Do you believe in UFOs? Have you ever seen a really bright object in the sky and gotten really excited about it until a grownup told you it was Venus or even the space station orbiting Earth? If you would like to know when and where the space station and the Hubble Space Telescope will be passing over your part of the world, type in “Spaceflight1” in the search box on your Internet. Over a hundred years ago, authors like H.G. Wells started writing books about visitors from other worlds. Almost sixty years ago, pilots thought they were seeing flying saucers and a lot of people still believe they visit Earth from time to time. Many people think what they are actually seeing are weather balloons, funny shaped clouds, or new types of aircraft.

What do you think a real UFO would look like? Why wouldn't they be shaped more like the rockets that astronauts pilot today? Have you ever thought about how many times science fiction writers almost seem to predict the future when they wrote about things like flying machines, submarines, and spaceships landing on the moon? Now that we have flying machines and submarines, it makes you wonder if spaceships may visit Earth someday. Some people like to think these aliens might look like some of the strange creatures living here on Earth while others think they would look more like a person. Who knows, but life on other planets could look more like our dinosaurs or other mammals. Just think what past travelers would have seen if they landed here on Earth millions of years ago. Although we think of ourselves as astronauts or explorers when we travel out into space, would we be considered aliens if we landed on another planet or moon?

Try This

Edible Aliens

Using the recipe on the flavored gelatin box, make a batch of jiggly green aliens. Once the gelatin is solid, cut out your aliens using a gingerbread man cookie cutter. Then add on your alien's eyes, hair, etc. using whipped cream and candy or squeeze cheese and shredded vegetables. Don't forget to invite someone to join in the fun!

Silly Science Fiction

Ask a friend or family member to help create this silly science fiction story. Don't show them the story first! Just ask them for the kind of word you need for each blank spot (a description is written underneath). Write the words your helper gives you in the blanks, then read the story out loud. HINT: Use a pencil so you can erase the words and play again!