Lessons Library

Science Fiction Studies (Online College Course)

[Book Outline Format]
Course Outline
Lesson 1: In the Beginning
Lesson 2: Toward Verne: 1800-1885
Lesson 3: The Birth of the Mass Magazines: 1885-1911
Lesson 4: The Rise of the Pulps: 1911 - 1926
Lesson 5: Scientifiction: 1926 - 1938
Lesson 6: John W. Campbell's Astounding: 1938 - 1950
Lesson 7: Alternate Worlds: 1950 - 1965
Lesson 8: The New Wave: 1965 - 1978
Lesson 9: Modern Voices: 1978 - 2006
Lesson 10: The Shape of Things to Come

from the University of Kansas

Studies in Science Fiction Novels (Online College Course)

[Book Outline Format]
Lesson 1: Visions of Humanity’s Far Future
Lesson 2: The Alien Peril
Lesson 3: The Human Condition
Lesson 4: Thought Experiments
Lesson 5: Evolution Continues
Lesson 6: Invoking the Social Sciences
Lesson 7: Science Fiction and the Mainstream
Lesson 8: Dystopia and Beyond
Lesson 9: Tinkering with History
Lesson 10: The Biological Imperative
Lesson 11: Cyberpunk and the Singularity
Lesson 12: Looking Backward and Forward

Chris Cokinos' Sci Fi Short Story Syllabus

History of the Science Fiction Short Story English 5340: Literature, Science and Environment Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10:30 a.m.-11:45 p.m., FL307 Read more »

Teaching Robert Heinlein's Have Space Suit--Will Travel

World Space Week's Heinlein Teaching Kit (pdf)
World Space Week's Heinlein Teaching Kit (pdf)

This document is designed for use in conjunction with World Space Week, October 4-10 annually.

from World Space Week

A Sample High School Science Fiction Course

[Book Outline Format]
Introduction-How to Use these Documents
Sample Course Proposal (rtf)
Sample Syllabus with Rationale (rtf)
Course Matrix (rtf)

from Mary Rose-Shaffer

Science Fiction for the Science Classroom

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application/msword icon"All in a Summer's Day" by Bradbury Response Questions
application/pdf iconScience Fiction Creature Feature Performance Task Lesson Plan
application/msword icon"A Death in the House" by Simak Worksheet
application/octet-stream icon"The Giving Plage" by Brin Worksheets
application/msword iconThe Aquatic Ecosystem of Sutang Worksheet
application/octet-stream icon"Grandpa" by Schmitz Organizer
application/msword icon"Grandpa" by James Schmitz Short Story (for teaching)
application/msword icon"Microbe" by Joan Slonczewski Short Story (for teaching)
application/msword iconNeeds of Living Things Quiz (for "Enchanted Village" by Van Vogt)
application/octet-stream iconNeeds of Living Things Publisher (for "Enchanted Village" by Van Vogt)
application/msword icon"Photosynthesis" by James Hartley (for teaching)
application/octet-stream icon"Photosynthesis" Experiment
application/msword icon"The Last Question" by Asimov Worksheet
application/msword icon"The Giving Plague" by David Brin (for teaching)
application/octet-stream iconBacillus Unit
application/octet-stream iconMicrobe Worksheets
application/msword iconSF and Scientific Literacy by Julie E. Czerneda (for teaching)
Learning Physics with Ringworld by Andrew Love

Created by Liz Mierzejewski, with content added by Kristen Lillvis.

World-Building Lesson Plan

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application/rtf iconDownload this lesson plan

A lesson from Ben Cartwright showing how to guide your students through the creation of a science fiction or fantasy setting. This can help improve understanding of geography, climate, and solar systems, as well as consideration of existing settings. Read more »

Interdisciplinary Poe Research Paper Assignment

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application/msword iconPoe Research Assignment.doc

A research paper assignment created by Kelley S. Ceccato that asks first-year college students to consider Poe's short stories from one of several possible interdisciplinary perspectives.

Sample Academic Projects

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application/msword iconAlienness and Humanity in "Lament of the Keeku Bird" by Kathleen Sky (doc)
application/msword iconCritique of the Detective Genre in the SF Genre: "The Big Dream" by John Kessel (doc)
application/msword iconTransition from Western to Eastern Culture in "The Asian Shore" by Thomas Disch (doc)
application/msword iconMemory as the Basis of Identity in "Sketches among the Ruins of My Mind" by Philip José Farmer (doc)
application/pdf iconScience, Fiction and Curriculum Innovation (pdf)
application/msword iconUses and Misuses of Intelligence in "Flowers for Algernon" by Daniel Keyes (doc)
application/msword iconRobert Silverberg's Sailing to Byzantium (doc)
application/msword iconBeauty and Futility in Legends from the End of Time by Michael Moorcock (doc)
application/msword iconThe Meaning of Friendship in "The Only Neat Thing to Do" by Alice Sheldon (James Tiptree, Jr.) (doc)

These items represent samples of academic work done about science fiction. Some specifically address teaching SF, while others give in-depth looks at specific texts.

We're actively seeking out new lessons to add to our library. To submit your own lesson, click here.

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