Could there be life on other planets?

Could there be life on other planets?
Lesson narration:
English Spanish
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DISCUSS:

What places would YOU visit in our Solar System? What kinds of dangers would you have to protect yourself from?

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DISCUSS:

How would YOU decide which exoplanet to visit FIRST?

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planet


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a large, round object in outer space that orbits a star
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solar system


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all the planets and other objects that orbit around a star
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exoplanet


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a planet that orbits a star outside of our solar system
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atmosphere


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the air that surrounds a planet
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carbon dioxide


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a type of gas that plants sometimes take in and that animals release when they breathe
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habitable


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a place with conditions where a living thing can survive
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Goldilocks Zone


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the area around a star that is not too hot or too cold for liquid water to exist
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astronomer


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a scientist who studies outer space
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telescope


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a tool used to make very distant objects look closer, often used to look at outer space
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bright


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describes when there is a lot of visible light; the opposite of dim
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dim


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describes when there is not a lot of visible light; the opposite of bright
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Lesson narration:
English Spanish

Activity Prep

Print Prep
In this lesson, students discover that the Earth is in the “Goldilocks Zone” — a distance from the Sun with the right amount of light and heat for life to exist. In the activity, Star Explorer, students plan a space mission to another planet outside our Solar System based on the amount of heat and light that reaches the planet’s surface. Once students plan their space mission, they will reflect on what our Sun would look like from this far-away planet.
Preview activity
Number of students:

I have a Mystery Pack

Gravity Guru & Spinning Specialist worksheet 1 per pair
Mission Plan worksheet 1 per pair
Plant Pro worksheet 1 per pair
Plant Pro, Water Wizard, and Mission Plan Answer Keys teacher-only resource 1 per class
Starlight Guide worksheet 1 per pair
Starlight Guide Answer Key teacher-only resource 1 per class
Water Wizard worksheet 1 per pair
Scissors
1 pair per student
Prep Instructions

We suggest students work in pairs. Homeschool students can work on their own, but this activity works best if each student can engage in debate and discussion with at least one other person.

Check Shading on the Worksheets

The Mission Plan worksheets include greyscale shading that indicates the amount of heat and light that emit from each star of the three solar systems. The correct shading is essential for the activity, so we suggest printing out copies of these worksheets beforehand to ensure that everything prints correctly.

Teacher Tips

The solar systems and stars (Malina, Thea, and Helios) used in the activity are fictional, but they were inspired by real scientific discoveries. If you and your students would like to learn more about real stars and exoplanets that astronomers are investigating, there are several resources in our Extensions section for you to explore.

Exploration

16 mins

Hands-On Activity

35 mins

Wrap-Up

4 mins

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