About this Daily Classroom Special:
Teaching Science Fiction Writing was written  by former Teachers Network web mentor, Lisa Kihn, a math and language arts teacher at Nevin Platt Middle School in Boulder, Colorado.

Teaching Science Fiction Writing:
May the Force Be With Them

Grades 5 -8

I have a poster in my classroom that says, “Science Fiction is the bridge between science and art.” Before I begin this unit, I ask students to think about what this poster means. They may respond in writing or by drawing a picture.

We share their ideas in the classroom.


I then give them this definition:
Science fiction is an imaginary story that usually could not occur in the present time. It deals with what scientific and technological advances might make possible in the future, without the use of magic.

There are two general approaches:

1. The technology of the future is predicted, and the story usually takes place in outer space. There may be aliens involved, but the human struggle is ever-present.
   
2. Future societies are portrayed on earth with humans struggling with a changed earth, with or without the presence of aliens.

1. Schools (What will schools be like in the future?)
2. Transportation (fuel, new vehicles, speed/distance, etc.)
3. Cities (Where will people live? What will homes look like?)
4. Recreation (sports, hobbies, fun, etc.)
5. Food (What will we eat in the future?)
6. Medicine (new cures, life expectancy, etc.)
7. Science and Technology (computers, space travel, new inventions, etc.)
8. Foreign relations (How will the earth be divided politically? What countries will exist, if any?)
9. Communication (How will we communicate in the future?)
10. Environment (air, water, plants, etc.) 

Plot (List the 3 or 4 main events that will move the story along.)
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Character Profiles (main characters only)
Name: 
Physical Traits:
Personality:

Name:
Physical Traits:
Personality:

Name:
Physical Traits:
Personality:



Before the students begin writing their own stories, they should fill out the above worksheet. To clarify, be sure that students understand the following concepts:

Setting: When does the story take place? Where does the story take place? What does the setting look like? Be specific – use lots of details.

Characters: Who are the people (or beings) in this story? What do they look like? How do they act/interact? What is their importance in the story? Be specific – provide lots of details.

Scientific Link: What scientific theories/facts/principles are included to make this seem credible or convincing? What scientific terminology is used during this story? Define at least three terms.

Problem: What challenge(s) do the main characters face in this story? What do they need to overcome? What kinds of constraints or conditions are present?

Solution: How do the main characters solve the problem? What resources do they use? How do their personalities and attributes help them overcome their problems and challenges?


*****I have used this guide to help guide students in the writing of their science fiction stories and I have given this as a questionnaire for students to fill out as we watch the science fiction movie Star Wars. It enables students to see how science fiction stories are crafted.





SCIENCE FICTION BOOK PROJECT IDEAS

Here are some suggestions for book projects to use with science fiction books. These projects are usually assigned to do at home and are presented to the class.

1. Make a 3-dimensional mobile illustrating at least 10 different, important scenes from the book.
2. Write a poem, include an illustration.
3. Make a diorama of an important happening in the book.
4. Pretend you are one of the characters, and act out a scene from the book. Include a costume.
5. Write a different ending to the story and illustrate it.
6. Design a book jacket: include an illustration, summary, information about the author, etc.
7. Make a map of the area described in the story.
8. Prepare a monologue from the story; memorize it and present it to the class (minimum of two minutes).
9. Make dolls or puppets that represent the characters.
10. Write a new ending (minimum of two pages).