Astronomy and people skills

Teacher notes

Meet Donya and Cathy at NASA, part of the mission to send a probe called Lucy to the asteroid belt as far away as Jupiter. The data collected will help provide information on the history of planet formation in our Solar System. Lucy gained her name from one of the oldest known human ancestors, an Australopithecus afarensis specimen nicknamed “Lucy,”. Her fossilised skeleton was discovered in Hadar, Ethiopia in 1974. The team that excavated her remains, led by American paleoanthropologist Donald Johanson and French geologist Maurice Taieb, nicknamed the skeleton “Lucy” after the Beatles song “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds,” which was played at the celebration the day she was found. You could use this lesson to explore space science or rocks but also careers and the personal skills needed to contribute to a team. The lesson can be delivered either from the front of the classroom using a central computer and screen, or for students who have access to their own computers or devices. This lesson is aimed at KS2 or KS3 but could also be used in KS4. **It would be useful to have one or more rocks for learners to hold and examine for the first part of the session.** Lyfta Core themes: Technology & engineering, professions and entrepreneurship. Lyfta Core Skills & Values: Collaboration & teamwork, Creativity & innovation, design thinking, practical life skills. SDGs: 5, 9 National Curriculum Objectives (England): KS2 Science: Earth and Space - describe the movement of the Earth and other planets relative to the sun in the solar system Evolution & Inheritance - recognise that living things have changed over time and that fossils provide information about living things that inhabited the Earth millions of years ago Rocks and rock types - describe in simple terms how fossils are formed when things that have lived are trapped within rock and recognise that soils are made from rocks and organic matter. KS3 Science/ Space physics: The structure of the Earth; KS4 Science: Physics/ Space Physics - the main features of our solar system; Biology/ Evolution, inheritance and variation - the evidence for evolution. KS3/4 Design and Technology: materials, electronics, testing. KS2 PSHE L26 - there is a broad range of different jobs/careers that people can have; that people often have more than one career/type of job during their life L27 - stereotypes in the workplace (particularly gender and disability related), and that a person’s career aspirations should not be limited by them L28 - what might influence people’s decisions about a job or career L30 - about some of the skills that will help them in their future careers e.g. teamwork, communication and negotiation. KS3 PSHE L4. the skills and attributes that employers value
 L12. about different work roles and career pathways, including clarifying their own early aspirations. KS4 PSHE L4. about the range of opportunities available to them for career progression, including in education, training and employment L7. about the labour market, local, national and international employment opportunities. Careers education, information, advice and guidance (CEIAG) STEM Careers (astrophysics, astronomy, engineer, analytical scientist) Women/Diversity in STEM, Project management.