Activity 2.7: there's no place like home – drama and design

Introduction

This activity follows from Activity 2.6. It is a role-play in which an astronaut has landed back on Earth after their final space mission. The astronaut is interviewed about their experience in a media interview.

Students respond to the role-plays, and to the design and interpretations of spacesuits, use of objects and materials, and realistic versus abstract design.

Duration

50–60 minutes

Resources

• Students' designs of their spacesuits from Activity 2.6
• Students' notes or scripts about their role-play from Activity 2.6
• Construction materials such as:
  • piles of newspapers and other appropriate recycled materials
  • masking tape
  • string
  • staplers
  • scissors
• Other found objects that might assist students to set up the role-play

• Activity stepsShow details

  Characters

  • Astronaut
  • Two or three media interviewers (depending on the group size)

  
  

  Making the spacesuit

  1. Students take their design from Activity 2.6 and use the recycled newspapers and objects to costume their astronaut.
  2. They will make the costume spacesuit onto their astronaut.
  3. They will need to work to a time limit, to problem-solve, and to ensure that their astronaut can talk and move! Remind students about how they can manipulate the resources in order to meet the design requirements.
  2. Take photos of the costumes and astronauts as a record-keeping device and to show the astronauts what they look like.

  
  

  Rehearsing and performing the role-play

  1. Students now clean up so they can rehearse and perform the role-play.
  2. Each group rehearses and then presents their role-play.
  3. The class then reflects on and discusses the design choices they have made for their astronaut costumes.

  
  

  Responding

  Students can respond to the role-plays by considering the following.

  • What types of responses did each role-play reveal?
  • What did these responses reveal about students' understandings of life in space as an astronaut?
  • What do we value about our lives?
  • What are we fearful or joyful about?
  • Is space travel a good thing?

  Students can also respond to the design aspects and discuss:

  • interpretations of spacesuits
  • use of the objects and newspapers
  • realistic versus abstract design ideas.