ATLAS OF HUMAN IMAGINATION

Constellation of Concepts ✨

Using the A1 poster, get your students to create a map of ideas, or a "constellation of concepts" around a selected topic. Analyse, research and discuss how different concepts come together for a particular topic - seen from different perspectives.

The following document outlines how to make a "constellation of concepts", using the topic of lithium batteries as just one example.

Try it out for other topics like: evolution, cryptocurrency, 3D-printing, electricity, search for extraterrestrial life, art movements, musical expression, ecology, Mars missions, philosophy, climate change, gene therapy, computing or AI - indeed, anything you can think of.

Click on the image here to read the
document and access the lesson ideas 👇

Thinking Imaginatively
Like An Atlas Pioneer

Atlas Pioneers are thinkers who look beyond the obvious and aren’t afraid to explore difficult questions about the world.

This activity helps you step into that mindset and discover how your imagination and ideas can grow.

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document and access the lesson plan 👇

Art, Science & Nature Intertwined 🎨

Across centuries, artists and scientists have shared the same goal: to observe, to understand and to represent the beauty of the natural world.

The Atlas of Human Imagination places cross-disciplinarity at its heart, revealing our intellectual heritage as an interconnected narrative rather than a collection of isolated silos.

It is hoped that readers will take inspiration from the many fascinating links between the worlds of art and science, and continue to explore the endless dialogue between creativity and discovery.

Click on the image here to read the STEAM
document and access the lesson plans 👇

Is There Life on Mars? 🟠

The search for life on Mars has long been one of the most compelling questions in planetary science, driving missions and research aimed at understanding the Red Planet’s potential to harbour life.

Pioneering scientists, engineers and thinkers featured in the Atlas have laid the groundwork for this quest, by developing the tools, techniques and insights that continue to guide exploration of Martian environments.

Their contributions have been instrumental in shaping our strategies for detecting signs of past or present life on Mars, as exemplified in the upcoming ESA ExoMars mission in 2028.

Click on the image here for more information about the
ExoMars mission 👇

Geography Expedition 🥾

Geography is a story of human curiosity and discovery, shaped by centuries of visionaries from the Atlas of Human Imagination.

This document gives some examples of the historical discoveries and concepts on display in the poster and how they are relevant to our understanding of physical geography today, as well as our future survival as a planet. Please join the expedition!

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Geography document and access the lesson plans 👇

What Knowledge Goes Into An Airliner? 🛫

Many of the pioneers in the Atlas of Human Imagination played a crucial role in the conceptual development of what we now call "large, wide-body airliners", like the Airbus A380.

Below we do a deep-dive into the world of aviation, showing who and what the historical milestones were - spanning a thousand years.

Click on the image here for more information about airliners 👇

How Did Modern Computing Emerge? 💻

Many of the visionaries profiled in the Atlas of Human Imagination were instrumental in the development of computing.

The following report does a deep-dive into the world of computers, showing who and what the pivotal moments were - spanning almost 2000 years.

Their combined genius reminds us that modern computing isn’t just “tech”; it’s a tapestry of human creativity, imagination and collaboration.

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Computing information and lesson plans 👇

Concepts in the Real World 🌍

To demonstrate the huge influence of the visionary people in the Atlas of Human Imagination (a curated selection), we have imagined and analysed three everyday scenarios - things that we typically take for granted:

1. Flying on holiday
2. Visiting a hospital and
3. Going to the supermarket

In all cases, the impact that their imaginative concepts and research has had on our lives is staggering in its depth and diversity. The sum of their combined work is certainly much larger than the individual parts.

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Theory of Knowledge (ToK) 🦉

Across many education systems, there is a growing emphasis on understanding:

1. How knowledge comes about,
2. How to evaluate whether a theory is correct,
3. How different areas of knowledge connect, and
4. How collective knowledge shapes our lives as citizens.

The Atlas of Human Imagination provides important answers to these questions, emphasising our shared collective knowledge, cross-disciplinarity, connections with everyday life, the importance of daring to use our imagination and overcoming the fear of failure.

The document below can be used by teachers to • initiate ToK discussions • understand that knowledge arises in different ways • inspire interdisciplinary projects • encourage critical and creative thinking • connect classroom content to the real world.

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ToK information and lesson plans 👇

Physical, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHE) 🩵

The visionaries profiled in the Atlas of Human Imagination were extraordinarily brilliant, yet they were also profoundly human - subject to illness, loss, isolation, prejudice, financial instability and personal struggles.

Their lives show us that adversity is not necessarily a barrier but can be a catalyst: through resilience, determination and unwavering passion, they transformed their hardship into focus, creativity and discovery.

By studying their journeys, we can find inspiration, empathy and hope — a reminder that, even in the face of life’s constant challenges, remarkable accomplishments are within reach.

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PSHE information and lesson plans 👇

Random Historical
Dinner Party 🎲

Cross-disciplinary collaboration is very important in the modern era, whether in universities, research labs, companies or government.

The following is a fun activity to encourage school students to develop teamwork and creative thinking. Imagine if you could bring together 4 of the visionary people from the Atlas for an evening of dinner and interesting discussion.

The link below allows school groups to randomly generate 4 thinkers, encouraging students to analyse personalities, concepts, skills, values and problem-solving capacity, across various disciplines.

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"Random Historical Dinner Party" 👇

Puzzle 🕵️️

Problem-solving is another key skill that requires a combination of step-by-step logic and some imaginative deduction in order to 'crack the code'.

The puzzle devised here is an example of exactly that: it cannot be solved by guessing. It can only be solved by patient analysis, concentration, attention to detail, perseverance and good organisation of data.

The puzzle below is a fun, accessible way to build analytical reasoning, focus and problem-solving - all foundational for success in STEM and beyond.

Click on the image here to access the puzzle 👇

Kahoot Quizzes 🏆

Test your knowledge of concepts, discoveries and inventions highlighted in the Atlas of Human Imagination. Each Kahoot quiz below has 25 multiple-choice questions.

Click on the images here to play the Kahoot quizzes 👇

Internationalisation 🌐

Please note: this content is internationally-adaptable and supports not only International Baccalaureate (IB), but also AP Capstone in the US; Philosophie in France; Bachillerato in Spain; Fächerübergreifendes Lernen in Abitur in Germany; Liceo Classico, Liceo Scientifico and PCTO in Italy; EPQ, PSHE and General Studies A-level in the UK; Liberal Studies & Enrichment in Hong Kong; Core Competencies in China; Knowledge & Inquiry (KI) in Singapore; Global Citizenship in Japan; Atal Tinkering Labs in India etc.