SHORT STORY UNIT - NARRATIVE UNIT - Dystopian Theme

This bundle of 7 lesson plans explores the the dystopian theme using reading workshop and writing workshop. Literature used:

• A Sound of Thunder by Ray Bradbury (short story)
• After the Sirens by Hugh Hod (short story)
• The Veldt by Ray Bradbury (short story)
• Red Card by S.L. Gilbow (short story)
• Divergent by Veronica Roth (novel excerpt)
• The Hunger Games by James Dashner (novel excerpt)

Lessons include:

• journal prompts and quick writes
• small and large group discussion
• comprehension strategy questions
• Tug of War debate activity
• persuasive writing assignment
• mentor texts
• imitating writer's craft
• Collaborative Placemat activity
• analysis of character, setting, and dialogue
• memoir writing assignment
• book talk options

Supplementary literature used:

• The Choice by Wayland Young (short story)
• Fire and Fury: What Would a Nuclear Strike Do? from Live Science (article)
• How to Survive a Nuclear Attack: Hide (But You’ll Probably Die Anyway) from Newsweek (article)
• Why Nuclear War with North Korea is Less Likely than You Think from The Washington Post (article)
• Nuclear War with North Korea Closer than Ever from CNN (article)
• Examination Day by Henry Slesar (short story)
• Top New Inventions that Could Change the World by Laurie Brenner (article)

Bonus Lessons in this Bundle:

• Introducing Writers Notebooks to Your Students
• How to Confer with Your Students

Links to all literature are included. Lessons are adaptable for grades 7 to 12.