Alien found by 7-year—old Stanford Hossenfeffer in marshmallow cereal!

Chicago, IL. During his normal Saturday morning routine, Stanford made himself a bowl of cereal and sat down to watch cartoons when he noticed a small movement in his bowl. As he poked the cereal with his spoon, a one-eyed alien with tentacles emerged from the sugar-coated morning meal.

Researchers have deduced that the alien had been studying human diet at the local cereal factory. While looking at the marshmallow components, the alien became trapped in the dehydration chamber, and was transformed into an inanimate state. When young Stanford poured skim milk into his cereal that morning, the water in the milk rehydrated and reanimated the alien life form! Before Stanford realized what was happening, the alien being reportedly crawled out of the bowl and began observing its surroundings.

Stanford reportedly ran to his parents' bedroom and made an effort to wake them. However, "We just figured Stanford was trying once again to get us out of bed and join him for cartoons," Stanford's parents said. Unable to move his parents from their comfortable and unconscious state, he quickly found their camera and took an instant picture of the incident.

"I knew I was going to make a famous discovery one day!" Stanford beamed.

Astrobiology, or the study of alien life, is a concept that best starts with an understanding of life on Earth. This guide leads its participants on a journey of discovery about life in the Universe while dispelling a variety of myths and misconceptions. Throughout this entire project, students should think about what life is, what it needs, and where it may be found. At the conclusion of the suggested activities, students will be asked to design a mission to find life in the Universe.

The Education Department of the Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum has compiled the following materials as a supplemental teaching resource for exploring the topic of Aliens, or Astrobiology. It is intended for grades 5 through 8. The activities and guiding questions serve as a starting point for integrated lesson plans that culminate in a project in which each student contributes to the planning of a mission to find life. The materials were created to serve as meaningful activities that promote the success of science learning through interdisciplinary approaches within the classroom. They have been aligned with National and State Learning Standards. As part of Adler Planetarium Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum's thematic approach to education, these activities also connect with programs throughout the Museum, including the interactive Star Rider presentation Alien Encounters and the SkyTheater's Search for Alien Worlds.

Please note: This manual is a guide intended for adaptation to individual teaching styles and student needs. To further support educators, we have included an annotated resource list from which to gain more information and lesson plans. We encourage you to share any additional lessons and ideas with your colleagues.

Acknowledgments

Developed by:
Geri Smith, Lindsay Bartolone, and Bridget Basta (Adler Educators)

Sponsored by:
Abbott Laboratories Fund
The Albert Pick Jr. Fund
Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs (City Arts)
Chicago Park District
ComEd
Polk Bros. Foundation
The Regenstein Foundation