🛸 Mission: Decode the Alien Descriptions! 👽
What ho, Earthlings!
A spaceship from the distant planet Lingua-5 has landed secretly in Finland. The alien observers are watching your world very carefully — but there’s a twist. They’re writing reports in English, without knowing any of your human words for objects, places, or ideas.
Their task: to describe what they see using only simple, universal language.
Your task: to decode their strange descriptions and figure out what everyday object, place, activity, or idea they are referring to!
Work in small groups and discuss what the aliens might be talking about. Start with easy ones and prepare for your brains to be abducted by more difficult and abstract ones!
🧠 Are you ready to think like an alien?
Let’s begin.
🟢 LEVEL 1: THE EASY STUFF (Concrete & Common)
“These Earthlings sit on soft rectangles and stare at flashing glass squares for hours. The light sometimes shows people pretending to be other people.”
→ Watching TV / a movie
“When Earthlings wish to clean themselves, they enter a tiny room and stand under falling warm rain.”
→ Showering
“They step into a small metal box, press a button, and suddenly the room moves up or down.”
→ An elevator
“People gather around a flat wooden surface with legs. They hold sharp tools and cut round warm things into triangle shapes.”
→ Eating pizza at a table
“Every few days, they take their worn skin-covers and place them into a loud spinning container filled with water and white powder.”
→ Doing laundry
“They carry rectangular glowing objects in their hands, swipe their fingers across them, and talk to invisible people.”
→ Using a smartphone
“Humans sit in long metal tubes with windows and wings. The tubes scream and then rise into the sky.”
→ Airplanes / flying
“They enter a wooden room full of steam. They sit silently, sweat heavily, and sometimes hit themselves with leaves.”
→ A sauna (Bara bada bastu!)
“They open cold boxes to take out containers of white liquid and round yellow things. These are broken into a hot flat circle to make morning fuel.”
→ Making breakfast with milk and eggs (e.g. an omelet)
“Tiny humans are placed in large buildings for many hours. They are taught by taller humans with paper, symbols, and voice sounds.”
→ Going to school / being taught by teachers
🟡 LEVEL 2: THE TRICKIER STUFF (Activities, Situations, Social Things)
“Earthlings go to large buildings filled with objects on shelves. They give small cards or coins to take objects home in bags.”
→ Shopping in a store
“At certain times, they sit around a table, hold metal sticks, and move food into holes in their heads.”
→ Having a meal / eating
“When two Earthlings walk side by side, smiling and sometimes touching each other, they may share warm looks or make lip contact.”
→ Dating / being in love
“When a small human succeeds in something, the larger humans clap their hands together and make loud happy sounds.”
→ Praising or cheering someone
“In colder times, they wrap themselves in extra skins, slide across frozen water, or throw soft white crystals at each other for fun.”
→ Winter play / skiing / snowball fights
🔴 LEVEL 3: THE DEEP STUFF (Abstract Ideas)
“Sometimes Earthlings make noises from their throats that follow patterns. Others begin to move, jump, or spin when they hear it.”
→ Music and dancing
“They look at symbols on paper or glass. These symbols have no pictures, yet they can see stories inside their minds.”
→ Reading books or stories
“One Earthling often puts itself in danger to help another one. It does not expect anything in return.”
→ Kindness / bravery / selflessness
“When something good happens, their mouths rise upward and they make high-pitched joyful sounds.”
→ Happiness / laughing / joy
“Sometimes Earthlings feel warmth in the chest when they are close to certain others. They use heart shapes to describe this.”
→ Love
👽 Alien Descriptions: Volume 2 – From Sausages to Sisu
🟢 LEVEL 1: Still Easy (Familiar, Visual, Physical)
“Earthlings sit on small machines with two wheels. They push pedals with their feet to move forward.”
→ Riding a bicycle
“On certain mornings, humans dress in matching shirts and try to hit a small white object into holes in a distant field using long sticks.”
→ Playing golf
“They wear thick layers and slide over snow using long narrow boards. Sometimes they fall, and other humans laugh.”
→ Skiing
“Small humans enter buildings full of color and noise. They bounce, climb, and yell until they are carried home, tired but smiling.”
→ A play center / indoor playground
“In open green spaces, they kick a round object and try to make it enter a square made of nets while others scream directions.”
→ Playing football / soccer
“They go to rectangular spaces filled with water, wearing strange tight second-skins. They float, splash, and move like fish.”
→ Swimming
“Earthlings hold a tool with a brush at one end and rub strange white paste across their tooth-bones twice a day.”
→ Brushing teeth
“They sit in large dark rooms, face one direction, and react with gasps and laughter to light images on a huge wall.”
→ Going to the cinema
“Humans gather around open fire-pits, rotate meat on sticks, and smile while holding bubbly cans.”
→ Barbecuing / grilling
“On special days, they eat cake, light sticks on fire, and sing to the one who has orbited their sun another time.”
→ Birthday celebrations
🟡 LEVEL 2: Cultural & Social Behaviors
“On certain evenings, they paint their faces, wear scarves, and scream rhythmic noises in crowded arenas while watching others run.”
→ Watching a sports match / being a fan
“At a certain time in summer, Earthlings leave their normal homes to live in tiny wooden shelters near water, far from other humans.”
→ Going to the summer cottage (mökkielämä)
“They place dry plant material into a metal basket, throw water on hot rocks, and sit inside as it becomes unbearably hot.”
→ Taking a sauna
“They take long walks in forests, collecting small round colored growths, putting them in buckets, and later putting them in their mouths or freezing them.”
→ Berry-picking
🔴 LEVEL 3: Human Feelings, Habits, and Abstract Ideas
“Sometimes they stare at small rectangles in their hands, ignoring the people sitting next to them.”
→ Phone addiction / social media overuse
“When they lose something important, their eyes become wet, their shoulders fall, and they make soft sounds.”
→ Crying / sadness / grief
“When they don’t know what to do, they scratch their heads, make noises like ‘uhh’ and look around awkwardly.”
→ Confusion / hesitation / embarrassment
“Certain Earthlings push themselves to continue even when exhausted. They call it ‘strength’ from inside.”
→ Sisu (or perseverance / resilience)
“Sometimes one human is admired so much by others that they follow it, copy it, and try to become it. These humans are often seen on glowing screens.”
→ Fame / celebrity culture / influencers
👾 Alien Descriptions: Volume 3 – Secret Observations from Planet Lingua-5
🟢 LEVEL 1: Straightforward and Visual
“Earthlings open a door, climb into a small metal room with wheels, and move across long gray paths at great speed.”
→ Driving a car
“They carry long brown objects filled with pages. They stare at the pages in silence and seem to enjoy it.”
→ Reading a book
“They hold long yellow sticks, scrape black symbols onto white surfaces, and then stare at what they’ve created.”
→ Writing with a pencil
“When they feel pain in their heads, they open small containers and swallow tiny white stones with water.”
→ Taking painkillers / pills
“They put strips of cloth around their feet and wrap soft shapes over them before putting them into hard foot-holders.”
→ Putting on shoes and socks
“Sometimes they put small objects in their ears and move their heads to invisible rhythms.”
→ Listening to music with earbuds
“They put round flat objects into metal devices and wait for the objects to become hot and crunchy.”
→ Toasting bread / making toast
“They wrap long strings around sharp sticks and then sit by water for hours, hoping to pull out a living creature.”
→ Fishing
“Earthlings gather in huge boxes to watch others shout and pretend, sometimes in funny outfits, under bright lights.”
→ Going to the theatre / watching a play
“They carry flat boxes to doors, press buttons, and deliver warm circles covered in red sauce and yellow goo.”
→ Pizza delivery
🟡 LEVEL 2: Social Habits and Quirky Culture
“In darkened rooms, they apply colorful powders and sticky substances to their upper face bones and eyelashes.”
→ Putting on makeup
“When they like someone else’s image or message, they press a heart or a thumbs-up symbol and feel proud.”
→ Liking a post on social media
“They gather in groups, make loud beats with sticks, pluck strings, press black and white pieces of plastic and all try to do it at the same time.”
→ Playing in a band
“At certain times, they drink a hot brown liquid in silence while staring out windows like they are solving life’s mysteries.”
→ Drinking morning coffee
“Once a year, they dress in strange costumes, knock on doors, and demand sweet items in exchange for leaving.”
→ Trick-or-treating / Halloween
🔴 LEVEL 3: Emotions, Beliefs, and Complex Human Habits
“Sometimes one Earthling talks for a long time while the others sit in rows and pretend to listen.”
→ A lecture / a school class / a boring meeting (Blessed be the ones that DID LISTEN, for they shall inherit the Earth!)
“When something unexpected happens, they often raise one eyebrow, say ‘Seriously?’ and stop moving.”
→ Surprise / disbelief / sarcasm
“When Earthlings feel unsure, they ask a question with their voice going upward at the end, then stare at others for answers.”
→ Curiosity / asking questions / uncertainty
“They sometimes look into shiny glass and seem unhappy with the reflection, even though the image hasn’t changed.”
→ Insecurity / body image issues
“When they lose something or someone important, they gather, speak softly, wear dark colors, and hold flowers.”
→ Grieving / attending a funeral
🛸 Alien Descriptions: Volume 4 – We Come in Peace (and Confusion)
🟢 LEVEL 1: Concrete and Familiar
“They insert flat cards into walls, push buttons, and are rewarded with small pieces of paper that seem valuable.”
→ Using an ATM / withdrawing money
“These humans pull long sharp strings over wooden boxes to create sounds that make others close their eyes and sigh.”
→ Playing a violin
“At the end of the day, Earthlings lie on large soft rectangles, cover themselves with fluffy cloth, and go unconscious for hours.”
→ Going to bed / sleeping
“They use long wooden poles to push themselves forward on frozen ground. Sometimes they smile, sometimes they fall.”
→ Cross-country skiing
“They press their fingers on tiny squares with letters, and black marks appear on glowing rectangles.”
→ Typing on a keyboard
“They open boxes with hinges, take out cold objects, and use them to stop liquid from tasting warm.”
→ Taking ice cubes from a freezer
“Sometimes they wrap strings around boxes and give them to others, who smile and make surprised noises.”
→ Giving presents
🟡 LEVEL 2: Social Situations & Finnish Culture
“Once a year, the sky turns dark, but Earthlings set off loud, colorful explosions and shout happy numbers.”
→ New Year’s Eve
“They go into glass buildings, walk around without buying anything, and often exit with food or shiny clothes.”
→ Window shopping / going to a mall
“When it’s very warm outside, they lie near large puddles, remove much of their skin-coverings, and turn red.”
→ Sunbathing / tanning at the beach
“Sometimes they sit in silence around a table, drink dark liquid from small cups, and eat sugar-covered holes.”
→ Coffee time / Finnish pulla & kahvi break
“They gather in official buildings, stand silently, then one person says words while two others exchange rings and cry.”
→ A wedding ceremony
🔴 LEVEL 3: Inner Worlds, Social Commentary & Abstract Ideas
“Sometimes they pretend to agree with each other by making mouth-curves and polite noises, even if their eyes show discomfort.”
→ Faking politeness / being passive-aggressive
“They watch glowing rectangles showing other people’s food, clothing, or adventures and then feel bad about their own lives.”
→ Social media envy / comparison culture
“One Earthling speaks with great energy, and others follow, even if the ideas are odd or dangerous.”
→ Charismatic leadership / groupthink / cult of personality
“Sometimes they want something they do not have, and instead of moving to get it, they sit and talk about how unfair it is.”
→ Jealousy / envy / complaining
“Certain humans spend long hours arranging symbols or numbers in perfect order, and this brings them deep joy.”
→ Perfectionism / coding / puzzle-solving / obsession with detail
🛸 Alien Descriptions: Volume 5 – The Final Transmission
🟢 LEVEL 1: Clear & Concrete
“They remove dirty dishes by placing them into a metal box that sprays hot water and then makes a humming sound.”
→ Using a dishwasher
“Small humans throw themselves down icy slopes sitting on pieces of plastic. They scream with joy or fear.”
→ Sledding
“They gather in front of old stone buildings and walk in slow lines while a person talks about the past.”
→ Taking a guided tour / visiting a historical site
“They push small humans on swings, then say ‘higher!’ while the child squeals.”
→ Playing at the playground
“Sometimes they sit on high stools, drink golden liquid with foam, and speak louder the longer they stay.”
→ Going to a bar / drinking beer
“They cook round animal parts in metal cages over fire and then eat them with long yellow sticks.”
→ Barbecuing sausages with fries
“They put soft white squares on a stick and hold them over fire until they melt and laugh.”
→ Toasting marshmallows
“They tap small cards against machines and then enter loud buses full of strangers avoiding eye contact.”
→ Taking public transport / using a bus card
“They hang a multicoloured board on a wall with numbers and sections and try to throw sharp objects into the middle.”
→ Playing darts
“Some Earthlings go outside at night, lie on the ground, and look up at tiny lights while whispering.”
→ Stargazing
🟡 LEVEL 2: Social Behavior & Customs
“They go into glass-covered shops, spray themselves with scented liquids, and then sniff their own wrists.”
→ Trying perfume at a store
“They gather at long tables, speak different words loudly, and sometimes use their hands more than their mouths.”
→ A loud family dinner / multicultural gathering
“They put colourful pictures and messages inside folded paper and give them to others, who then smile or cry.”
→ Giving greeting cards / birthday or sympathy cards
“When the days are darkest, they wrap their homes in glowing ropes and place trees indoors.”
→ Christmas decorations
“They hide behind bushes wearing green and point long tubes at birds to capture them… but only with light.”
→ Birdwatching / wildlife photography
🔴 LEVEL 3: Emotional, Philosophical, and Meta-Human
“Sometimes they smile when others fall down, and only help after laughing. This is both cruel and amusing.”
→ Schadenfreude / laughing at others’ misfortune
“They often plan their future in great detail, even though they cannot predict what will happen tomorrow.”
→ Human planning / illusion of control
“They argue with others they care about, not because they dislike them, but because they want to be understood.”
→ Conflict in close relationships
“Some carry invisible weight in their minds that makes bright days feel dark. Others pretend not to notice.”
→ Depression / mental health stigma
“They gather in circles, close their eyes, breathe deeply, and try to feel nothing for a while.”
→ Meditation / mindfulness
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🔧 Now it’s your turn!
Create your own alien observation:
- Pick a daily activity, feeling, or habit.
- Describe it without naming it, as if you’ve never seen it before.
- Let others decode your description!
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🛸 Discussion Questions:
Aliens Watching Earth — Is This Intelligence?
- If aliens are secretly observing Earth, what everyday human behaviors might convince them that we are intelligent?
→ (e.g. technology use, problem-solving, language, cooperation…) - What things might confuse aliens and make them question our intelligence?
→ (e.g. reality TV, wars, traffic jams, eating competitions…) - If aliens only watched TikTok videos to understand humanity, what conclusions might they come to?
→ Would they think we’re creative, chaotic, or just weird? - Imagine aliens observe how we treat the environment. What might they report back to their home planet?
→ Would they see us as caretakers or destroyers? - How would aliens describe school? What might surprise them about how we learn?
→ Would they understand tests, homework, or the concept of grades? - If aliens judged intelligence based on kindness and cooperation rather than technology, how would humans perform?
→ Would we pass the test? - What might aliens think about the way humans use time — rushing around, scheduling everything, and always being “busy”?
→ Would they find this efficient or bizarre? - If aliens watched our political debates or online arguments, what would they assume about human communication and problem-solving?
- Do you think aliens would find pets strange? Why do humans keep animals in their homes and talk to them like people?
- If you had one chance to show aliens proof of human intelligence and creativity, what would you show them — and why?
→ A piece of art, a scientific discovery, a book, a dance, a musical performance?
👽 Alien Life Discussion – Glossary (English–Finnish)
🧠 Key Vocabulary
| English | Finnish |
|---|---|
| intelligent | älykäs |
| intelligence | älykkyys |
| lifeform | elämänmuoto |
| extraterrestrial (ET) | maanulkopuolinen (olento) |
| advanced species | kehittynyt laji |
| observe | tarkkailla |
| observation | havainto |
| behavior | käyttäytyminen |
| confusing | hämmentävä |
| to confuse | hämmentää |
| cooperation | yhteistyö |
| kindness | ystävällisyys |
| environment | ympäristö |
| pollution | saastuminen |
| destruction | tuho |
| waste | jäte, tuhlaus |
| education | koulutus |
| homework | kotitehtävät |
| test / exam | koe |
| communication | viestintä |
| online argument | nettiriita |
| social media | sosiaalinen media |
| technology | teknologia |
| pets | lemmikit |
| creativity | luovuus |
| scientific discovery | tieteellinen löytö |
| to prove | todistaa |
| to rush | kiirehtiä |
| schedule | aikataulu |
| busy | kiireinen |
🗣️ Useful Phrases for Discussion
| English | Finnish |
|---|---|
| I think aliens would be surprised by… | Luulen, että avaruusolennot yllättyisivät… |
| It might seem strange to them that… | Heistä saattaa tuntua oudolta, että… |
| They might think we are… | He saattaisivat luulla, että olemme… |
| From their point of view… | Heidän näkökulmastaan… |
| If they only saw [TikTok/TV/news]… | Jos he näkisivät vain [TikTokin/TV:n/uutiset]… |
| A good example of intelligence is… | Hyvä esimerkki älykkyydestä on… |
| A bad example of human behavior is… | Huono esimerkki ihmisten käyttäytymisestä on… |
| It depends on how you define intelligence. | Se riippuu siitä, miten älykkyys määritellään. |
| Some people are emotionally intelligent. | Joillakin ihmisillä on tunneälyä. |
| They might not understand our habits. | He eivät ehkä ymmärrä tapojamme. |
| We could show them our art/science/music. | Voisimme näyttää heille taidettamme/tiedettämme/musiikkiamme. |
Composition topics (or more food for discussion – decide for yourself)
🛸 Composition Titles: Aliens, Space & Our Place in the Universe
🌌 General / Open-Ended Titles
- Are We Alone in the Universe?
- What If We’re Not the Only Ones?
- Intelligent Life: A Human Privilege or a Cosmic Commonality?
- Is Earth Just Another Planet?
- Looking Up: What Outer Space Tells Us About Ourselves
👽 Alien Contact & Observation
- How Would Contact with Aliens Change Human Society?
- If Aliens Are Watching, What Would They Think of Us?
- Would We Recognize Alien Intelligence If We Saw It?
- Humanity Through Alien Eyes: A Strange and Complicated Species
- The Day the Aliens Landed: Hope, Fear, or Confusion?
🔭 Space, Discovery, and Exploration
- Why Do Humans Explore Space When We Haven’t Solved Earth’s Problems?
- Is It Ethical to Colonize Other Planets?
- What Space Exploration Teaches Us About Humanity
- Space Travel: Science Fiction or the Future of Survival?
- Should We Fund Space Programs or Focus on Earth?
🌍 Philosophical / Reflective Prompts
The Search for Life Beyond Earth Is Also a Search for Ourselves
Would the Existence of Alien Life Make Life on Earth Less Special?
How Would Proof of Extraterrestrial Life Affect Religion and Belief?
Is Intelligence Unique to Humans – or Just One Version of It?
If We Knew We Weren’t Alone, Would We Treat Earth Differently?