Writing - Unit 1 Science Fiction
Science Fiction
In this writing unit, we will be learning about science fiction.
We will be reading science fiction short stories by Isaac Asimov and Douglas Hill.
Science Fiction stories may be set in the future, involve advanced technology, extra terrestrial life, time travel or robots.
WEEK FOUR
Monday 25th January
For Monday's English, please complete the spelling activities for your group, and the grammar and reading for Monday.
Tuesday 26th January
Today we are going to continue writing our science fiction stories.
You will need your plan.
Please re-read your whole story so far before you begin writing.
Use the lesson below to support your writing.
Wednesday 27th January
Today we are going to continue writing our science fiction stories.
You will need your plan.
Please re-read your whole story so far before you begin writing.
Use the lesson below to support your writing.
Thursday 28th January
Today we are going to complete our science fiction stories.
You will need your plan.
Please re-read your whole story so far before you begin writing.
Use the lesson below to support your writing.
Friday 29th January
Edit, Review and Publish
WEEK THREE
Monday 18th January
Science Fiction (Sci-Fi) is often set in futuristic or alien worlds.
In order to tell the story, first the writer must create a setting.
Today I would like you watch this short film made to accompany the blockbuster movie Avatar.
Once you have watched the short film, use the worksheet below to create an imaginary alien world of your own.
I have also included an example to help support your writing. This is about the imaginary planet Jana.
Tuesday 19th January
Today we are going to begin writing our science fiction stories.
You will need the plan completed on Friday. A blank plan is included below.
Use the presentation below to support your writing.
Wednesday 20th January
Today we are going to continue writing our science fiction stories.
You will need the plan completed last week.
Use the lesson below to support your writing.
Thursday 21st January
Today we are going to continue writing our science fiction stories.
You will need the plan completed last week.
Use the lesson below to support your writing.
Friday 22nd January
Edit and Review
WEEK TWO
Monday 11th January
For Monday's English writing, please complete the spelling activities for your group.
Spelling activites can be found in the Spelling Tab below.
Tuesday 12th January
Watch the short film "Invasions" by Clément Morin and then complete the answers to the following questions about the blue alien:
Remember to include evidence from the film to support your answers.
- What does he discover and experience?
- Is it his first trip to Earth?
- What is his purpose?
- Why does he land?
- What is the purpose of the crop circle?
- Who is the pink alien?
Wednesday 13th January
Listen to the following science fiction story set in an imaginary future.
During the presentation, you will be asked several questions.
Answer these questions in as much detail as you can.
A copy of the story is available below in Thursday's learning.
Thursday 14th January
Read the story "Is There Anybody There" again.
This story is set in an imaginary future when life on planet Earth is very different.
Once you have re-read the story, identify any "made-up" words.
How have these words been created? What do they mean?
For example "telesensor" - this is a combination of the prefix tele (from afar) and the word sensor (a devise which detects, measures or records). So a telesensor is a screen which detects and measures what is happening in "the Outside".
Now create some futuristic words of your own.
Perhaps you can create names for some of your futuristic inventions created in last Wednesday's lesson when you described the technology of the future.
The table of prefixes and their meanings below will help you.
|
Prefix |
Meaning |
|
auto |
self |
|
tele |
distance/far |
|
anti |
against |
|
inter |
between |
|
trans |
across |
|
cyber |
computer based |
Friday 15th January
WEEK ONE
Wednesday 6th January
Please watch the short film as an introduction to Science Fiction.
Writing Task
Science Fiction is often set in an imagined future with technological developments.
What do you think the future will be like?
Write a non-chronological report about life in the future.
Your report must be organised into paragraphs.
Use the questions below to help you generate ideas.
Remember - the only limit to an imagined future, is your imagination!
Each paragraph should have the following sub-heading:
School
Will schools have real classrooms or will all learning be virtual? Will teachers be robots? Perhaps all children will learn at home. Maybe there will be knowledge downloads direct to your brain.
Entertainment
Will television still exist? Perhaps everyone will use VR (virtual reality). What might music sound like? How might art have changed? What about the kinds of toys children will play with?
Homes
Will future homes be under the sea? Or maybe in the clouds? Will we still live on planet Earth? Maybe we will all have our own space craft.
Transport
How fabulous would it be if we all had our own hoverboards? What kind of fuel might power our cars? Will cars fly? Or maybe we won't use cars at all.
Food
Could we have instant food - just add water? How about a replicator - just say what you would like to eat and if makes it appear?
The structure of your report should be:
An introduction followed by each of the five paragraphs in any order. Copy the introduction and then add the paragraphs in any order you choose.
Introduction
As technology develops, the future will be very different from the life we know today.
I look forward to reading your texts.
Thursday 7th January
I hope you enjoy this short story that we will read together.
Copy of the story text.
Writing Tasks
The first writing task today is a combination of writing and drawing. In the text a detailed description of the bug is given but no there is illustration of the creature. Draw and label a detailed diagram of the bug.
At the end of the story, the writer leaves the story on a cliff-hanger.
For the second writing task, I would like you to write what you think will happen next?
Write about your ideas considering the following:
- is it likely that there would be only one alien egg?
- where did the creature come from?
- what is its purpose?
Discussion Points
What makes this story a science fiction story?
At what point in the story do we get our first hint of extra-terrestrial activity?
Into which category of science fiction does this story fit: human versus machine, aliens, or inventions?
Friday 8th January
Here is another short science fiction story that we will read together.
Questions to answer during reading
Read paragraph 1
How do you know this is a sci-fi story right away?
Read paragraph 2
Was there a time when all stories were printed on paper? When? How long ago?
How far in the future is the story set?
The story was written in 1951.
How long ago was the story written?
Paragraph 3
How are paper books different to the future books in the story?
Read to end of page 1
How are future schools different to schools today?
Read to end
Which would prefer – future school or school today? Why?
How is this story similar/different to “No More School”
Copy of the story text
Writing Task
- Write a comnparison of future books (according to Asimov's story) and books we have today.
- Write a comparison of future school and school today (you can choose whether you want to write about "normal" school or school during lockdown).
- Write a comparison between the two stories: "No More School" and "The Fun They Had".
For each of your answers, use evidence form the story/stories to support your ideas.