I’m a huge fan of Nathan Pyle’s Strange Planet comic series. I see so much potential for its use in the classroom that I had to devote an entire post to it!
Who hasn’t pondered the idea of how strange and silly some of our customs and earthly activities would look to extraterrestrial aliens? The gentle and naive blue beings of Strange Planet give us that unique perspective. Their planet is “strangely familiar.” The ordinary is magnified and made peculiar, and we enjoy the satire. Seeing ourselves in a new way may lead to questioning things in a new way.
Students who’ve had some practice using multiple perspectives, as described in the Gifted Guild’s Guide to Depth and Complexity, will recognize its creative use in these comics. But there are also opportunities to discuss ethics, rules, and big ideas. The cartoons exaggerate customs and norms, the perfect lead-in to conversations about unique traditions across cultures. Beyond that, the blue beings attract us to the best in ourselves. Nathan Pyle says they are “emotionally more intelligent” than we are. They are always honest, open to new experiences, and observers of life.
Of course, to appreciate each cartoon, students first need to unpack the creative language, which can lead to lively discussions about neologisms and word choice.
Take, for example, the cartoon at the top of this post. Students need a moment to think through the words “damaged” and “nearest star” to realize the two beings are describing a suntan. Seeing “damage” as attractive makes us smile, but it can also make us question. How did tanned skin come to be seen as more attractive? Why are people willing to pay for the use of a tanning bed and “damage” themselves to achieve a bronzed look? This could lead to a quick search into the history of this. Not too many decades ago, the ghostly white look was all the rage since it was evidence of wealth. Tanned skin meant you were probably a field worker out in the sun all day. In the 1800s, some women even used beauty treatments that contained poisonous ingredients such as lead and arsenic to get the lily-white complexions they desired.
Those kinds of “teachable moments” can be spontaneous. As students question things, you can do quick research together.
Word choices and inventions are part of the humor and students enjoy figuring out the language. Everyone wants to be the first to get the joke. There are opportunities to discuss vocabulary words in context (e.g.”rendering” and “sustenance” in the cartoon below). After a few exposures to the world of Strange Planet, students will learn the structure of the language and be able to translate invented terms such as “sustenance preserver” (refrigerator). You might want to create a Strange Planet Word Wall in your room with the labels and names frequently used along with their translations. You can find an entire list of neologisms in this post, but it’s more fun to figure them out for yourself!
If your learning participants are like mine, they will begin to speak using their own invented version of Strange Planet lingo, saying things like “I’m in need of a carbon-filled scribbler” and “Mrs. Lasher, is that natural hydration or jitter liquid?” These would be fun to collect and display as well. Some of your students might like to try creating their own cartoons.
I have both Strange and Stranger Planet and I don’t recall any scenes or language that would be inappropriate for children, although some would not be as funny to children as they are to adults. And, of course, not every cartoon will lead to in-depth questioning. But students will find them entertaining and come to love the kind, gentle observers of life.
| I would use these cartoons from time to time as morning warm-up activities displayed on the screen as students enter the classroom. Many will inspire further research, teachable moments, and lengthier discussions and debates. |
Last year, I created a World of Words Virtual Museum which was my version of the real Planet Word, a museum in D.C. devoted to “renewing and inspiring a love of words and language.” Included in my digital version was the museum display shown below. You can read more about how to create this type of museum HERE.
The idea of making the strange familiar and the familiar strange can be seen in many activities we do with students: mystery photos, forced and creative analogies, and in studying other cultures such is in these student activities. If you want to play a trick on students that’s all about making the familiar strange, check out Surprise Endings: A Lesson With a Twist. It would be a fun activity to do on April Fool’s Day or Deception Day as it’s known on Strange Planet!
Have you used Strange Planet in your classroom? Maybe we can get a conversation going! Share your ideas in the comments below.