The Solar System and Beyond
Learning Sequence 10
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Introduction With Gavin
In this week’s lesson, students will delve into space exploration, specifically Mars colonization. Using creativity as our compass, they’ll imagine Martian cities. Introducing Artificial Intelligence (AI), they’ll engage with this cutting-edge technology to conceptualize city designs.
The lesson not only fosters imaginative thinking but also acquaints students with AI’s potential in future design and planning. A blend of science, creativity, and technology, this lesson promises an innovative educational experience.
This week, we’re diving into the world of space exploration. Have you ever thought about living on Mars? We’ll look into what it would take to make that dream a reality.
Together, we’ll discuss the idea of living on distant planets and the important decisions that come with it.
We’ll also think about the cities we could build on Mars. Using something called Artificial Intelligence, or AI for short, we’ll explore designs for a Martian city.
Prepare yourselves for an exciting exploration into space’s possibilities!
Quote of the Week - Gene Cernan
As part of the course, we will revisit a series of inspiring quotes from the 12 astronauts who have had the privilege of walking on the moon. Each week, students will be asked to critically analyze and interpret one of these quotes to gain a deeper understanding of the message conveyed by the astronaut.
Students may also choose to conduct independent research on the astronaut or the particular space mission they were a part of, and record their findings in a notebook. To further enhance their engagement with the quote, students are encouraged to create an artistic representation, such as a drawing or visual art piece, that captures the essence of the message being conveyed.
Throughout this course, we’ll be exploring some inspirational quotes from the 12 astronauts who walked on the moon. Every week, you’ll get to read one of these quotes and try to figure out what the astronaut meant by saying it.
You can do some research to learn more about the astronaut or the space mission they were a part of, and write down your findings in your notebook. To make things even more fun, you can also create a drawing or artwork that shows what you think the quote is all about. This will help you engage with the quote and understand it better.
Weekly Keywords
Introduce the spelling word list and choose from this list of tasks that can be repeated and expanded upon if necessary.
Copy the words into a spelling list/vocabulary book for later reference.
Put each of the new words into a sentence and underline the new vocabulary in red pencil
Place the words in alphabetical order in a list.
Use a dictionary to define each of the words and place them into a vocabulary book.
Try to represent each of the words using a picture or a symbol and play the guessing game. (which image is matched to which word)
Write a paragraph containing all of the new vocabulary.
Make a vocabulary wall containing all of the new words.
Use a thesaurus to find synonyms for the words and create a synonym list.
These words will help you during this week’s lesson. You may already know some of these words however practice makes perfect!
First, read the words and then try to define them as simply as possible.
An example has been completed for you. You can write these into your books, and draw a picture to match or simply complete the task card.
Weekly Comprehension Activity - The Future of Space Exploration
Each week, we will provide you and your class with a reading comprehension activity. This can be done independently or tackled as a guided reading activity with your students.
Once the children have read the relevant information, they can then work through the comprehension questions until they become too hard,
The four levels of questions allow for your students to push themselves until they become too difficult. They may wish to use classroom resources to solve the questions they find too hard or they can be used as extension activities to be completed in free time or at home.
Read the information opposite on the Outer planets and use the information gained from the video above and attempt to answer as many of the comprehension questions as possible.
You may talk to the people in the classroom and use any resources available in the classroom to get the answers. You may even wish to continue your research at home on the questions that you could not solve.
We have made the questions range in difficulty, see how far you can get! Remember to answer the questions in full sentences and make notes of any diagrams or amazing facts that may help you remember the information later.
Preparing for Space - Fundamental Needs (Draw and Discuss)
In this class, students compare human necessities to those of plants, emphasizing the understanding of our fundamental needs. Before considering life on other planets, they’ll reflect on Earth’s unique conditions.
Students collaborate, illustrating and discussing the nine basic human needs, encouraging perspective-taking and open dialogue. The activity culminates in designing a city on an alien planet, fostering creativity and critical thinking about how environments shape needs. This approach promotes reflection and inclusive discussions.
Just like a plant needs water and sunlight, human beings also require certain things to keep them alive. These are called fundamental needs, and this week, we are going to consider what those needs might be.
Before we can begin exploring the idea of living on Mars or any other planet, we need to understand what allows us to survive here on Earth.
With a partner or in a group, start thinking about the nine fundamental needs of human beings. As you contemplate each need, draw a picture to represent it and discuss why it’s so crucial.
This will be the foundation for our next activity, where we’ll design our very own city on a distant planet.
Creating a Space City - Artificial Intelligence (Watch the Video)
This week, students will utilize AI to generate images of Mars. They’ll watch a video with Gavin demonstrating how AI can bolster creativity. Following this, they’ll complete a task card. The lesson emphasizes hands-on AI application and creative exploration in an astronomical context.
This week we are going to be using the power of Artificial Intelligence to create images from Mars.
Watch the video where Gavin explains how to use AI to assist your creativity and complete the task card on the following page.
Good Luck!
Creating a Space City - Artificial Intelligence
In this session, students harness the capabilities of Artificial Intelligence to visualize and design complex scenarios. After mastering AI image creation, they’re tasked with designing a Martian city, considering the essential needs of human inhabitants.
This interdisciplinary approach merges technology with humanistic considerations. They’re encouraged to visualize daily life on Mars, blending imaginative exploration with practical challenges, like survival in an alien environment. This task integrates AI technology, creativity, and problem-solving.
Now you have mastered the use of Artificial Intelligence, there is no image you cannot create. Simply use this amazing tool to help you envision things that might seem impossible.
A cat riding a bicycle, for example, or a dog driving a car.
It’s now time for you to design a city on Mars using AI, combined with your understanding of fundamental human needs. How will your new inhabitants survive on this alien terrain?
As you develop this document, imagine what each day would entail as humans contemplate moving to Mars.
A Day on Mars - Writing a Diary
With your new understanding of what life might look like on the red planet, it’s now your turn to imagine living there, experiencing your first day.
In this activity, we’d like you to pretend you’re seated in your new Mars home, penning your very first diary entry before bedtime.
Read the example provided on the opposite side and reflect on how you might feel after moving to the red planet.
Get creative and let your imagination soar.
In this activity, students delve into creative writing, envisioning life on Mars. Drawing from an understanding of Martian conditions, they’re tasked with crafting a first-person diary entry, simulating their initial day on the red planet.
This exercise challenges them to inhabit another’s perspective, promoting empathy and imaginative exploration. By referencing a provided example, students can hone their narrative skills, blending factual knowledge with personal introspection, emphasizing the importance of perspective in storytelling.
Let’s Create with Jordan - Life on Mars
Life On Mars
Core Curriculum Connection: Science, Social Sciences
Elemental Foci: Color, Shape, Space
Principle Foci: Contrast, Emphasis, Rhythm
Goal: Students will create a conceptual design of a Martian Colony.
Criteria:
– Pick a limited range of colors to use for your martian landscape (reds and browns work best)
– Create a rocky landscape with a foreground, middle ground, and background.
– Color in your landscape using your chosen palette.
– Show at least 3 ways your colonists will survive – think of suggestions as a group and pick ones from the list to use in your piece.
Relevance: Through this project, students will use group brainstorming to come up with visual concepts solutions to problems.
Every week, we’ll provide you with an art activity related to what we’ve been learning about in class. It’s an opportunity for you to enhance your artistic abilities and learn more about the Solar System and Space!
Jordan will be joining us every week to brainstorm creative ways to showcase what we’ve learned about Space while also doing some good for the world.
We may challenge you to use recycled materials for your artwork, encourage you to teach someone else using what you create, or simply give it away as a gift to brighten someone’s day.
Take a look at the video on the other side and then do your best to follow Jordan’s guidance to make the world a better place with your creative skills.
To fully understand what we will be creating this week, you may wish to watch the full video below before starting.
Let’s get creative!
Let's Create With Jordan - Full Video
Watch the video with your class and support them as they use the skills demonstrated in the video in their own work tasks.
Watch Jordan’s full video here before starting your creative art project and remember that your work does not need to match Jordan’s exactly. Use it as a guide and try to make your work unique and be as creative as you like!