Created and Developed by: Laura Venner

The question: “What is life?” is very difficult to answer. We have the standard answers to that question which we learn in biology class, i.e., an organism is considered to be alive if it reproduces, evolves, carries out metabolic processes, and etcetera. These standard answers sound reasonable but students often get confused when confronted with objects such as fire or hurricanes because they fit some of the criteria that we set to define life but not others.

We will introduce students to the latest working definition for life that is used by Astrobiologists at NASA. The Working definition of life is as follows:

A self-organized system capable of processing energy sources to its advantage is considered to be alive.

Therefore, we are Focusing on chemical energy when we search for life outside of earth because it is more easily measurable.

We are also focusing on DNA and Extremophile organisms while introducing students to the immensity of space and the potential for extraterrestrial life in the universe.

Each educator will receive a copy of Astrobiology in Your Classroom: Life on Earth … and elsewhere? and a Life: What is it? Where is it? How do we find it? poster courtesy of the NASA Astrobiology Institute at NASA/AMES. Both of these items have multiple activities and lists of resources related to Astrobiology.

Although all of the activities in the resource guide and on the poster are valid it is recommended that students perform the following two activities in an effort to familiarize them with some of the main concepts of the convocation.

Pre – Lesson Activities

Poster Activity – “Life: What is it? Where is it?”

The directions for the activity are listed in detail on the back of the poster and can also be downloaded along with the “Examples of Earthly Extremophiles” Student Handout.

Educator Guide Activity – “What can life tolerate?” Page 37, Activity #4

In an effort to streamline the activity so that 2-4 class periods are not consumed I suggest performing the activities on pages: 41& 42 and the “Life on the Edge Card Game” on pages: 45, 46, 47, & 48. The cards can be copied from the guide to different color card stock or paper. For instance: the “Earth Habitat Card” can be printed on blue card stock, the “Organism Card” on white card stock and the Possible Extraterrestrial Habitat Card” on yellow cardstock. Games other than rummy can be played with these cards as well. For instance: some students like to play “go fish” or a memory matching game with the cards.

If class time allows the “Is there life on other worlds?” activity contained within the educator resource guide can also be completed. This activity is on pages: 53, 54, 55, & 56 of the resource guide. This allows the students to think about the immense size of the universe and begin to understand how many other potentially habitable worlds may exist.