Becoming an Astronaut

Here's an activity for intermediate-level students (also 12th graders) that asks them to imagine themselves as an astronaut in Elon Musk's SpaceX:

Objective: To practice mindfulness and basic writing skills by imagining oneself as an astronaut in Elon Musk's SpaceX.

Instructions:

1. Introduce the topic of space travel and Elon Musk's SpaceX. Discuss with the students what it means to be an astronaut and what challenges they might face.

2. Instruct the students to imagine that they are an astronaut in Elon Musk's SpaceX. Encourage them to take a few deep breaths and visualize themselves in this role. You can tell them the following sentences:

"Close your eyes. Breathe in and breathe out slowly. Now, you are in a SpaceX rocket. You hear the sounds of the alarms and notifications. 3, 2, 1...Your rocket launched now. Focus on the excitement you have now. You feel the strength of the rocket. Now, you are in space. Look around. The earth is in front of you. It is blue and beautiful."

Then, ask the students to write a short paragraph or sentence describing their experience as an astronaut in SpaceX. You can ask the following questions:

• What was it like to experience zero gravity in space?

• How did you feel when you first saw the Earth from space?

• What were some of the challenges you faced during your time at SpaceX, and how did you overcome them?

• How did you feel when you completed your mission and returned to Earth?

• What did you learn about space and the universe during your time at SpaceX?

• What did you miss most about life on Earth while you were in SpaceX?

As they write, ask the students to take breaks to check in with themselves and their bodies. Encourage them to notice any tension, stress, or other sensations, and to take a few deep breaths to release any tension.

After writing the paragraph or sentence, instruct the students to take a moment to reflect on their experience. Ask them to notice any thoughts or emotions that came up during the activity, and to reflect on how mindfulness affected their writing process.

You can also play this video for sound effects: