Take a Closer Look at Our Universe

Inspired by the NASA James Webb Space Telescope

NSTA Daily Do Lesson Plan • Members Only

Lesson Plan

How can we tell if a planet is habitable without visiting that planet?

Students analyze and interpret data from our solar system and the TRAPPIST-1 System and look for patterns among the systems that can be used to identify a cause-and-effect relationship between star temperature and habitable zone location. Students engage with text and video to learn that the boundaries of the habitable zone are determined by the highest and lowest temperatures at which water can exist as a liquid.

Students use a model to help explain how TRAPPIST-1 (star) light transmitted through TRAPPIST-1e’s atmosphere and gathered by the James Webb Space Telescope reveals the composition of the atmosphere. Students use gathered evidence and scientific information from NASA-produced articles and videos to construct an explanation of how we can tell if TRAPPIST-1e is habitable without actually visiting that planet.