Messages from Space
The Solar System and Beyond
Grades 5—8
Written by Kevin Beals,
John Erickson, and Cary Sneider
sound files available
Building on collaborative work between the
SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) Institute and
the Lawrence Hall of Science, Messages from Space takes
advantage of our fascination with extraterrestrials to catalyze
study of the solar system and beyond. The activities create an
exciting context for students to engage in creative learning,
gaining a great deal of astronomical knowledge.
The unit begins when students attempt to decode a fictitious message
from outer space. Imagining that they are SETI scientists, students
begin to analyze where, in the solar system and beyond, there
may be conditions favorable for life. They investigate how our
solar system and other planetary systems may have formed, and
consider how what we know about the solar system fits into a bigger
picture of the universe. Throughout, students consider whether
life could exist "out there" and, if so, how we might
communicate with those lifeforms. In doing so, students also gain
valuable experience distinguishing science fact from sensationalized
fiction.
Messages from Space includes background information and
diverse resources. Teachers do not need to have special knowledge
of astronomy to present this unit successfully. All GEMS guides
are thoroughly tested in classrooms nationwide and come complete
with clear step-by-step instructions, assessment suggestions,
literature connections, and ideas for further investigation. |
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