Teacher guide · Creative Lab · Harder · about 32 min

👽 Explain It to an Alien

Pupils practise confidence and creativity through "Explain It to an Alien": An alien has never seen Earth things. Can you explain them?

Lesson guide

1. 1. Hook · 5 min

   Show the 👽 mission title and read the opening: "The alien points at…". Take three quick guesses.

2. 2. Model · 5 min

   Think aloud through the first step together. Use Pixel the Fox's line as your prompt: "Nice! That's an idea nobody else had."

3. 3. Do · 10 min

   Pairs work through the 4 steps on screen or on the printed sheet. Circulate and ask "why?"

4. 4. Discuss · 10 min

   Use two or three of the discussion questions. Ask pairs to share different answers, not just correct ones.

5. 5. Reflect · 5 min

   Exit ticket: one sentence on how they used confidence today.

Discussion questions

• What was the hardest choice in "Explain It to an Alien", and why?
• The alien points at… — explain your reasoning to a partner.
• Explain what it is without using its name — explain your reasoning to a partner.
• The alien asks 'WHY do humans do this?' Answer it — explain your reasoning to a partner.
• Where could you use confidence outside school this week?
• If you did this again, what would you change?

Adapting it

Support: Read prompts aloud, pair with a confident partner, and accept spoken or drawn answers for writing steps.

Stretch: Ask pupils to create their own extra step for a partner and explain the correct answer.

Curriculum links

• National Curriculum: English: composition — planning and drafting ideas (KS1/KS2)
• National Curriculum: Design & Technology: generate, develop and communicate ideas
• PSHE: Health & wellbeing: self-concept, strengths and interests