The colorful sky as three UFOs hover above it
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Are Those Aliens?

The mystery of UFOs and the search for extraterrestrial life

By Kristin Lewis

Learning Objective: to evaluate evidence that appears in a nonfiction article

Lexiles: 880L, 810L
Other Key Skills: inference, cause and effect, text structure, key ideas and details, evaluating evidence
AS YOU READ

Look for evidence that can help explain UFOs.

It was a bright June day in 1947, and pilot Kenneth Arnold was flying over majestic mountains in Washington State. He was on his way to Oregon, but he decided to head off course to Mount Rainier. A military plane was thought to have crashed there, and a reward was being offered to the first person who located the wreckage.

Arnold never did find the downed plane. But he did find something else.

Something so extraordinary that it would forever alter the course of his life—and American history.

Something he would come to believe was not of this Earth.

That’s right.

We’re talking about aliens.

It was a bright June day in 1947. Pilot Kenneth Arnold was flying over mountains in Washington State. He was on his way to Oregon, but he decided to head off course to Mount Rainier. A military plane was thought to have crashed there, and a reward was being offered to the first person who located the wreckage.

Arnold never did find the downed plane. But he did find something else.

Something so extraordinary that it would forever change the course of his life—and American history.

Something he would come to believe was not of this Earth.

That’s right.

We’re talking about aliens.

Alamy Stock Photo

In 1947, headlines like this one fueled rumors that aliens had crash-landed in Roswell, New Mexico. RAAF stands for Roswell Army Air Force.

The Mystery

As he approached Mount Rainier, Arnold saw nine strange objects in the sky. At first he thought he might be looking at a flock of birds. But upon closer scrutiny, the mystery deepened. Sunlight glinted off the objects’ shiny surfaces. Were they planes? Unlikely. The objects didn’t seem to have pilots, though they occasionally darted and flipped.

Arnold calculated that the objects were traveling at least 1,200 miles per hour. At that speed, you could cross five football fields in one second. Nothing flew that fast, Arnold knew, and certainly not birds. He was puzzled.

After he landed, Arnold told his story to fellow pilots and a reporter. On June 25, the East Oregonian ran a front-page article with the headline “Impossible! Maybe, But Seein’ Is Believin’, Says Flyer.” According to the article, the objects Arnold saw were “saucer-like aircraft flying in formation.”

“It seemed impossible,” Arnold said in the article. “But there it is—I must believe my eyes.”

The story was swiftly picked up by the national press. And it ignited a frenzy.

What had Arnold seen? Could it have been some kind of military test? A weapon? Or had he encountered aliens?

Whatever it was, the public became obsessed. Within a month, there were more than 850 reported sightings of unidentified flying objects—or UFOs.

Arnold saw nine strange objects in the sky over Mount Rainier. At first he thought he might be looking at birds. But upon closer scrutiny, the mystery deepened. Sunlight reflected off the objects’ shiny surfaces. Were they planes? Unlikely. The objects didn’t seem to have pilots. But they did sometimes dart and flip. And they were fast.

Arnold figured out that the objects were traveling at least 1,200 miles per hour. At that speed, you could cross five football fields in just one second. Arnold knew nothing flew that fast. He was puzzled.

After he landed, Arnold told his story to other pilots and to a reporter. On June 25, the East Oregonian newspaper ran an article on the front page with the headline “Impossible! Maybe, But Seein’ Is Believin’, Says Flyer.” According to the article, the objects Arnold saw were “saucer-like aircraft flying in formation.”

“It seemed impossible,” Arnold said in the article. “But there it is—I must believe my eyes.”

The story was quickly picked up by newspapers across the country. And it started a frenzy.

What had Arnold seen? Could it have been some kind of military test? A weapon? Or had he seen aliens?

Whatever it was, the public became obsessed with Arnold’s story. Within a month, there were more than 850 reported sightings of unidentified flying objects—or UFOs.

MyLoupe/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Say Hello to Aliens!

Starting in the late 1940s, there was an explosion of UFO sightings in the Southwest. It led to an entire tourism industry around UFOs. Today, UFO enthusiasts can visit extraterrestrial-themed souvenir shops, restaurants, museums, and roadside attractions in New Mexico and Nevada.

 

The “Extraterrestrial Highway” is in Nevada. It has been the site of many UFO incidents.

What’s Out There?

For as long as humans have walked the earth, we have gazed up at the sky and wondered what might be out there. And we’ve told stories to try to explain what we don’t yet understand.

Early humans looked up at the night sky and saw the shapes of great and powerful beings. Now we know those shapes are made up of stars and planets. In the 15th century, hundreds of people in Nuremberg, Germany, panicked when they woke up one morning to see flying spheres battling in the sky and then disappear in a puff of smoke. Historians believe this was most likely a weather phenomenon called a sun dog, when ice crystals in the clouds cause the appearance of bright spots in the sky on either side of the sun. In the late 1800s, scientists peering through their telescopes observed straight lines on the surface of Mars. Some concluded the lines were canals built by an advanced civilization of martians. Today, we know what they saw was most likely an optical illusion—a trick of the eye—or perhaps dust storms.

By the end of the 19th century, many people were convinced that our solar system teemed with life. They were so certain that in 1900, a competition was held in France: 100,000 francs (about $500,000 in today’s money!) to the first person who made contact with aliens. But those aliens couldn’t be from Mars because that was considered too easy. (No contact was made.)

And by the time Arnold flew over Mount Rainier in 1947, there was real fear that aliens could invade Earth. In fact, less than a decade earlier, some people believed that martians were attacking New Jersey. They were listening to a radio play that was based on the novel The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells. But some listeners mistakenly believed it was a news broadcast.

For as long as humans have walked the earth, we have looked up at the sky and wondered what might be out there. And we’ve told stories to try to explain what we don’t yet understand.

Early humans looked up at the night sky and saw the shapes of powerful beings. Now we know those shapes are made up of stars and planets. In the 15th century, hundreds of people in Nuremberg, Germany, panicked one morning. They woke up to see what they thought were flying spheres doing battle in the sky. The spheres then suddenly disappeared in a puff of smoke. Historians now believe this was most likely something called a sun dog. A sun dog occurs when ice crystals in the clouds cause bright spots to appear in the sky. These bright spots appear on either side of the sun.

In the late 1800s, scientists looking through telescopes saw straight lines on the surface of Mars. Some people thought the lines were canals built by an advanced civilization of martians. Today, we know what they saw was likely a trick of the eye or dust storms.

By the end of the 19th century, many people were convinced that our solar system was filled with life. They were so certain that in 1900, a competition was held in France. The first person who made contact with aliens would win 100,000 francs. That’s about $500,000 in today’s money! But those aliens couldn’t be from Mars because that was thought to be too easy. (No contact was made.)

And by the time Arnold flew over Mount Rainier in 1947, there was real fear that aliens could invade Earth. In fact, less than a decade earlier, some people listening to a radio play believed that martians were attacking New Jersey. The play was based on the novel The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells. But some listeners mistakenly believed it was a news broadcast.

UFO Hunting

In the years after Arnold’s “flying saucers” made headlines, the number of UFO sightings exploded. Farmers spied strange lights over their fields. Kids stargazing in their backyards spotted saucers that seemed to hover high in the air. Pilots reported mysterious objects darting through the clouds. And after a mysterious object was found in the desert near Roswell, New Mexico, rumors swirled that aliens had crash-landed there. (An official report stated that a weather balloon—not a spaceship—had crashed there.)

“Hundreds in State See Flying Saucer” read one 1952 headline in the Indianapolis Star.

“Saucers Swarm Over Capital” read another headline the same year in the Cedar Rapids Gazette.

“UFO Evidence?” asked a 1967 photo caption in Pennsylvania’s Daily News. The caption appeared next to a photograph of strange lights in the night sky.

UFO hunting became a national hobby. People formed clubs to discuss sightings and debate what they could be. Some of the most popular sci-fi movies and TV shows featured aliens in flying saucers. Sometimes these aliens were sweet. Sometimes they were terrifying.

Meanwhile, the mystery remained: What were people seeing? As with the lights over Nuremberg and the lines on Mars, was there a simple explanation? Could the UFOs really be aliens?

In the years after Arnold’s “flying saucers” made headlines, the number of UFO sightings exploded. Farmers saw strange lights over their fields. Kids looking up at stars in their backyards spotted saucers that seemed to hover high in the air. Pilots reported strange objects moving through clouds. And after a mysterious object was found in the desert near Roswell, New Mexico, rumors swirled that aliens had landed there. (An official report stated that a weather balloon had crashed there.)

“Hundreds in State See Flying Saucer” read one 1952 headline in the Indianapolis Star.

“Saucers Swarm Over Capital” read another headline the same year in the Cedar Rapids Gazette.

“UFO Evidence?” asked a 1967 photo caption in Pennsylvania’s Daily News. The caption appeared next to a photograph of strange lights in the night sky.

UFO hunting became a national hobby. People formed clubs to discuss sightings and debate what they could be. Some of the most popular sci-fi movies and TV shows at the time featured aliens in flying saucers. Sometimes these aliens were sweet. Sometimes they were terrifying.

Meanwhile, the mystery remained. What were all these people seeing? As with the lights over Nuremberg and the lines on Mars, was there a simple explanation? Could the UFOs really be aliens?

iStockPhoto/Getty Images

Cloud or Flying Saucer?

Doesn’t that look like a flying saucer? It’s actually something called a hole punch cloud. When a plane passes through a cloud with supercooled water droplets, it causes those droplets to freeze and start to fall, leaving behind a hole in the sky.

Secrets in the Desert

As thrilling as that would be, the answer is: probably not.

In a remote part of the Nevada desert, there is a secret military base called Area 51. During the time of UFO mania, many new types of aircraft were being tested at Area 51.

There were planes that could fly without pilots and aircraft that flew in ways that no one had seen before. The A-12 spy plane, for instance, flew faster and higher than anything before it. Spy planes like the A-12 may explain why there were many UFO reports in the Southwest—not far from Area 51.

Over the years, details about those planes have been declassified—meaning made public. But back then, only a small number of people knew about them.

Today, we know that many UFOs were probably test flights for secret aircraft. Yet UFO sightings have continued—and continue to this day.

As exciting as that would be, the answer is probably not.

There is a secret military base called Area 51 in the Nevada desert. During the time of UFO mania, many new types of aircraft were being tested at Area 51.

There were planes that could fly without pilots. And there were aircraft that flew in ways that no one had ever seen before. The A-12 spy plane, for example, flew faster and higher than anything before it. Spy planes like the A-12 may explain why there were many UFO reports not far from Area 51.

Over the years, details about those planes have been made public. But back then, only a small number of people knew about them.

Today, we know that many UFOs were probably test flights for secret aircraft. Yet UFO sightings have continued. And they continue to this day.

Mervyn Rees/Alamy Stock Photo (Lockheed A-12); Chris Alan Wilton/Alamy Stock Photo (inset: UFO)

Spy Planes

Spy planes like this Lockheed A-12 were top secret during the Cold War. You can see from the shape of the plane that when it was airborne, it could be mistaken for a flying saucer.

UFOs Today

Last summer, the government released a report about UFO sightings. The report analyzed 144 UFO incidents between 2004 and 2021. Many are deeply puzzling. Some are eerily similar to what Arnold saw back in 1947.

For example, Navy pilots reported strange objects that appeared about 30,000 feet over the East Coast. The objects didn’t seem to have engines. How were they flying? Where was their fuel? One seemed to spin like a top. The objects were seen almost every day from the summer of 2014 to March 2015.

In the end, the report concluded that we don’t have enough information or we don’t have the science to fully understand or explain what every UFO might be. The report did not mention anything about extraterrestrials. But it didn’t explicitly rule them out either.

Last summer, the government released a report about UFO sightings. The report analyzed 144 UFO incidents between 2004 and 2021. Many of these incidents are deeply puzzling. Some are eerily similar to what Arnold saw back in 1947.

For example, Navy pilots reported strange objects that appeared about 30,000 feet over the East Coast. The objects didn’t seem to have engines. How were they flying? Where was their fuel? One seemed to spin like a top. The objects were seen almost every day from the summer of 2014 to March 2015.

 In the end, the report concluded that we don’t have enough information or the science to fully understand what every UFO might be. The report did not mention anything about extraterrestrials. But it didn’t rule them out either.

The Unexplained

The truth is, there are many things right here on Earth that we can’t yet explain. Maybe some UFOs are no more than birds or balloons or a drone from someone’s backyard. Maybe they are a trick of the eye, the light filtering through the clouds. Maybe, like spy planes from decades ago, they are an experimental technology that most people don’t know about yet.

But one thing remains clear: Many of us want to believe that something not of this world has visited us. In fact, a Gallup poll last summer found that 4 in 10 Americans believe UFOs are extraterrestrial.

Of course, believing something to be true and it being true aren’t the same thing.

The truth is, there are many things right here on Earth that we can’t yet explain. Maybe some UFOs are no more than birds or balloons or a drone from someone’s backyard. Maybe they are a trick of the eye, the light filtering through the clouds. Maybe, like spy planes from decades ago, they are an experimental technology that most people don’t know about yet.

But one thing remains clear. Many of us want to believe that something not of this world has visited us. In fact, a Gallup poll last summer found that 4 in 10 Americans believe that UFOs are extraterrestrial.

Of course, believing something to be true and it being true aren’t the same thing.

The Search

Whatever UFOs may be, many scientists do believe that there is some kind of life on other planets—and we could even find it in your lifetime.

“One of the most fundamental questions that we ask ourselves is, Are we alone?” says Michelle Kunimoto, an astronomer at the MIT Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research.

Right now, scientists like Kunimoto are searching the stars for clues. We have giant radio telescopes all over Earth listening to the sounds of the universe. Telescopes orbiting our planet can see deeper into our galaxy than ever before. We launch probes into space that send back all kinds of data. We’ve sent rovers to explore the surface of Mars. (Alas, no martians were waiting to greet them.) Just this year, new research revealed that clouds on Venus could contain tiny organisms called microbes.

And it seems a new planet is discovered almost every day. Scientists estimate that there could be as many as 300 million planets in our galaxy that might support life.

That life probably won’t be what we expect though.

“When people think of life, they think intelligent life like humans and animals and everything that lives on Earth,” says Kunimoto. “But it’s more likely that the first type of life we’ll find will be microorganisms like bacteria.”

Whatever UFOs may be, many scientists do believe that there is some kind of life on other planets. And scientists believe we could even find it in your lifetime.

“One of the most fundamental questions that we ask ourselves is, Are we alone?” says Michelle Kunimoto, an astronomer.

Right now, scientists like Kunimoto are searching the stars for clues. We have giant radio telescopes all over Earth listening to the sounds of the universe. Telescopes in space can see deeper into our galaxy than ever before. We launch devices into space that send back all kinds of information to us on Earth. We’ve sent rovers to explore the surface of Mars. (Unfortunately, no martians were waiting to greet them.) Just this year, new research showed that clouds on Venus could contain tiny living organisms.

And it seems a new planet is found almost every day. Scientists estimate that there could be as many as 300 million planets in our galaxy that might support life.

That life probably won’t be what we expect though.

“When people think of life, they think intelligent life like humans and animals and everything that lives on Earth,” says Kunimoto. “But it’s more likely that the first type of life we’ll find will be microorganisms like bacteria.”

The Mystery Continues

As for Arnold and the strange objects he saw way back in 1947?

No conclusive explanation was ever found. In an interview in 1950, Arnold gave his own view: “If it’s not made by our science or our Army Air Forces,” he said, “I am inclined to believe it’s of an extraterrestrial origin.”

We may never solve the mystery of what Arnold saw that day in the bright, sunny skies over Mount Rainier. But his story reveals a deeper truth: Human curiosity is powerful. So too is our imagination.

And whatever is waiting out there in the mysterious, wondrous expanse of space, it will take both to find it.

As for Arnold and the strange objects he saw way back in 1947?

No conclusive explanation was ever found. In an interview in 1950, Arnold gave his own view.

“If it’s not made by our science or our Army Air Forces,” he said, “I am inclined to believe it’s of an extraterrestrial origin.”

We may never solve the mystery of what Arnold saw that day in the bright, sunny skies over Mount Rainier. But his story reveals a deeper truth. Human curiosity is powerful. So is our imagination.

And whatever is waiting out there in the mysterious and wondrous world of space, it will take both to find it.

Writing Prompt

Do you think some UFOs could be extraterrestrial? Why or why not? Use text evidence to support your answer. 

Writing Prompt

Do you think some UFOs could be extraterrestrial? Why or why not? Use text evidence to support your answer. 

This article was originally published in the December 2021/January 2022 issue.

This article was originally published in the December 2021/January 2022 issue.

video (1)
Slideshows (1)
Audio ()
Activities (13)
Quizzes (1)
Answer Key (1)
video (1)
Slideshows (1)
Audio ()
Activities (13)
Quizzes (1)
Answer Key (1)
Step-by-Step Lesson Plan

Close Reading, Critical Thinking, Skill Building

Essential questions: Is there life on other planets? What is the universe, and what is Earth’s place in it? What drives humans to explore?

Essential questions: Is there life on other planets? What is the universe, and what is Earth’s place in it? What drives humans to explore?

1. PREPARING TO READ (30 MINUTES)

Do Now: Journal and Discuss (10 minutes)

  • Journal: Project the prompts below on your whiteboard. Have students choose one prompt to respond to in their journal, on a piece of paper, or in their own document.
  1. Do you think intelligent life exists on other planets? Why or why not? If you do, do you think we will ever find it?
  2. List as many books, movies, and TV shows about outer space and/or extraterrestrial life as you can think of. Why do you think these topics are so popular? What do you like about them?
  3. Imagine a group of space aliens has been traveling the galaxy for years, documenting life on each planet they have visited. They have recently landed on Earth. What do they have to say about it?
  4. Compose a message to all intelligent life-forms in the universe. What should they know about our planet and humankind? How might you help them understand what it’s like here?
  • Discuss: Have students gather in groups according to which prompt they chose and discuss their responses. Then have a member of each group share commonalities and interesting ideas that came up during their discussion.

Watch the Video (10 minutes)

  • Watch the Beyond the Story video, which builds background knowledge about space and our universe. Have students respond to the Video Discussion Questions (available in your Resources tab) in small groups or pairs.

Preview vocabulary (10 minutes)

Project the Vocabulary Slideshow on your whiteboard. Review the definitions and complete the activity as a class. Highlighted words: extraterrestrials, frenzy, microorganisms, scrutiny. (Optionally, share the slideshow link directly to your LMS and have students preview the words and complete the activity independently beforehand.) The audio pronunciations of the words are embedded on the slides.

Do Now: Journal and Discuss (10 minutes)

  • Journal: Project the prompts below on your whiteboard. Have students choose one prompt to respond to in their journal, on a piece of paper, or in their own document.
  1. Do you think intelligent life exists on other planets? Why or why not? If you do, do you think we will ever find it?
  2. List as many books, movies, and TV shows about outer space and/or extraterrestrial life as you can think of. Why do you think these topics are so popular? What do you like about them?
  3. Imagine a group of space aliens has been traveling the galaxy for years, documenting life on each planet they have visited. They have recently landed on Earth. What do they have to say about it?
  4. Compose a message to all intelligent life-forms in the universe. What should they know about our planet and humankind? How might you help them understand what it’s like here?
  • Discuss: Have students gather in groups according to which prompt they chose and discuss their responses. Then have a member of each group share commonalities and interesting ideas that came up during their discussion.

Watch the Video (10 minutes)

  • Watch the Beyond the Story video, which builds background knowledge about space and our universe. Have students respond to the Video Discussion Questions (available in your Resources tab) in small groups or pairs.

Preview vocabulary (10 minutes)

Project the Vocabulary Slideshow on your whiteboard. Review the definitions and complete the activity as a class. Highlighted words: extraterrestrialsfrenzymicroorganismsscrutiny. (Optionally, share the slideshow link directly to your LMS and have students preview the words and complete the activity independently beforehand.) The audio pronunciations of the words are embedded on the slides.

2. READING AND DISCUSSING (45 MINUTES)

  • Have a volunteer read the As You Read box on page 5 of the magazine or at the top of the digital story page.
  • Read the article once as a class. (Differentiation: Share the lower-Lexile version or the Spanish language version of the article.) Optionally, have students listen to Kristin Lewis read her article aloud while they follow along. The audio read-aloud is located in the Resources tab in Teacher View and at the top of the story page in Student View.
  • Divide students into groups to read the story again and respond to the following close-reading questions.

Close-Reading Questions (30 minutes)

  • Lewis writes that Arnold found “something so extraordinary that it would forever alter the course of his life—and American history.” How did Arnold’s experience alter the course of American history? (cause and effect) Arnold’s report sparked an immediate national interest in UFOs. The number of reported sightings exploded in the month following his report and continued for years to come. The explosion of sightings in the Southwest specifically led to an entire tourism industry around UFOs. And as the timeline “Aliens Through Time” makes clear, the country’s obsession with extraterrestrial life was reflected in popular culture—appearing in books, films, comics, TV shows, and more.
  • How does the section “What’s Out There?” contribute to the article? (text structure) The section “What’s Out There?” helps readers understand that the belief that we might not be alone in the universe has been around since long before Arnold’s report—since the beginning of human history, in fact. It also illustrates that while our fascination and curiosity have remained constant, our understanding of the universe is ever-evolving: Great and powerful beings in the night sky were constellations, flying spheres battling overhead were a weather phenomenon called a sun dog, and perceived canals made by martians were likely just a dust storm or an optical illusion. This information introduces readers to the possibility that mysterious UFO sightings like Arnold’s may have a simple explanation.
  • What role has Area 51 played in the history of UFO sightings in the U.S.? (key ideas and details) The activity on the Area 51 military base—namely the testing of new and secret types of aircraft—likely explains many of the UFOs that were reported.

Bring the class back together to answer the following critical-thinking questions.

Critical-Thinking Questions

  • In what ways, if any, do you think differently about UFOs after reading this article? About the existence of extraterrestrial life? Answers will vary.
  • In the final lines of the article, Lewis writes, “But [Arnold’s] story reveals a deeper truth: Human curiosity is powerful. So too is our imagination. And whatever is waiting out there in the mysterious, wondrous expanse of space, it will take both to find it.” What is the power of human curiosity? Human imagination? Answers will vary. Students may offer that without curiosity and imagination, our lives would be boring and meaningless; the moments in which we are curious or using our imagination are the moments we feel most alive. Curiosity draws us to things we find interesting; it prompts us to observe them more fully and seek to understand them. Imagination allows us to bring to mind things that aren’t present, things that have never been but could be. This incredible capacity gives us the power to create, invent, and problem-solve.
  • Do you think it is important to explore space? Explain. Answers will vary. Students may say there are many problems to deal with on Earth that are more important and urgent, or that space exploration is expensive and causes pollution. They may also offer that what we learn in space can benefit us here on Earth and inspire and unite the people of the planet in shared exploration.
  • Have a volunteer read the As You Read box on page 5 of the magazine or at the top of the digital story page.
  • Read the article once as a class. (Differentiation: Share the lower-Lexile version or the Spanish language version of the article.) Optionally, have students listen to Kristin Lewis read her article aloud while they follow along. The audio read-aloud is located in the Resources tab in Teacher View and at the top of the story page in Student View.
  • Divide students into groups to read the story again and respond to the following close-reading questions.

Close-Reading Questions (30 minutes)

  • Lewis writes that Arnold found “something so extraordinary that it would forever alter the course of his life—and American history.” How did Arnold’s experience alter the course of American history? (cause and effect) Arnold’s report sparked an immediate national interest in UFOs. The number of reported sightings exploded in the month following his report and continued for years to come. The explosion of sightings in the Southwest specifically led to an entire tourism industry around UFOs. And as the timeline “Aliens Through Time” makes clear, the country’s obsession with extraterrestrial life was reflected in popular culture—appearing in books, films, comics, TV shows, and more.
  • How does the section “What’s Out There?” contribute to the article? (text structure) The section “What’s Out There?” helps readers understand that the belief that we might not be alone in the universe has been around since long before Arnold’s report—since the beginning of human history, in fact. It also illustrates that while our fascination and curiosity have remained constant, our understanding of the universe is ever-evolving: Great and powerful beings in the night sky were constellations, flying spheres battling overhead were a weather phenomenon called a sun dog, and perceived canals made by martians were likely just a dust storm or an optical illusion. This information introduces readers to the possibility that mysterious UFO sightings like Arnold’s may have a simple explanation.
  • What role has Area 51 played in the history of UFO sightings in the U.S.? (key ideas and details) The activity on the Area 51 military base—namely the testing of new and secret types of aircraft—likely explains many of the UFOs that were reported.

Bring the class back together to answer the following critical-thinking questions.

Critical-Thinking Questions

  • In what ways, if any, do you think differently about UFOs after reading this article? About the existence of extraterrestrial life? Answers will vary.
  • In the final lines of the article, Lewis writes, “But [Arnold’s] story reveals a deeper truth: Human curiosity is powerful. So too is our imagination. And whatever is waiting out there in the mysterious, wondrous expanse of space, it will take both to find it.” What is the power of human curiosity? Human imagination? Answers will vary. Students may offer that without curiosity and imagination, our lives would be boring and meaningless; the moments in which we are curious or using our imagination are the moments we feel most alive. Curiosity draws us to things we find interesting; it prompts us to observe them more fully and seek to understand them. Imagination allows us to bring to mind things that aren’t present, things that have never been but could be. This incredible capacity gives us the power to create, invent, and problem-solve.
  • Do you think it is important to explore space? Explain. Answers will vary. Students may say there are many problems to deal with on Earth that are more important and urgent, or that space exploration is expensive and causes pollution. They may also offer that what we learn in space can benefit us here on Earth and inspire and unite the people of the planet in shared exploration.

3. SKILL BUILDING AND WRITING (45 MINUTES)

  • Have students complete Preparing to Write: Explaining UFOs. This activity will help them evaluate evidence and organize their ideas in preparation for the writing prompt that appears on page 10 in the printed magazine and at the bottom of the digital story page.
  • Alternatively, have students choose a culminating task from the Choice Board, a menu of differentiated activities.
  • Have students complete Preparing to Write: Explaining UFOs. This activity will help them evaluate evidence and organize their ideas in preparation for the writing prompt that appears on page 10 in the printed magazine and at the bottom of the digital story page.
  • Alternatively, have students choose a culminating task from the Choice Board, a menu of differentiated activities.
Text-to-Speech