Space Station Design

Lesson 1: Introduction to Human Colonies

Learning Intention:
We are learning to identify the needs and wants of a human colony on a chosen planet.

Success Criteria:
I can list and categorise essential needs and wants for a human settlement on another planet.

Vocabulary:

• Colony
• Needs
• Wants
• Planetary environment

Brief Description of the Lesson:
In this lesson, students will start their project by brainstorming and listing the needs and wants for a human colony on their chosen planet. They will learn how to distinguish between essential needs for survival and wants for comfort and enjoyment.

Tuning In:

Begin with an engaging discussion on space exploration and the possibility of human colonies on other planets. Show a short video or presentation highlighting current space missions and the idea of space colonisation. Ask students why people might want to live on another planet and what challenges they might face.

Modelled Whole Class Activity:

Teacher Input:
Present a chart on the board with two columns: "Needs" and "Wants". Discuss with students the difference between these two concepts, using Earth-based examples (e.g., oxygen as a need, entertainment as a want). Introduce the different planets that could host a human colony and their specific environmental characteristics.

Guided Activities:

Teacher & Students:
Divide the class into small groups and assign each group a specific planet to focus on (e.g., Mars, Venus). In their groups, students will brainstorm and create a preliminary list of needs and wants for their colony based on their planet’s conditions. The teacher moves around the room, prompting questions that guide the exploration, such as "What would you need to survive on Mars?".

Independent Student Activities:

Each student will individually write down their list of needs and wants and reflect on why each item is categorised as such. They will also sketch a basic conceptual design of their colony that addresses these needs and wants.

Student Feedback and Check-In:

Conclude the lesson with students sharing one "need" and one "want" from their list with the class. Provide feedback and encourage discussions about how different planetary conditions influence their lists. Ensure students understand the primary differences between survival needs and luxury wants.

Specific Curriculum Area:
This lesson addresses the Australian Curriculum: Technologies, focusing on Design and Technologies for Year 5. The lesson integrates critical and creative thinking, as students must analyse the environmental conditions of a planet and create corresponding solutions for human settlement.

Remember, this is just the beginning of a ten-lesson series where the journey from a list of needs and wants to a 3D model of a space station will unfold, aligning with the detailed specifications given.