ORIGINS – Species

QUEST 1: Extra-terrestial biodiversity

Teacher notes

Curriculum links: Science (Interactions & independencies and Earth & atmosphere), Art Zone relevance: Origins

Description: Our planet has an amazing display of biodiversity through the many ecosystems on Earth. The worlds in Star Wars, also have an amazing display of extra-terrestrial biodiversity. In this activity, students will use their knowledge of biodiversity to put appropriate Earth species on to Star Wars planets in which they would be well suited. Students also can create new extra-terrestrials to fit into ecosystems on our planet, or other ecosystems from fiction.

Background: When Anakin enters the Boonta Eve Podrace, he lines up against an intimidating field of alien competitors, each one more fantastic than the last. From the six-armed Xexto to the aerodynamic Glymphid, this diverse menagerie of speed freaks is a fascinating cross-section of all the galaxy has to offer. Biodiversity is variety among and within plant and animal species in an environment. An ecosystem is a collection of living things and the environment in which they live. For example, a prairie ecosystem includes coyotes, the rabbits on which they feed, and the grasses that feed the rabbits.

Activity 1: a. Students should read the descriptions of the four different planets from Star Wars on the Information sheet. b. Using the Information sheet, they should then add to the list of organisms already found on these planets species from our planet that would be well suited to survive in this ecosystem. They should use Student worksheet 1 to explain how their suggested Earth species could survive in each location and add to the biodiversity of each planet. c. Your group can then further enhance the extra-terrestrial biodiversity of these planets by creating a new species for one of them using Student worksheet 2. Students should describe the characteristics of their species and draw a sketch of what it might look like.

Extension activity: Ask students to research the meaning of ‘invasive species’ and give examples. They can also be encouraged to look at how an invasive species can end up dominating and disrupting a region.

EDUCATOR’S RESOURCE GUIDE 16 Information Sheet:

Planet Hoth Dagobah Tatooine Bespin

Is a very hot and dry Is the 6th planet from its This planet is a gas giant planet, due to the binary sun and is very cold.A with a solid core and Is a remote world of system (two suns) it is frozen ocean covers the then many layers of gas swamps and forests. located in. The planet entire surface, except above. Most of these has areas that are very where volcanic eruptions This planet is mostly layers are poisonous rocky with high caverns from below cause steam covered in shallow or have pressure too Climate/ and rocky outcrops. This and minerals to break marshland, and vast great for humans, planet has a lot of sand, Geography through the icy, snow- expanses of mud except one life layer on found in the Dune Sea. covered surface. fields. It is a very humid the outer part of the In certain parts there is climate, without a lot of planet. Bespin is very Hoth has a large number a mist that rises from the light reaching its surface cloudy, with many types of caves and tunnels. ground at certain points through the mist. of gases located in its Temperatures are always in the day. There is very atmosphere. below freezing levels. little water

Banthas (a large animal Winged Tibannucks Bogwings (a flying reptile whose size is similar to (large dragon-like animal type creature), Dragon an elephant with fur and with a snout, four lungs, snake (a large snake large curved horns), a tail and two limbs with Wampas (large creature with arms and Womp rats (similar to webbed digits at the end sasquatch type fins that lives in the our rats, but about 2m in for flying), Beldons (huge Native predators) and water), Nudj (a swamp size), Krayt Dragon (very gas-filled creatures, that species Tauntauns (an omnivore lizard) and Vine Snakes large lizard with big teeth float in the atmosphere), that walks on two legs, (much like snakes in and claws), Sarlacc (a Rawwks (winged with fur). our jungles, they would large carnivore plant- mammals, that stun often hang from vines type species, that is a prey with their screech) and trees and are trap in the ground with and Velkers (flat flying venomous.) tendrils and teeth to creatures with razor catch and eat its prey). sharp teeth and a tail)

Species from Earth that would survive the ecosytems

EDUCATOR’S RESOURCE GUIDE 17 Student worksheet 1 List the reasons that the species from Earth you suggested in the previous activity could survive in each location and add to the biodiversity of each planet.

Recommended Earth species for Hoth:

Why would it survive:

Recommended Earth species for Dagobah:

Why would it survive:

Recommended Earth species for Tattooine:

Why would it survive:

Recommended Earth species for Bespin:

Why would it survive:

EDUCATOR’S RESOURCE GUIDE 18 Student worksheet 2 Create your own species for one of the planets listed on the Information sheet and list the characteristics that would allow it to survive in its environment.

Name of species:

Home planet:

Characteristics:

In the space below, draw a sketch of your species.

EDUCATOR’S RESOURCE GUIDE 19