- Practical exercise 1 WILL WE EVER MEET ALIEN SENTIENT LIFE AND HOW WILL WE COMMUNICATE WITH THEM?
- Practical exercise 2 LIFE ON ANOTHER PLANET, MOON OR ASTEROID
- Practical exercise 3 LIFE ON ANOTHER PLANET, MOON OR ASTEROID
- Practical exercise 4 HOW TO FIND OUT WHETHER WE ARE ALONE IN THE UNIVERSE OR JUST ONE AMONG MANY?
- Practical exercise 5 HOW THE SCIENTISTS CONDUCT SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ON OTHER PLANETS?
Practical exercise 2: LIFE ON ANOTHER PLANET, MOON OR ASTEROID
This activity is suitable for older students.
Aim:
The students will learn about the requirements and difficulties of life outside Earth.
Instructions for the teacher:
The class must be split in several teams. Each team needs to select a planet, moon or an asteroid from the Solar system on which to build a base with a particular purpose. The students can themselves choose the purpose - it can be to settle the place, or different types of scientific experiments, or mining for ores and metals, etc. Each team needs to determine what supplies they need to take with them for the proper functioning of the base, what kinds of scientists and specialists need to be part of the mission in order for it to be successful. It is possible to make up the teams in advance and to give the students time to think about the task and look for information about it at home, then discuss together in class and present their findings. For discussions within the team about 20 minutes should be enough. After that each team will have 5 minutes to present their project to the rest of the class. Questions from the other students and discussion of the projects should be encouraged. You can initiate a vote for the most-interesting project, most difficult project, best planned project, etc.
Instructions for the students:
You have been invited to be part of a mission and settle on another body in the solar system.
1. Discuss in your team the following questions. Make sure to take notes during the discussion.
1.1 Where else in the Solar system (besides Earth) would you like to live?
1.2 Choose a planet, moon or asteroid on which to build your base.
1.3 What will be the main purpose of your base?
1.4 What materials and supplies will you have to take with you from Earth to ensure the life in this place?
1.5 What kinds of scientists and specialists will you need to ensure the life on the base and the completion of your purpose there?
2. Prepare a 5-minute presentation of your project and present it to the rest of the class.