Aliens Facts & Worksheets

Aliens are living beings believed to exist beyond Earth. They are commonly referred to as extraterrestrial life. The term “extraterrestrial” refers to things that come from outside of Earth or its atmosphere. The concept of aliens, often associated with extraterrestrial life, suggests the existence of intelligent or sentient beings from other planets or celestial bodies. The reality of aliens is often up for scientific and moral debate.

See the fact file below for more information about Aliens, or you can download our 25-page Aliens People worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

INTRODUCTION

• The term “aliens” generally refers to extraterrestrial life or beings from beyond Earth.
• For aliens to exist, conditions necessary for life as we know it, including the presence of water, suitable temperatures, and other essential elements, must be available outside the Earth.
• In popular culture and science fiction, aliens are often portrayed as intelligent creatures that may visit or interact with people on Earth.
• The existence of aliens is not a belief upheld by all people.
• The physical appearance and language of aliens are also not definitely known.

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES

• In ancient civilizations, people often associated celestial bodies, such as planets and comets, with divine or otherworldly beings. 
• The movements of these celestial objects were sometimes seen as the actions of gods or extraterrestrial entities.
• Ancient Sumerian texts refer to the Anunnaki, a group of deities who were said to have come from the heavens to Earth. 
• These beings were considered powerful and played a role in shaping human civilization.
• Hindu texts, such as the Mahabharata and the Ramayana, contain references to flying vehicles called Vimanas and encounters with celestial beings.
• Medieval European art and folklore occasionally depict encounters with otherworldly beings, such as the appearance of strange flying objects in religious paintings.
• In the mid-20th century, some Pacific islanders developed cargo cults, belief systems that emerged as a response to encounters with advanced technology brought by Westerners. 
• In 1898, H.G. Wells’ novel “The War of the Worlds” was published.
• Orson Welles’ famous radio adaptation of the Wells novel in 1938 popularized the idea of an alien invasion and caused panic among some listeners who believed it to be an actual event.
• There was a surge in reported UFO sightings and encounters during the 1950s.
• The Roswell incident in 1947 and subsequent reports contributed to the idea that aliens could be visiting Earth.
• In the latter half of the 20th century, stories of alleged alien abductions gained attention.
• Individuals were claimed to have been taken aboard spacecraft by aliens for various purposes.
• From there emerged the ancient astronaut theory, which suggests that advanced aliens visited Earth in ancient times and influenced human civilizations.
• Erich von Däniken was among the authors who popularized such a theory.
• Films, television shows, and literature also continued to shape cultural perspectives on aliens. 
• From benevolent beings in “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” to hostile invaders in “Independence Day,” screen portrayals have influenced how society views aliens.

SCIENTIFIC SEARCH

• Scientifically speaking, the search for aliens includes incorporating different factors in astronomy, astrobiology, and planetary science.

STUDY OF EXOPLANETS

• Scientists use telescopes to observe changes in the brightness of a star as a planet transits in front of it. 
• Another method used by astronomers to estimate the planet’s mass and orbit is direct imaging through advanced telescopes.

EXPLORATION OF MARS

• Exploring a potential life on Mars, also dubbed Martian life, is linked to the search for aliens.
• Mars rovers, such as the Mars Curiosity Rover and the Perseverance Rover, have been sent to analyze the Martian surface for signs of past or present microbial life.

EXPLORATION OF MICROBIAL LIFE

• The Europa Clipper Mission is set for the exploration of Jupiter‘s moon Europa, particularly its potential habitability.
• The Cassini spacecraft Enceladus has discovered water plumes erupting from Saturn’s moon.
• Saturn’s moon, Titan, remains a celestial body of interest in the search for life’s building blocks. 
• The Dragonfly mission, planned for the 2030s, will explore Titan’s surface.

THE SEARCH OF EXTRATERRESTRIAL INTELLIGENCE

• The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) is an organization that actively searches for signals or signs of intelligent alien civilizations.
• SETI researchers listen for signals or observe light patterns that may show intentional communication from aliens. 
• Ongoing projects use radio telescopes and optical telescopes to scan the sky for such signals.

REPRESENTATION IN POPULAR CULTURE

• The portrayal of aliens in media has evolved over time, reflecting societal attitudes, scientific advancements, and imagination.

MOVIES

• “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” (1982), “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” (1977), and “Independence Day” (1996) are some of the most popular movies centering on alien characters.
• E.T. became an iconic representation of friendly extraterrestrial life because E.T. was portrayed as someone capable of forming an emotional connection with humans.
• Steven Spielberg’s “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” depicted a positive and awe-inspiring first contact with aliens through musical communication.
• Contrary to friendly aliens, a large-scale and hostile alien invasion was the focus of the sci-fi flick “Independence Day.

TELEVISION SHOWS

• The “X-Files” (1993-2018) explored the idea of government conspiracies and the investigation of alien abductions and paranormal phenomena. 
• “Star Trek” (1966-present) introduced a diverse array of alien species and the idea of a future where humanity coexists with aliens.

LITERATURE

• “War of the Worlds” (1898) by H.G. Wells is often regarded as a pioneering work in the alien invasion genre.
• “Ender’s Game” (1985) by Orson Scott Card is a military science fiction novel that features an alien species called the “Formics.”
• “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” (1979) by Douglas Adams is a comedic science fiction series that provides a humorous and imaginative take on aliens.

MYTHS AND MISCONCEPTIONS

• Many beliefs about extraterrestrial life have been shaped by popular culture and other misconceptions.

MYTH: UFOS ARE DEFINITIVE PROOFS OF ALIENS

• Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) are objects observed in the sky that cannot be readily identified but are not necessarily evidence of alien existence or spacecraft.
• It is possible that they are made by humans or natural phenomena.

MYTH: ALIENS COMMONLY ABDUCT HUMANS

• Alleged alien abduction experiences can be attributed to sleep paralysis, a state between wakefulness and sleep where vivid and often frightening hallucinations can occur.

MYTH: CROP CIRCLES ARE MADE BY ALIENS

• Crop circles, which are intricate patterns that appear in fields, have been said to be made by aliens but no scientific evidence supports this claim.
• Crop circles can be made by people using tools.

MYTH: ALIEN AUTOPSIES IN THE ROSWELL INCIDENT

• In the case of the Roswell incident, the U.S. military later revealed that the debris recovered was from a top-secret project involving high-altitude balloons.

MYTH: ALIENS BUILT ANCIENT MONUMENTS

• As for the creation of ancient monuments such as the pyramids of Giza in Egypt, their construction can be credited to the architectural and engineering skills of human civilizations.

Aliens Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Aliens across 25 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about Aliens. The concept of aliens, often associated with extraterrestrial life, suggests the existence of intelligent or sentient beings from other planets or celestial bodies. The reality of aliens is often up for scientific and moral debate.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

1. Aliens Facts
2. Words Hovering
3. Perspective Timeline
4. Close Encounter Comics
5. Famous UFO Sighting
6. Truth Teller
7. Pop Culture Diagram
8. Creative Coding
9. Potential Planet
10. Debunking Myths
11. Alien Math

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there any scientific evidence of alien life?

As of January 2022, there is no direct scientific evidence of extraterrestrial life. However, scientists are actively searching for signs of life on other planets and moons within our solar system and beyond, using telescopes, rovers, and space probes.

What is the Drake Equation, and how does it relate to the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI)?

The Drake Equation is a probabilistic formula developed by astrophysicist Frank Drake to estimate the number of active, communicative extraterrestrial civilizations in the Milky Way galaxy. It considers factors such as the rate of star formation and the fraction of stars with planets. While it doesn’t provide a concrete answer, it serves as a framework for discussions about the likelihood of intelligent alien life.

What are UFOs, and do they necessarily imply the presence of aliens?

UFOs, or Unidentified Flying Objects, refer to objects observed in the sky that cannot be immediately identified. While many UFO sightings have natural or human-made explanations, some remain unexplained. The existence of UFOs does not necessarily imply the presence of aliens; they may have terrestrial origins or be phenomena not yet fully understood.

Are there any ongoing efforts to communicate with potential extraterrestrial civilizations?

Yes, the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) is a scientific effort to detect signals from intelligent extraterrestrial beings. Scientists use radio telescopes to listen for signals that could indicate the presence of alien civilizations. However, as of now, no conclusive evidence of extraterrestrial communication has been found.

Can life exist in extreme environments similar to those found on other planets or moons in our solar system?

Yes, extremophiles on Earth are organisms that thrive in extreme environments, such as high temperatures, acidity, or pressure. The discovery of such life forms suggests that life could potentially exist in environments previously thought inhospitable, including those on other planets or moons. Scientists are particularly interested in the search for microbial life on Mars and the icy moons of Jupiter and Saturn, such as Europa and Enceladus.

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