EDUA 5423 Using Hunger Games to Teach Sci Fi
USING HUNGER GAMES TO TEACH SCIENCE FICTION
All literature has the power to change the world, but maybe none more arguably so than science fiction. Based in the future, but most often rooted in subtle realities of our modern-day lives, science fiction paints powerful portraits of potential possibilities for our world. For this reason, it is not only one of the most compelling fiction genres to instruct students in, but it is also one of the most important.
This course will cover the impact of genre on fiction, ultimately focusing on the traits and intricacies that define modern science fiction as a major genre. It will examine common science fiction tropes—dystopian settings, a modern-day hero’s journey, and the anti-hero. Then, using Suzanne Collin’s The Hunger Games as a model, it will serve as a guide for designing an instructional unit based on science fiction, including reading, writing, listening and speaking, and language skills.
Additionally, this course will emphasize the cross-curricular power of utilizing science fiction in the classroom, highlighting strategies, materials, and potential projects that connect literacy and critical thinking. It will also cultivate an understanding of media literacy and an interest in current events.
As a special gift, students in this course will receive a copy of the first Hunger Games book to follow along with as you evaluate tools for literary instruction. This course will prepare you, however, to instruct on any science fiction novel you may choose!