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WHAT IS SCIENCE FICTION?
Science fiction predicts
change, explores consequences, and studies potential futures. It teaches
adaptability and open mindedness in the face of change. It performs "imaginary
experiments" to see how people react to change before the change actually
happens, and provides a different perspective on our world. Science fiction
writers see the future as a consequence of our present day. In this light, it is
also a vehicle for social analysis and an opportunity to experiment with new
concepts and their effects on humanity and the world. Science fiction presents
many issues from many different points of view for us to examine.
Teaching science fiction
through books, stories, movies, interactive media and art engages learners on a
number of levels. Science fiction can provide a starting point for a
multi-disciplinary curriculum that investigates issues, explores the natural
world, and teaches critical thinking skills. Good science fiction introduces
themes of personal integrity, relationships (human and alien), acceptance of
other life forms and cultures, and our responsibility for technological change.
It is entertaining, but it also presents ideas and alternatives.
From the
Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame
in Seattle, Washington
Science fiction can be used to teach all the social and
physical sciences, math, technology, history, futurism, philosophy, sociology,
ethics, ecology, reading skills, English, creative writing and more.
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Frequently,
yesterday's Science Fiction is today's Science Fact.
Science Fiction is an excellent theme for an
interdisciplinary unit, easily incorporating all the
disciplines, and especially lending itself to the use of
multimedia and media literacies in exciting ways! -
Disciplines that students will need in order to answer
the Big Questions for this theme include:
Astronomy, Biology, Botany, Chemistry, Physics, Algebra,
Geometry, Calculus, Civics, Ecology, History, Geography,
Economics, Philosophy, Sociology, all the Language Arts
(research, writing, teaching, etc.), Health and PE, Social
Issues, Cultures and more!
21st century skills - teaching, videography,
filmmaking, web design, organizing events (Science Fiction
Fair and/or Student Film Festival), television and radio
production, and even a cooking show a la Alton Brown of Good
Eats - sample recipes such as these items served
at Quark's Restaurant in Las Vegas . . . The Wrap
of Kahn, Hamborger, Tribble Tenders,
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Planning a Science Fiction Unit -
These former
exhibit themes from the Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame would be a good
way to organize your
Expert Groups. These themes are Homeworld, Fantastic
Voyages, Brave New Worlds and Them!
Homeworld - where adventures to the unknown begin and end.
Fantastic Voyages - where your journey of discovery takes off
Brave
New Worlds - how should we live, and what are the consequences of
the choices we make?
Them!
- sometimes it takes those from the outside to teach us who we
really are on the inside.
Resources
Timeline of
science fiction books, short stories, films and television shows.
Recommended
Reading and Viewing from the Science Fiction Museum.
Science Fiction short stories by author:
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