Lesson Plan
Subject: Sociology / Anthropology    (Code Name: First Contact)

Materials:
Paper and writing materials.
Books, magazines and newspapers.
Computers with Internet access. (optional)
Television. (optional)

Objectives:
To objectively view, interpret and analyze one’s own culture.
To observe and make observations on the state of human affairs.
To draw conclusions about human culture based on the media.
To develop a written criteria for observation and evaluation of a culture.

Sequence:
Take attendance.
Group students into 3 groups: science team, rules team and observation team.
Do not explain scenario until all students are in groups.
Explain scenario to students (attached)
Explain that the responsibilities of each team and their place in the crew.
Using materials available, gather a picture of Earth culture.
Debrief crew, determine if first contact should be made and review lesson.
Have each person come up with one way they can start making the world better.

Responsibilities:
Observation Team:
Observe Earth culture (they’ve been down on the planet for one month).
Make a list of dominant human traits.
Explain current Earth political structures.
Is there a world government?
Who should be contacted first if first contact is made?
Report findings to science team.
Science Team:
Using gathered materials make a composite of life on Earth.
What are their political structures?
How do humans spend their time?
What is their level of technology?
Evaluate environment, capacity for learning and report on Earth geography.
Make final recommendation for first contact.
Rules Team:
Determine rules for first contact with a planet.
Some items to consider:  level of technology, ability for space travel, etc...
Report rules to science team.

First Contact Scenario


First Contact: 
The first formal meeting between two cultures.  In early centuries it 
could be put in terms of people from one continent first meeting people 
from another.  In modern times first contact is used to refer to the 
meeting of two different species of intelligent life.


Welcome aboard the Coalition explorer ship Gazar.  You and your crew 
represent a peaceful alliance of over 180 planets known as the Coalition.  
The Coalition has existed for 3 millennia (3000 years), and has existed 
peacefully for over 1000 years.  The members of your crew are all Galagans 
from the planet Galaga, a planet of pacifists.  

The last contact with another species outside the Coalition occurred 2000 
years ago.  That situation changed 3 solar months ago when the Krakon, 
another explorer ship, discovered a small inhabited planet in sector X9.  
It has since been determined that the inhabitants of this planet are 
intelligent and call their home Earth.  Little is known of this race that 
call themselves humans.

The Supreme Council of the Coalition has sent the Gazar to Earth on an 
important mission: to observe Earth culture and possibly make first contact 
with its people.  Since first contact has not happened in our society in 
over 2 millennia, your crew must also come up with a new set of criteria 
to use in first contact procedures that will guide the Coalition the 
future.  You are permitted to send down an exploration party to the planet, 
but make sure to use cosmetic alterations to blend into human culture.  We 
would not want this species of two armed, two legged and two eyed people to 
be alarmed at the 3 arms, 3 legs and 3 eyes of Galagans.  Try to secure 
media from these Earth people to complete the picture of their culture.  
Use your universal translation system to covert their language to ours. 

The Coalition council will support you and your crew in this matter.  Good 
luck and may the Great Star guide your path.


Grand Kasan, Rbeorto Clupeper