Why ask this question?
Central to questions about belief in aliens, we can find debates on how evidence should be analyzed, how humans formulate and defend opinions, and how we conceptualize our own existence in the universe.

Background image credit: Ivana Cajina on Unsplash

An Interdisciplinary Project

This project is designed to incorporate multiple disciplines within the Albertan grade nine curriculum. Throughout this project, teachers will recognize elements from Science, Math, Art, Social Studies, and ELA. These elements have been tied to distinct disciplinary outcomes, however, this project is meant to be approached holistically.

Diversity of Instruction

Differentiation for Ability

ELL: 
  • Have students work in groups with stronger peers 
  • Teacher will focus more time on ELL student observation 
  • ELL student could be allowed to work in native language 
  • ELL Student will be given visual instructions of task 
  • Honour silent moments where ELL does not want to talk
  • Give ELL student tasks and instructions ahead of time
Learning Disabilities:
  • Put into groups with similar abilities 
  • ​Allow for student to work alone as well
  • Support verbal instructions with visuals
  • Provide more opportunities for student to perform task
  • Allow for peer support when appropriate
  • Have flexible timeline for completion of task 
  • Chunk longer activities into small chunks
  • Encourage use of technology as a multimedia opportunity to answer prompts throughout this lesson 

Physical Disability: 
  • Consider seating arrangement
  • Provide proper paper stabilization such as clipboard
  •  Use digital timer to help pace student
  • ​​Use technology with touch screen when appropriate
  • Allow them to present work from where they are sitting
  • ​Limit movement around the classroom
  • Allow computer text to speech technology

Indigenous Knowledge

Included in our exploration of aliens, we will discuss Indigenous knowledge of the universe, such as constellations and star stories. To quote Hilding Neilson: "Indigenous knowledge is very holistic, experiential. It’s told through stories, so it doesn’t look like science to us with our Western lens... stories, however, can be exceptionally informative—especially in the field of astronomy, which is primarily about observation over long periods of time."
Boutsalis, K. (12 February 2021). "Teaching Indigenous Star Stories". The Walrus. https://thewalrus.ca/space-teaching-indigenous-star-stories/

Use of Technology

  •  Access to overhead and digital projectors
  • Access to computers for online references, Photoshop, lightroom, etc.
  • Using SurveyMonkey website to craft in-depth surveys
  • Utilizing Excel spreadsheets, and their capabilities for data manipulation and representation

Data and Probability

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  A Foundation in Science
This project is grounded in Grade 9 Science Unit E: Space Exploration

Independent Research & Quality Sources

What are student guidelines for investigating our essential question?

Art History of Aliens

Final Project

Class Debate and Personal Reflection
Photos used under Creative Commons from USEmbassyPhnomPenh, joncutrer, shixart1985, wuestenigel, shixart1985, Onasill ~ Bill - 103 Million Views - Thank You, Kevin M. Gill, Madilworth