Life Beyond Earth

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Date:

📚 Part 1: Quick Quiz

WALT (We Are Learning To): Explore ideas about the possibility of life beyond Earth; identify conditions needed for life; use examples of extremophiles as models for life in extreme places.

1. Which of the following is something living things need to survive?

Water

Money

Books

Gravity (by itself)

2. Which of these is an extremophile?

Tardigrade (water bear)

Dolphin

Kākāpō

Oak tree

3. Check all places that scientists consider when searching for life beyond Earth:

Mars

Europa (moon of Jupiter)

Titan (moon of Saturn)

Mercury

4. Which condition is NOT always required for life as we know it?

Liquid water

A source of energy

Oxygen in the atmosphere

A stable environment over time

✏️ Part 2: Short Answers & Activities

5. In one sentence, define extremophile:

6. Choose one extremophile you have studied (e.g., hot-spring bacteria, tardigrade, deep-sea vent worm). Fill in the information below:

a) Name of organism: ____

b) Describe its habitat (temperature, pH, pressure or other): ____

c) One special feature that helps it survive: ____

7. Maths connection: The Moon is about 384,400 kilometres from Earth. Mars can be about 54,600,000 kilometres away at its closest approach. How many times farther is Mars than the Moon (divide 54,600,000 by 384,400)? Show your working.

8. Evidence and reasoning: A spacecraft detects methane on Mars. In two sentences, explain how this might be used as evidence for life and then give one non‑living explanation for the methane.

9. Home challenge / mission research: Choose a space mission (for example: Mars rover, Europa Clipper). Write the mission name, what it is looking for that relates to life, and one question you would ask the mission team.

Extension activities (for advanced learners)

• Research a recently discovered extremophile and write a short report about how it survives.
• Create a simple poster comparing habitats on Earth and a target world (Mars, Europa, Titan) showing which conditions match.
• Investigate a real astrobiology mission and explain one instrument it uses to detect signs of life.