Defining Dystopia Through Love and Threats

Grades 9–12

5-7 Sessions: 45 -60 Minutes each

Fantasy/SciFi, Narrative

Projects

Once Upon a Time in a City Called…

by Jeff Carver, New Harmony High, New Orleans & Kyley Pulphus, 826 New Orleans

1. Defining Dystopia Through Love and Threats

2. Building the New World

3. Building Character

4. Writing

5. Love Notes

Young writers imagine a world that has lost their home city due to various threats: environmental, cultural, and supernatural.

bookmark

download

SESSION 1 OF 5

Previous Session

Next Session

Defining Dystopia Through Love and Threats

What is dystopia? What images come to mind when you hear that word? What is special and unique about the city in which you live? What would the world be like if this city no longer existed?

What Your Students Will Learn

Students will deepen their understanding of the term ‘dystopia’ through analyzing mentor texts and developing their own stories.

What Your Students Will Produce

Students will produce a list of things that make their city unique and the things that threaten it.

What You Will Need

Images of dystopia
Chart paper

Before You Start

Create a slideshow or handout of images (4-5) that evoke the feeling of dystopia. (Royalty free photos from Getty here)