Duration: 30 minutes
SPIRIT Skills:
- Emotional awareness, regulation and communication
- Empathy
- Valuing people and nature
Brief Description:
Students are introduced to a fictional scenario: they are astronauts landing on a damaged planet and must complete three survival missions. The story creates a sense of urgency and engagement. This stage builds curiosity and sets expectations. Students work in teams of 4–5, read their mission briefing, and assign roles such as:
- Mission Leader
- Materials Manager
- Emotional Reporter
- Timekeeper
How does this develop particular SPIRIT skills
This stage supports:
- Cooperation and role clarity within a team
- Active listening and shared decision-making
- Emotional awareness through the introduction of the Emotional Reporter role
What do we want to achieve regarding SPIRIT skill development (student understanding and/or behaviour)?
- Foster collaborative mindset.
- Develop imagination and problem-solving in a cooperative setting.
- Begin awareness of roles and emotional dynamics within a group.
Academic/Curriculum Objectives Connection
Science (Earth and Environmental Science)
- Understand the importance of clean water for ecosystems and human survival.
- Explore basic water filtration techniques using natural materials.
- Investigate properties of materials (absorption, filtration, permeability).
Geography
- Recognize the role of water in sustaining life on planets.
- Consider environmental challenges in extreme habitats (e.g., arid or polluted areas, extraterrestrial environments).
Engineering
- Apply problem-solving and design thinking to create a functional filtration system.
- Use iterative testing and improvement to refine solutions.
Materials and tools needed for implementation
- Mission folders (with printed storylines and objectives)
- Role badges or cards (Leader, Materials Manager, Emotional Reporter, Timekeeper)
Preparation notes
- Prepare classroom space with themed posters or props.
- Create and print mission folders and role cards in advance.
Guided Questions
- What kind of problems do you think we might face on this planet?
- How do you think your role can help your team succeed?
- What does it mean to be a good teammate?
Stage Debriefing Questions (Optional)
- How did you feel being assigned a role?
- What are you excited or nervous about in this mission?
Tips and Tricks for dealing with stage challenges
- Ensure students understand their roles clearly.
- If some students are disengaged, use dramatic storytelling or space-themed visuals to captivate them.
- Offer flexibility for students to switch roles later if needed.