Introduction
" Anything you dream is fiction, and anything you accomplish is science. The whole history of mankind is nothing but science fiction," claimed Ray Bradbury.
You will be journeying to another world in this story, but before you leave Earth, there are a number of things you'll need to "pack" for your journey.
Before beginning this quest, you must have your Elements of Science Fiction notes, a set of headphones/earbuds in order to enjoy the video and audio recording, and the assignment sheet titled Science Fiction Webquest.
Task
As stated before, Science Fiction is a most unusual genre because it has prophetic tendencies. The definition of prophetic is accurately describing or predicting what will happen in the future. Science Fiction author Rod Serling says, "Science Fiction is the improbable made possible." In fact, many science fiction stories of the past now seem like nothing more than a normal (sometimes almost boring) story about someone's day. It's hard to see how they could be considered part of the Science Fiction genre at all, that is until you look at the date when the story was originally published.
This webquest requires you to preform several tasks. The tasks include taking a short, informative quiz from NASA to see if you can tell what is real science and what is science fiction. It's not as easy as you would think! Then you will be asked to explore science fiction authors of the past. Find out how what they wrote decades ago can now be found in our daily lives. Then you will read the short story "The Fun They Had" by Isaac Asminov which was written in 1951. Notice the story isn't so far removed from what students can and do experience today. Lastly, find inventions that are used today that were actually created in science fiction stories.
Start by watching this "Science" Fiction video.
Process
For ALL tasks, you will need to use the WebQuest sheet to record your findings. Remember to write your name at the top of your WebQuest.
Task #1
Log on to play Quizizz (https://join.quizizz.com) and enter gamecode 170761. Answer fact or fiction questions about science or science fiction.
Review the fact or fiction questions from NASA.
https://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/mmgallery/fact_fiction_nonflash.html
At the top of your WebQuest sheet, record the question that surprised you the most. For example, were you surprised that the answer was fact or that it was fiction? Why were you surprised? This response needs to be in complete sentences. Try using compound and complex sentences. Spelling and grammar always count!
Task #2
On your WebQuest sheet that you wrote about your quiz results, answer the following questions about one of the authors in the list below.
Jules Verne
Ray Bradbury
H.G. Wells
Madeline L'Engle
Rod Serling
Isaac Asimov
All of these authors have written stories that have elements in them that are relevant to things that are happening today. What is so remarkable about these authors, besides the fact that they are brilliant storytellers, is the fact that what they originally wrote about decades ago has happened or is currently happening. It's almost like they could see the future!
Once you have chosen your author use the links found in the biography website
to find out the following information about your author.
(https://www.biography.com/people/groups/sci-fi-and-fantasy-writers)
(https://www.biography.com/people/madeleine-lengle-9378983) Madelyn L'Engle only
(https://www.biography.com/news/rod-serling-facts-twilight-zone-day) Rod Serling only
1. Your author's name.
2. Biographical information about the author (birth date, death date, educational background)
3. A title of one of their famous works? Is it a short story or a novel? When was it written?
Spelling and grammar count, so make sure to proofread.
Task # 3
Read Isaac Asimov's short story "The Fun They Had" If you prefer to listen to the story, I recorded it on Schoology in the science fiction folder. It's titled "The Fun They Had" audio (clicking the magnifying class will open the audio. It's only 5 1/2 minutes). You can also get a paper copy of the story.
Answer the following questions on your WebQuest (there is room at the bottom).
Find Meaning
1. (a) At the beginning of “The Fun They Had,” what does Margie write in her diary? (b) Why does she choose to write this?
2. How is the book Tommy found different from the books that Margie is used to?
3. (a) What is the book about? (b) How is the school described in the book different from the kind of school Margie is used to?
Task # 4
Name five inventions that Isaac Asimov wrote about between the years of 1930-1960 that have become items we use today.
http://www.davison.com/blog/2014/02/18/isaac-asimovs-future-invention-predictions/
http://www.technovelgy.com/ct/AuthorTotalAlphaList.asp?AuNum=4
Example: the term "robotics" was coined (first used/invented) in Asimov's 1941 story "Liar!"