TEACHING RESOURCES

The Planets

The Planets

12 different planets, each with its own unique atmosphere and inhabitants.

  • Planet 1 – Tribal Discovery: Filled with ‘cute’ aliens – this planet would soon become annoying.
  • Planet 2 – Endless Repetition: A planet where all the inhabitants live the daily grind perpetually.
  • Planet 3 – Calm or Not? All is calm, but maybe we are being lulled into a false sense of security? The aliens start to eject from the pipes, and as they land with a plop, they grow into beautiful flowers.
  • Planet 4 – Technological Takeover: Danger level high. Robots inhabit this planet. They seem really happy and loving.
  • Planet 5 – Underwater Evolution: Millions of tiny amoeba-like creatures are multiplying under the sea. Their photoluminescence creates an interesting landscape.
  • Planet 6 – Volatile: The aliens on this planet just can’t agree.
  • Planet 7 – Utopian Disturbance: Cloven animals wandering around and eating grass – maybe the most boring of the planets.
  • Planet 8 – Inedible Danger: Where the vegetation bites back!
  • Planet 9 – Reckless: Retro game characters live here – superheroes who love to show off their ‘super’ powers.
  • Planet 10 – Missing: Undiscovered. The scariest inhabitants of any planet. Dead aliens.
  • Planet 11 – Avoid: The aliens on this planet are crazed. They run and run and run, just for the fun of it.
  • Planet 12 – Home Under Attack: The aliens here seem resigned to the end. So resigned, they’ve decided to put it into a song.

Teaching Ideas

  • Write descriptions for each planet as if you are an astronaut landing on them.
  • Write descriptions of the alien life forms.
  • Write dialogues between you and the aliens or between the aliens themselves.
  • Create holiday brochure entries for each planet.
  • Discuss and write a set of rules for the argumentative aliens on Planet 6.
  • Write narratives set on any of the planets describing how you survive there and escape (if needed).
  • Work in groups to create your own planets – each with a different setting and characters. These characters could then interact with each other.
  • Write poems based on the song at the end – focusing on rhyme, structure etc.