  New ser. v. 21, no. 24 (Aug. 16, 1885)-new ser. v. 35, no. 323 (July 19, 1900) ; v. 71, no. 168 (July 20, 1900)-155th year, no. 47 (Nov. 21, 1982).
  • -  On Saturday published as: Saturday morning, Apr. 2, 1977-Apr. 1, 1978; The Montgomery advertiser/Alabama journal, Apr. 8, 1978-Nov. 20, 1982.
  • -  On Sunday published as: Montgomery advertiser and Alabama journal, Dec. 1, 1940-Nov. 21, 1982.
  • -  Publisher varies: Advertiser Co.,
  • -  Numbering is irregular.
  • -  Issues for Aug 16, 1885-July 19, 1899 called also Old ser. v. 54-v. 68.
  • -  Also issued on microfilm from the University of Alabama Library, and the Library of Congress, Photoduplication Services.
  • -  Archived issues are available in digital format from the Library of Congress Chronicling America online collection.
  • -  Weekly eds.: Montgomery weekly advertiser, and: Weekly advertiser (Montgomery, Ala.), and: Montgomery advertiser (Montgomery, Ala. : Weekly).
  • -  Advertiser (Montgomery, Ala.) 0745-3221 (DLC)sn 82008412 (OCoLC)9049482

Image 53 of Richmond times-dispatch (Richmond, Va.), June 20, 1920

Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/resource/sn83045389/1920-06-20/ed-1/?sp=53&q=Phrenology

Reference note

Created / Published

  • Richmond, Va., June 20, 1920

Genre

  • Periodicals
  • Newspapers

Notes

  • -  Daily
  • -  Vol. 64, no. 19,899 (Nov. 14, 1914)-
  • -  On Sundays published as: Sunday times-dispatch, and: Richmond times-dispatch,
  • -  Also issued on microfilm from University Microfilms International, and Microfilming Corp. of America.
  • -  Archived issues are available in digital format as part of the Library of Congress Chronicling America online collection.
  • -  Latest issue consulted: 149th year, no. 90 (Mar. 31, 1999).