NASA Glenn Videoconference: Space and the Solar System
Post-Conference Activity (HS): Science Fiction Short Story
Procedure:

For centuries writers have imagined new technology and uncharted territories through their novels. Jules Verne, who lived from 1828-1905, wrote about circumnavigating the Earth in only 80 days, traveling to the Moon, and exploring the center of the Earth in his novels Around the World in Eighty Days and Journey to the Center of the Earth. These novels do not sound fictional to us, but they were simply that when they were written. Through time, aspects in some novels have become a reality. This type of writing style is commonly referred to as science fiction.

Science fiction is the fictional treatment, in books and other types of media, of the effects of science and future events on human beings. It considers events (that have not happened) rationally and is concerned with the impact of change on people.

Verne's lunar spacecraft

Verne's prediction of weightlessness in space

Verne's launch concept

Early space bus

Verne type launch concept

Imagine that you are visiting a planet in our solar system, either one assigned by your teacher or one of your choice. (If your choice is Earth, imagine that you are from another planet.) Document your journey and exploration of your selected planet in a short story--a fictional journal incorporating scientific facts about the planet. Your story will be a work of science fiction. But your story must include factual information on the planet (at least 15 facts that you should highlight). Your story should be creative and original and should be enhanced with pictures and drawings from your journey.

Upon completion of the story, you will present the facts you found about your planet and a short excerpt from your story. You may also want to share pictures that you found.

You may then proceed to the post-conference assessment.

Websites:

The following websites may be beneficial in your research:

Science Fiction/Space Technology: Tools for Learning: http://vesuvius.jsc.nasa.gov/er/seh/scifi.html
The Nine Planets: http://www.seds.org/billa/tnp/
The NASA Planetary Fact Sheet: http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/planetfact.html

Rubric:

It is suggested that your story and presentation be assessed using the following rubric:

Story
_____

Incorporates _____ /15 facts about the planet within the story.
_____

Story was original and entertaining.
_____

Includes pictures and drawings relating to the story.
_____

Writing flows well, and includes an introduction, body, and conclusion.

Presentation
_____

Prepared to make presentation on the assigned day.
_____

Presented information so that it was easily understood.

Videoconference Description, Videoconference Description, and Introduction
Pre-conference assessment
Pre-conference activity

Post-conference assessment

Please send any comments to:
Web site related: Curator
Content related: Joe Kolecki (Joseph.C.Kolecki@grc.nasa.gov)