Exploring Unit 4: “Other Worlds” -

A Technology-Enhanced Learning Menu

You have been sent on a mission to explore the many worlds of Unit 4 and report
back with your findings! You will select ONE (1) assignment to complete from each stage
of the mission: Preparation (01), Main Mission (02), and Return Home (03). You must have 2
UNIQUE assignment types from Visual (V), Written (W), and Presentation/Performance (P).

Select one of the mission stages to begin:

01 02 03
01: Mission Preparation
Click on the assignment title to access
the instructions and requirements.

● Journal Entry (W)

● Advertisement (D)
● Song (P)
02: MAIN MISSION
Click on the assignment title to access
the instructions and requirements.

● Short Story (W)

● Website (D)
● Travel Brochure (P)
03: RETURN HOME
Click on the assignment title to access
the instructions and requirements.

● Letter to Family Member (W)

● Create an Animation (D)
● Debate (P)
 Journal Entry
Assignment: 500 word journal entry, individual
01
Instructions: Write a journal entry in the perspective of the protagonist from one of Unit 4’s text
selections BEFORE he enters the “other world”. Explore how the character is feeling about his
current situation. Is he content with his life? Why or why not? What factors are influencing his
perception or attitude toward his circumstances and why? Allude to the character’s desire to
escape to a different world.
Requirements:
● Must be typed in MLA format
● Minimum 500 words
● Include 1 picture, drawing, sketch to match the entry
○ This can be a drawing of your own or from Creative Commons image search

Text Selections to Choose From:

● “A Sound of Thunder” by Ray Bradbury
○ Eckles before he enters the time machine.
● “Nethergrave” by Gloria Skurzynski
○ Jeremy before he enters Nethergrave.
● “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” by James Thurber
○ Walter Mitty before he begins daydreaming.
 Advertisement 01
Assignment: create an ad, individual
Instructions: Create an advertisement for ONE “other world” from Unit 4’s text selections (the time
machine trip, Nethergrave, Walter Mitty’s imagination, or the future in “All Watched Over by
Machines of Loving Grace”). Imagine that you are the creator of this world and want to charge
money to enter it. Spread the word of your world’s existence to increase sales.
Requirements:
● 300 word pitch advertising the world
● Include a handmade sketch or drawing (this can be hand drawn or created using a program
or software, such as Microsoft Paint, YouiDraw, or Kleki)
○ Must be at least 5x5 inches
○ Must be colored

Text Selections to Choose From:

● “A Sound of Thunder” by Ray Bradbury
● “Nethergrave” by Gloria Skurzynski
● “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” by James Thurber
● “All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace” by Richard Brautigan
 Song
Assignment: song writing, individual or partner
Instructions: Imagine that you are one of the protagonists from Unit 4’s text selections.
Write a song in the protagonist’s perspective about his feelings toward life BEFORE
01
entering the other world. For example, what kind of song would Jeremy write after kicking
the soccer ball into the wrong goal? Get creative!
Requirements:
● The lyrics must be typed
● Include a minimum of a first verse with 5 stanzas, chorus, second verse with 5
stanzas, and a bridge with 2 stanzas
● Must be played to music that matches the mood and tone of the song lyrics. You are
encouraged to create your own beat/rhythm/instrumentals.
○ Here are a few tools to get you started:
■ https://splice.com/sounds/beatmaker
■ https://musiclab.chromeexperiments.com/Experiments
■ http://sampulator.com/
● You can also select a free pre-recorded instrumental to fit the mood of your lyrics
from Free Music Archives.
● Performance component (choose one):
● Record your song and submit the file. If you don’t feel comfortable singing,
you may record yourself reading the lyrics along with the beat.
● Perform the song in front of an audience!
02 Short Story (Creative Writing)
Assignment: expand on a science fiction story, individual
Instructions: For this assignment, you will write a short story in the perspective of one of the
side characters in our fiction selections. For example, you could write about Travis, the Safari
Leader; Mrs. Mitty; Jeremy’s father, etc. Write a short story that expands upon any one of these
character’s experiences and incorporates elements of the science fiction genre.
Requirements:
● Typed, in MLA format
● 2 pages MINIMUM, double spaced
● Includes the essential elements of a narrative:
○ Exposition (setting and characters), rising action, climax, falling action, conclusion
○ Character Development: the new protagonist should experience some level of
growth by the end of the story
● Can be categorized as science fiction (includes imaginative and futuristic concepts such
as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel universes,
and extraterrestrial life.)
02 Website
Assignment: create a website for one of our fiction selections
Instructions: You will create a website for one of Unit 4’s fiction stories, organizing the different
narrative elements into pages. Please review the requirements for specifics on what must be included
on your website.
Requirements:
● Your website must include the following pages:
○ Homepage with a 150 word synopsis of the story and related images
○ A menu bar with the following subpages:
■ Setting (provide a description of the real and other worlds and include related
images)
■ Characters (for each character, include a description and a paragraph on how the
character develops over the course of the story)
■ Plot (provide details on the rising action, climax, falling action, and conclusion)
■ Major themes (at least 3)
■ Elements of science fiction (at least 3)
● *You are free to include additional subpages as you see fit
● Website MUST be published and have a live link.
● Free Website Builders (you will need to make an account):
○ https://www.wix.com/
○ https://www.weebly.com/
02 Travel Brochure
Assignment: create and present a travel brochure, partner or individual
Instructions: You work for a travel agency that sends tourists to the “other worlds” in our text
selections and are asked to create a brochure to encourage travelers to visit. You will select
one of the other worlds from our readings and design a brochure, with detailed descriptions of
the world and relevant images, that effectively captures the beauty, intrigue, and strangeness
of the world.
Requirements:
● Must be no smaller than 8x11
● Include an accurate and enticing description of the world
● Note: you can split up the descriptions throughout the brochure depending on the design
● Include activities and things to do
● Include places to stay
● Include restaurants and other food/drink establishment options
● Must have images and be visually appealing
● You may use a template to get you started. There are lots of fantastic templates
available. Here are a few websites to get you started:
○ https://www.canva.com/brochures/templates/travel/
○ https://templates.office.com/en-us/travel-brochure-tm33746274
○ https://venngage.com/features/travel-brochure
 Letter to Family Member
Assignment: write a letter to a family member, individual
03
Instructions: Wondering what happened to the characters in our text selections? Now’s your
chance to expand upon the story by determining what happened after the conclusion. What is
the world like after Eckles returned from the time machine trip? Write a letter from Travis to his
family member about his anger (or joy!) about the new state of things. What is Jeremy doing in
Nethergrave? Write a letter from Jeremy to his mother. What else does Walter Mitty daydream
about? Write a letter from Mrs. Mitty to her sister, etc. Use your understanding of the text to
compose the letter.
Requirements:
● Must be typed, but does NOT need to be in MLA format
● 750 word minimum
● Include the name of the family member and briefly allude to their relationship
● Include vivid descriptions of what the writer has been doing after the end of the story, as
well as how the the writer feels about his/her current situation
● Should demonstrate a clear understanding of the original text’s conclusion and thematic
message
 Create an Animation
Assignment: write a letter to a family member, individual
03
Instructions: You will create an animation that displays a vivid picture of what the future
imagined by Richard Brautigan is like. You will need to use a digital animation tool. Google
Slides and PowerPoint have an animation function that you can use as a basic tool. Here are a
few other slightly more complex tools for you to try out as well (make sure you choose the Free
plan):
● https://www.moovly.com/blog/make-your-own-cartoon-video-for-free
● https://drawisland.com/
● https://www.animaker.com/
Requirements:
● 1-2 Minutes
● Must demonstrate understanding of the major themes in the poem
● Be visually appealing, colorful, and animated
 Debate 03
Assignment: organize a debate about what happens next, partner
Instructions: The protagonists in our text selections made an extremely significant decision
that dramatically affected the course of their life. Did they make the right decision? Why or why
not? One party will argue in favor of the protagonist’s decision and the other party will argue
against it.
Requirements:
● Each side of the party must present a debate that is a total of 3-5 minutes in length
● Use textual evidence to support your side of the argument
● Should demonstrate a clear understanding of the original text’s thematic significance and
main idea
● Yelling, screaming, or belittling will not be tolerated - please engage in a respectful and
responsible manner
 MISSION
COMPLETE!
 FOTIP
Module 4
By Julia Eberhardt
Thanks!
This project was designed as an
assignment for the Fullerton Online
Teacher Induction Program.

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