Design Your Own Alien: Exploring Life Beyond Earth

Introduction

Group members : Aruzhan , Jiyun 

Grade / Audience: Students in Grades 7–9, intermediate level

Hi Little Scientists!

Have you ever wondered where aliens might live?

Some scientists believe that life could exist beyond Earth — maybe even on one of the moons or planets in our solar system!

Each world is different: some have icy oceans, others have carbon-rich lakes or mysterious geysers that shoot gas into space.

Let’s become space explorers and discover where aliens might call home! 

Learning Objectives

By the end of this task, you will be able to:

  1. Identify planets and moons where scientists believe life could exist.

  2. Understand why these places might support life.

  3. Express your ideas creatively through drawing and writing in English.

  4. Work cooperatively in pairs or groups.

 

 

Task

You will:

  1. Read the text carefully.

  2. Answer the True or False questions below.

  3. Draw the planets/moons and create your own alien life forms that could live there.

  4. Write a short paragraph to describe your alien’s life — what it looks like, how it survives, what it eats, and how it adapts to its planet.

  5. Present your drawings and ideas to the class — protect and explain your alien species!

 Reading Text

  1. Where Might Aliens Live?
  2. Where we might find aliens in the next decade
  3. What could aliens look like?

 

True or False

Read the statements and mark T (True) or F (False).

  Statement T / F
1 Ganymede is smaller than Mercury.  
2 Europa has an ocean under its icy surface.  
3 Enceladus sprays water vapor that contains carbon compounds.  
4 Titan is a warm moon with oceans of liquid water.  
5 Triton has geysers that erupt when the Sun heats nitrogen ice.  
6 Mars used to have liquid water and an atmosphere.  
7 Scientists are sure there is life on K2-18b.  
8 The light from K2-18b shows it might have an ocean.  

Creative Alien Drawing Activity

Use the pictures below of the planets and moons as inspiration (teacher will provide images).

Then:

  • Choose 1 planets or moons.

  • Draw your own version of what an alien might look like on each.

  • Think about the environment (icy, hot, watery, or dark).

  • Write 3–5 sentences describing your alien’s life. Example:

“On Europa, my alien has transparent skin and glows in the dark. It swims in the icy ocean and eats tiny minerals. Its body can survive without sunlight.”

Be creative! Your alien can be funny, scary, or friendly — just make sure it fits its planet’s conditions.

Reflection Questions

After your presentation, discuss with your group:

  1. Which planet or moon do you think is the best place for life? Why?

  2. What was the most surprising thing you learned?

  3. How did teamwork help you in this project?

Process

Process (Student-Friendly Version)

  1. Read and Understand (10–15 min)

    • Read the text “Where Might Aliens Live?” carefully.

    • Highlight or underline key facts about each planet or moon: water, temperature, surface features.

    • Discuss in your group which worlds might support life and why.

    • Take notes to use later in your presentation.

  2. True or False Activity (5 min)

    • Complete the True/False quiz as a group.

    • Discuss any confusing statements to make sure everyone understands the text.

  3. Create Your Alien (10-15 min)

    • Choose one planet or moon from the text.

    • Draw your imagined alien life form(s) based on the planet’s conditions.

    • Write 3–5 sentences describing:

      • What your alien looks like

      • How it moves or survives

      • What it eats or drinks

      • How it adapts to its environment

  4. Prepare and Present (10 min)

    • Decide the format: poster, slideshow, or digital board.

    • Include your drawings, facts, and short explanations.

    • Practice presenting as a group.

    • Present your work to the class. Each student explains their alien and why it could survive on its planet.

Evaluation

Evaluation Criteria

Criteria Excellent (5) Good (4) Fair (3) Needs Improvement (2)
Content Understanding Clear, detailed, and accurate explanations about planets and possible life Mostly accurate and relevant Some details missing or unclear Lacks understanding or accuracy
Creativity & Design Very creative alien design and logical description Creative but less detailed Some imagination shown Minimal effort or copied idea
Language & Clarity No grammar errors, easy to understand Minor language mistakes Some mistakes, affects clarity Hard to understand or unclear
Participation All group members participate equally Most students participate Uneven participation Only one person works

 

Conclusion

Conclusion

Through this activity, students will:

  • Learn about real places in space that might support life.

  • Develop scientific curiosity and imagination.

  • Practice teamwork, creativity, and presentation skills.