Lesson Plan | Teachy Methodology | Life Beyond Earth

Objectives

Duration: 10 - 15 minutes

This stage of the lesson plan aims to prepare and motivate students for the exploration of the theme of life beyond Earth, establishing a solid knowledge base about the main arguments and requirements for the existence of life outside the planet. This foundation is crucial for the development of practical activities and in-depth discussions that will occur throughout the lesson, encouraging students' agency in the learning process.

Main Objectives

1. Understand the possible scientific arguments and evidence about the existence of life beyond Earth.

2. Identify and discuss the essential conditions for life to develop, such as water and air composition.

Side Objectives

1. Encourage critical thinking and analysis of different sources of information about astrobiology.

Introduction

Duration: 10 - 15 minutes

The purpose of this stage is to motivate students by promoting an environment of curiosity and initial preparation for the theme of the lesson. By searching for an interesting fact about life beyond Earth, students begin to establish practical and current connections with the topic, which boosts participation and interest during subsequent activities. Additionally, the key questions will help guide the initial discussion, allowing students to share and debate the prior knowledge they have already acquired on the subject.

Warming Up

 Warm-up 

To start the lesson on Life Beyond Earth, briefly explain to the students that the topic involves scientific investigation into the possibility of life existing on other planets or celestial bodies. Encourage their curiosity by mentioning that many scientists and astronomers have been exploring space in search of signs of life, using everything from powerful telescopes to space probes. Then, ask students to use their phones to find and share an interesting fact about the subject. The aim is to create an environment of curiosity and engagement from the beginning of the lesson.

Initial Reflections

1.  What are the main pieces of evidence found so far that suggest the possibility of life on other planets?

2.  What essential conditions, such as the presence of water and air composition, are necessary for the existence of life?

3.  Are there planets outside our solar system that could harbor life? What are some examples?

4. 溺 What does science say about the possibility of finding microbial life in places like Mars or the moons of Jupiter and Saturn?

5.  How would the discovery of life beyond Earth impact our understanding of life in the universe?

Development

Duration: 70 - 80 minutes

The purpose of this stage is to allow students to apply and deepen their knowledge about the possibility of life beyond Earth in a practical and creative way. The proposed activities encourage collaboration, research, creativity, and the use of digital technologies, making learning more dynamic and connected to students' realities.

Activity Suggestions

It is recommended that only one of the suggested activities be carried out

Activity 1 - Galactic Instagram Mission 

> Duration: 60 - 70 minutes

- Objective: Understand the necessary conditions for the existence of life beyond Earth and develop digital communication and creativity skills.

- Description: Students will create fake Instagram profiles for planets or moons that may harbor life. Each group must research the characteristics of the chosen celestial body and create posts and stories that depict life (real or fictional) in that location, using images, text, and hashtags. The activity aims to help students understand the necessary conditions for the existence of life and exercise their creativity and digital communication skills.

- Instructions:

• Divide students into groups of up to 5 people.

• Each group chooses a planet or moon that has the potential to host life (examples: Mars, Europa, Titan).

• Research the characteristics of the celestial body, focusing on the essential conditions for the existence of life (presence of water, air composition, etc.).

• Create a fake Instagram profile for the planet or moon, including a brief description in the profile.

• Each group must make at least 5 posts, including images and texts that depict life (real or fictional) in that location.

• Use hashtags and interact with the profiles of other groups to create an interplanetary social network.

• Present the created profile to the class, explaining the conditions that allow for the existence of life on the chosen celestial body.

Activity 2 - Scientific Hackathon ️

> Duration: 60 - 70 minutes

- Objective: Develop research, planning, and presentation skills, as well as understand the complexities involved in the search for life on exoplanets.

- Description: Students will participate in a 'scientific hackathon' where, in groups, they will develop a space mission project to search for life on an exoplanet. The activity includes selecting the exoplanet, planning the mission, choosing scientific instruments, and creating a presentation to justify their choices.

- Instructions:

• Divide students into groups of up to 5 people.

• Each group chooses an exoplanet with the potential to host life (examples: Kepler-452b, Proxima Centauri b).

• Research the chosen exoplanet and what conditions make it interesting for the search for life.

• Plan a detailed space mission, including the type of spacecraft, the scientific instruments on board, and the exploration strategy.

• Use digital tools (such as Google Slides or PowerPoint) to create a presentation that justifies all the choices made by the group.

• Present the space mission project to the class, emphasizing the conditions that could allow for the existence of life and the methods used to find it.

Activity 3 - Intergalactic Podcast ️

> Duration: 60 - 70 minutes

- Objective: Promote detailed research, information organization, and communication skills through the creation of multimedia content.

- Description: Students will create a podcast focused on the possibility of life beyond Earth. In groups, they will define the themes of the episodes, conduct research, write scripts, and record the episodes. The activity encourages detailed research and the production of multimedia content.

- Instructions:

• Divide students into groups of up to 5 people.

• Each group defines the central theme of their podcast (examples: life on Mars, exoplanets, conditions for life beyond Earth).

• Research the chosen theme, focusing on the evidence and conditions necessary for the existence of life.

• Write a script for the podcast episode, including an introduction, development of the theme, and conclusion.

• Use phones and audio recording apps to record the podcast episode.

• Edit the recording using basic audio editing tools (like Audacity) to improve sound quality.

• Share the recorded podcast with the class and discuss the main points addressed and the group’s conclusions.

Feedback

Group Discussion

 Group Discussion 

Facilitate a group discussion with all students, where groups share what they learned while conducting activities and their conclusions. To introduce the discussion, use the following script:

1. Introduction: Ask students how their experience was while performing the activities and what were the biggest challenges they faced.
2. Sharing: Request that each group briefly presents their findings and conclusions about life beyond Earth.
3. Debate: Encourage interaction between groups, allowing them to ask each other questions and discuss different approaches and results.
4. Conclusion: Summarize the main points discussed, highlighting the learnings and new questions raised by the activities.

Reflections

1.  What were the main pieces of evidence and conditions for the existence of life beyond Earth that you discovered during the activities? 2.  How did creating Instagram profiles, the scientific hackathon, and recording podcasts help in understanding the topic? 3.  If life beyond Earth were discovered, how could this impact our view of life and the universe?

360° Feedback

 360° Feedback

Instruct students to conduct a 360° feedback step, where each student should receive feedback from the other members of the group they worked with during the activity. To guide the class, suggest that the feedback be constructive and respectful. Use the following points as a basis for the feedback:

1. Collaboration: Comment on the level of collaboration and cooperation of the colleague in the group.
2. Creativity: Highlight the creativity and innovation in the ideas and solutions proposed by the colleague.
3. Communication: Evaluate the clarity and effectiveness of the colleague’s communication during the activity.

Conclusion

Duration: 10 - 15 minutes

✍️ Purpose of the Conclusion ✍️

The purpose of this stage is to consolidate and reflect on the learning acquired throughout the lesson. By summarizing the main contents, connecting the lesson with modern reality, and highlighting its practical applications, students gain a holistic and contextualized view of the topic, reinforcing engagement and the relevance of the knowledge acquired.

Summary

 Galactic Summary 

Today we explored the fascinating theme of life beyond Earth! From creating Instagram profiles for planets and moons, through a hackathon to plan space missions, to recording intergalactic podcasts, we delved into the essential conditions for the existence of life, such as the presence of water and air composition.  Students discovered new worlds and imagined what life would be like in different corners of the cosmos, uniting science, creativity, and technology.

World Connection

 Connection with the Current World 

In a world where science and technology are rapidly advancing, understanding the potential for life beyond Earth helps us expand our horizons and question our place in the universe. Recent missions to Mars and discoveries of habitable exoplanets are constantly in the headlines, making this theme extremely relevant and current. The integration of social networks, podcasts, and hackathons reflects the dynamics of the modern world, where communication and innovation are fundamental.

Practical Application

 Applications in Daily Life 

Studying the possibility of life beyond Earth teaches us to value our own planet more and the importance of preserving its essential conditions for life. Furthermore, it develops skills such as critical thinking, scientific research, and the ability to innovate and communicate ideas effectively, skills that are valuable in any professional field.