Science and Star Wars: Planetary Science, Aliens, and Astrobiology

Which Star Wars planets and aliens are realistic? Which are a little too crazy for scientists to believe? Find out in this class, where we explore exoplanets, astronomy, solar system formation, astrobiology, convergence, diversity, and adaptation.

▬▬▬▬▬▬ VIDEOS, ACTIVITIES, AND MORE ▬▬▬▬▬▬

• This course has four parts to it. Parts 1 and 3 consist of a downloadable video presentation (each about 60 minutes long) hosted on Google Drive. Parts 2 and 4 have some project ideas to expand the students’ understanding.

• In a regular school setting, these materials are ideal for reverse instruction or a flipped classroom unit. For instance, you can assign the video recording to watch at home for homework, and then use the extension activities for class projects. The recordings also work well for sub days and much-needed sanity days!

• If you are using these materials in a home school setting, you could choose to do one part per day or one part per week, doing the projects as time allows. Feel free to have your child email me at lauren.rae.ard@gmail.com, if they have any questions or want to share what they’ve done with the materials.

• This unit also includes a link to my notes and Prezi presentation I use throughout the course, in case you want to give some of the presentation, or expand on the material yourself. Please keep in mind that the video may not match up exactly with the notes and lecture materials, because I do alter and add to my notes as time goes on.

▬▬▬▬▬▬ COURSE OUTLINE ▬▬▬▬▬▬

Part 1: Aliens and Astrobiology

• Requirements for Life
  • Chemicals
    • The elements all living things are made of
    • Are all Star Wars creatures made of these same elements?
  • Water - how important is it for the existence of life?
  • Energy - do Star Wars beings get their energy from the same places we do?
• Diversity of Life
  • Animal diversity in Star Wars
  • Animal diversity in real life - and what it means for alien life
• The principles of convergent evolution (can it explain humans showing up in a galaxy far, far away?)
• Adaptations of Life
  • How animal adaptations influence their appearance and behavior
  • How we can predict how an alien might look based on the habitat it lives in
  • Desert adaptations found in Star Wars (Bantha, Ronto, Dewback, Sarlaac)
  • Forest adaptations from Star Wars (Wookiee, Ewok)
  • Jabba the Hutt is clearly adapted for a swamp environment.
  • How Jar Jar was definitely adapted for an aquatic habitat.
  • Why did Jawas evolve to have glowing eyes?
  • How does Watto stay up in the air with such small wings?
  • The science of cute - why some animals (like Porgs) have adapted to be cute.

Part 2: Student projects - Research a Star Wars alien and speculate on its adaptations.

Part 3: Planetary Science

• Solar System Formation
  • How does a solar system get its shape, including planets, asteroids, moons, etc?
  • Why are there so many different kinds of planets (in real life AND in Star Wars)?
  • Are other solar systems formed in the same way as ours?
  • What are exoplanets and what do we know about them?
• The Habitable Zone
  • What is the "goldilocks zone"?
  • What Star Wars planets fit in this zone?
  • Why is Tatooine so hot, and Hoth so darn cold?
• Size Matters
  • Why does the size of a planet matter if we're looking for humanoid life?
  • Why doesn't the size of planets matter so much in Star Wars?
• The Weirdest Planets
  • What weird planets in Star Wars aren't complete fiction?
  • Which planetary qualities from Star Wars have been found in real exoplanets?
  • Do ocean-covered planets exist in real life?
  • Are there planets (like Tatooine) that have more than one sun?
  • Could people really live in a floating colony on a gas giant (like Lando on Bespin)?

Part 4: Student projects - Research a Star Wars planet and speculate on its formation and features.