We all know there are plenty of made up stories, fake creatures that people say are running around, and lots of other silly things that people believe are real! Bigfoot is probably the most famous "fake" creature, but did you know that there are plenty of "fake" websites out there on the internet? It's true! Lots of people spend lots of time creating HUGE websites dedicated to completely MADE UP creatures, events, and places. Let's see if YOU can spot the fakes, and which are real.

What You Need:

• Get yourself a partner to help with. There's a LOT of reading to do on these sites, so get ready

• A piece of paper (to write on)
  

• A pencil (so you can write on your paper!)

Directions:

• With your partner, VISIT each of the websites below. Some are REAL, and some are FAKE! So make sure to read as much as you can, visit AT LEAST 5 different pages on each site to find as much information as you can.

• WRITE the name of each site on your paper. Make a list of 3 CLUES that support why you think the site is either REAL or FAKE.

• Share your results with the class, and vote on which of the sites you think are REAL, and which are FAKE!

REAL OR FAKE?!

Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus
This poor creature is not recognized on the endangered species list, but has been hunted to near extinction! Loss of habitat, use of it's hide in fashion, and other reasons may make it extinct soon, the only tree-dwelling octopus left!

Dog Island
Love your dog? You're not alone! The owner's of over 2,500 dogs have been sending their pets to Dog Island, a tropical paradise free from pollution, stress, and other large city problems that dogs face.

CERN
The European Center for Nuclear Research. This research facility has built the LARGEST machine on the the Earth, and buried it underneath the border between France and Switzerland. The machine is a particle accelerator that will smash atoms traveling at almost the speed of light.

Federal Vampire & Zombie Agency
Everyone hates Vampires and Zombies. If they aren't after your blood, then they probably want to eat your brains! The government was so concerned that they created an entire agency to keep watch over these monsters. Until the agency was shut down in 1975 that is. Without them watching out for us, be careful!

BoilerPlate
Every once in a great while there are HUGE leaps in technology that go unnoticed. Adding machines were first built back in the 1800s, and the ancient Romans even figured out how to make and use concrete! Boilerplate was the first successful fully functioning mechniacl man, built to fight in wars instead of using soldiers. Too bad so few remember him.

Sellafield Zoo
A normal zoo, until a nuclear plant was built near the city, and the animals started to be born with strange mutations. Animals with 5 or 6 legs are not uncommon here.

Tengboche Monastery Development Project
A Buddihst monastery built high up in the highest mountain range on earth! The monks live in harmony with nature and believe that stones, trees, dirt, and humans are all related.

Clones R Us
With the recent advances in chemisty, biology, and genetic sciences, we can now clone ourselves! Order a clone of yourself as a backup in case of an accident, or raise your own clone as your own child!

Jackalope Conspiracy
Jackalopes, highly elusive and practical jokers of an animal, are hard to find. Part jack rabbit, part antelope, some of the antlers on these bunnies are massive!