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Why I Use Strange But True Facts To Engage Science Students

If you teach science long enough, you learn a simple truth: curiosity is the door, and evidence is the key. Strange but true facts paired with a quick Two Truths and a Lie activity open that door faster than almost anything else I have tried. Students lean in, argue, check assumptions, and, most importantly, start using scientific thinking to decide what is real.


Over the years I have built a library of these high-engagement sets across many topics: black holes and space exploration, extreme adaptations, bacteria and viruses, magnets and mag-lev trains, the musculoskeletal system, genetics, mouth and teeth, Earth cycles, and human body systems. Some sets are free, some are paid, all are designed to fit into real classrooms with real time limits.


Students finding the truth or a lie
Students finding the truth or a lie

Below I explain how this resource format works in general, why it is so effective, and the different ways you can drop it into your lessons tomorrow with almost no prep.


Some the incredible facts that I have really enjoyed from these sets include:

  1. Astronauts on the ISS orbit Earth in about 90 minutes - roughly 16 sunrises and 16 sunsets every day - while flying at ~7.7 km/s.

  2. There are ~10^31 bacteriophages on Earth. Phages (viruses that infect bacteria) are the most numerous biological entities known - outnumbering stars in the observable universe.

  3. You carry about as many bacterial cells as human cells; it’s roughly a 1:1 ratio.

  4. About 577,000 cubic kilometers of water cycle around the planet annually (each year) through evaporation, condensation, and precipitation.

  5. You can levitate a frog with magnetism. Ultra-strong fields tug on the water inside living tissue (diamagnetism) hard enough to lift small animals. (Please don't try it though).


What the resource is, in any topic


Each set is built from the same core structure so you can teach it the same way whether the topic is Neutron Stars or the Nitrogen Cycle.


  • Student-ready Two Truths and a Lie activity (Google Slides, 5 slides). Students get 10 concise facts and 5 carefully crafted lies organized so they can mark, drag, or annotate claims. It is designed for devices or quick print. You can run it as pairs, small groups, or as a whole class “vote and justify” mini-debate.

  • Visual “Strange But True” mini-presentation (Google Slides, 12 slides). Ten striking, accurate facts with simple visuals. Each slide focuses on one claim with a short caption, so you can use a slide a day as a bell ringer or show a full set to launch a unit.

  • Printable packet (PDF, 6 pages) with answer keys and mix-and-match versions. Includes a color fact set, a cut-and-sort Two Truths and a Lie version, and teacher keys. It is perfect for stations, sub days, or a fast review before a quiz.


Across formats you get 20 facts and 5 lies per topic, presented in complementary ways so you can vary the experience without reinventing anything. Facts are vetted, age-appropriate, and chosen to spark questions, not just surprise.


Why this format works


1) It converts attention into analysis. Surprising facts are great, but the learning happens when students test them. Two Truths and a Lie forces learners to slow down and look for clues. They weigh words, compare to prior knowledge, and ask for evidence. The resource guides that process so “wow” becomes “why” and then becomes “how do we know.”


2) It builds vocabulary in context. Each claim uses target terms in natural sentences. As students justify choices, they practice speaking and writing with discipline language. This strengthens science literacy without a separate worksheet.


3) It supports NGSS-style practices. Students are obtaining and communicating information, constructing explanations, evaluating sources, and looking for cause and effect. It is a quick route to authentic practice, even in a short class period.


4) It scales to many teaching situations. Use it as a five-minute warmup, a twenty-minute station, a full-period launch, or a ready sub plan. It works in 1:1 device classrooms and in paper-only rooms. Everything needed is inside the slides and the printable set.


5) It connects to projects and design challenges. Good claims become great prompts. After students debate facts about rockets, for example, you can roll right into a design challenge on payload mass or into a research mini-project on communications satellites. The curiosity you create carries forward.


How I typically run it in class


Bell ringer (3–5 minutes). Show one Strange But True slide. Ask students to rate their confidence from 1 to 5 and write a short reason. Quick cold-call for one “convince us” explanation. Then reveal context, not just the answer. Move on while energy is high.


Stations or centers (15–25 minutes). At one station, the Two Truths and a Lie deck lives on a laptop or tablet. Students work in pairs to sort claims into “likely true” and “likely false” and must write a single sentence of evidence for each choice. At the next station, they read a short science article or examine a simple data figure that connects to several claims. At the final station, they complete a quick reflection or sketch note.


Whole-class launch (20–40 minutes). Use five to eight Strange But True slides to open a unit. After each slide, ask: What data would confirm this? What measurement would you need? Then do the Two Truths and a Lie as a capstone with voting cards or an online poll.


Sub day plan (full period). Print the packet, include the answer key, and give simple directions: read, sort, justify, and check. The mix-and-match version makes it easy to prevent copying and encourages discussion.


Classroom moves that make it even stronger


  • Require an evidence sentence. “Because I saw it on a video” is not evidence. Model better stems: “Based on the diagram showing force arrows…” or “Because the data table shows a tenfold change…”

  • Use a “no outside search” rule in round one. The goal is to practice reasoning before fact checking. Allow quick research in a second round to verify and cite.

  • Build a class claim bank. As you finish sets across the year, collect one favorite fact per unit on a single slide deck. Use it for finals review games or for student-made quizzes.

  • Connect to writing. Have students turn one claim into a short CER paragraph or a micro-explanation graphic. This pairs well with ELA standards and strengthens clarity.

  • Invite creative presentations. Some classes love to act out facts as short skits or record a 30-second “science news” clip. It turns recall into performance and helps ideas stick.


Where this fits in a larger sequence


These sets do not replace your core labs or lectures. They frame them. For example:


  • Before a content block on space exploration or Earth systems, use three Strange But True slides as a curiosity primer. Then run a hands-on demo or simulation that answers the questions students just raised.

  • During consolidation, use Two Truths and a Lie to identify misconceptions. Claims are crafted to target common errors, so the discussion reveals who needs a quick reteach.

  • As a bridge to projects, pick one claim as the anchor question for a research template. Students collect two sources, summarize one figure, and present their own “strange but true” addition with citations.


Cross-curricular connections


  • STEM design and technology. Facts about rockets, mag-lev trains, or prosthetics connect naturally to engineering design challenges. Have groups define criteria and constraints, sketch a solution, and test with simple materials.

  • Social studies and history of science. Claims about early vaccines, discovery of X-rays, or landmark expeditions pair with timelines and primary source snippets. Students see how ideas moved from lab to society.

  • Math and data literacy. Many slides include a number, proportion, or scale. Ask students to convert a percent to a fraction, compare magnitudes, or sketch a simple graph that could support the claim.

  • ELA speaking and listening. Structured academic talk during the lie-spotting round is a great way to practice accountable discourse. Use discussion roles and sentence frames so everyone participates.

  • Arts integration. Invite quick visual note-taking. Students transform one fact into a one-panel comic or an infographic sticky note. It makes review walls both useful and beautiful.


Differentiation and inclusion


  • Multiple entry points. Visual slides support emerging readers. Short sentences keep cognitive load reasonable. The printable set lets you adjust font size and color for accessibility.

  • Language supports. Provide word banks and simple stems. Offer bilingual versions of key words if helpful. Allow verbal justifications for students with writing accommodations.

  • Extension paths. Add a “design your own lie” challenge. Students must craft a plausible false statement and then outline the evidence that would disprove it. This deepens understanding and makes for a lively gallery walk.

  • Assessment flexibility. Use quick thumbs, exit tickets, or short CERs rather than long tests. The answer key allows for fast checks during class so feedback is immediate.


Practical tips for smooth setup


  • Prep once, reuse often. Keep the Google Slides deck in a shared drive. Duplicate and retitle for each class to track responses.

  • Project or device. If you have a projector, run the visual deck live. If not, push the student version to your LMS and let pairs work on a single device.

  • Time box the debate. Give two minutes to decide, one minute to write a reason, and one minute to share. Short time windows keep energy high.

  • Rotate roles. Assign Reader, Skeptic, and Scribe. Rotate each round so all students practice different skills.

  • Celebrate productive mistakes. When a class is split, cheer. That is where the learning is. Ask both sides to make the best case possible before revealing the answer.


Topics I have covered in this format


To give a sense of the range, here are examples where the structure shines:



Each topic uses the same three-part toolkit, which makes planning simple and consistent across the year.


Frequently asked questions


Do I need a full class period? No. You can run a single Strange But True slide as a three-minute opener, or spend an entire period on the activity set with a writing extension.


Is it device dependent? No. The slides work on any modern device, and the printable packet covers paper-only days. Everything includes teacher keys.


Can I use it with younger or older groups? Yes. The claims are written for middle and high school. For younger grades, choose simpler sets and focus on the visual deck. For advanced classes, add a mini-research requirement.


What about accuracy? Each fact is checked and kept short to avoid ambiguity. The answer keys include clarifying notes so you can explain the context behind surprising claims.


Final takeaway and next steps


Strange But True facts paired with Two Truths and a Lie create a quick pathway from curiosity to evidence. They fit anywhere: bell work, stations, sub plans, lesson openers, or extensions. They build vocabulary, strengthen reasoning, and make students want to know more. Most importantly, they make your classroom feel like a place where discovery is normal.


If you want to explore the full catalog of topics and formats, including free samples and classroom bundles, see: For the full available set of Teaching Resources from The Teaching Astrophysicist – Please Click Here.


Load one deck for tomorrow’s opener, print the mix-and-match sheet for a station, and keep the answer key on your desk. Your students will do the rest.


Thanks for reading

Cheers and stay curious

Oliver - The Teaching Astrophysicist

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