Worlds Beyond: Science Fiction and the Future

You need: three piles of cards: places (my street, the Chatham Islands, under the sea, a moon), changes (no more cars, animals can talk, the sea rises 2 m, everyone has a robot) and characters · notebook

1. Draw one card from each pile.
2. Write a 'What if…?' sentence that combines them.
3. Ask: what would be the first problem in this world?
4. Ask: what real issue does this connect to?
5. Repeat three times, then choose the idea with the most interesting problem.

How you'll know: Your chosen idea has a clear change, a problem it causes and a link to something real.

Go further: Combine two of your ideas into one bigger world.

You need: small torches or phone lights · a darkened room or a box with a viewing hole · paper

1. In pairs, invent a light code: long and short flashes, colours, or patterns.
2. Code three simple messages (danger, food here, follow me).
3. Send a message to another pair without explaining your code.
4. Can they work it out? What helped, and what confused them?
5. Write a paragraph from the point of view of a creature using your code.

How you'll know: Another pair works out at least one message from pattern and context alone.

Safety: Never shine lights into anyone's eyes. Keep the room safe to move in, with a light near the door.

Go further: Build your code into your story's world as a real communication system.

You need: world bible template (place, environment, technology, society, rules, problem) · A3 paper for a map · coloured pencils

1. Name your world and say when and where it is.
2. Describe the environment: weather, land, water, living things.
3. Describe the technology: what can people do that we can't? What can't they do?
4. Describe the society: who makes decisions? What do people value? What do they argue about?
5. Write your world's one big rule and draw a map with at least five labelled places.

How you'll know: A classmate can answer three questions about your world just by reading your bible.

Go further: Write a short 'history' of how your world came to be, in five dates.

You need: recycled materials (boxes, lids, wire, bottle tops, fabric) · glue and tape · card for a museum label

1. Choose one ordinary object from your world, such as a school bag, a phone or a kai container.
2. Build a model of it from recycled materials.
3. Write a museum label: name, date, what it did, and what it tells us about life then.
4. Display the objects as a class 'Museum of 2126'.
5. Visit each other's objects and guess the world they come from.

How you'll know: Visitors can work out something important about your world from the object and label alone.

Safety: Use scissors and craft knives with care and teacher supervision. Check recycled containers are clean.

Go further: Write a short scene in which your object plays a key part.

You need: your world bible · a five-senses chart · coloured pens

1. Pick one moment in your world, such as breakfast, a storm or a journey.
2. Fill the five-senses chart with specific details that could only exist there.
3. Write the scene in the present tense for eight to ten sentences.
4. Underline every sense word in a different colour. Which sense is missing?
5. Add one detail for the missing sense and read the scene to a partner.

How you'll know: Your partner can describe the setting in detail without you explaining it.

Go further: Rewrite the scene so the setting also shows the character's mood.

You need: a class device · trusted science sources (NIWA, NASA Space Place, Science Learning Hub) · science check card

1. List two things in your world that depend on science, such as rising seas, life on another moon or a thinking robot.
2. Find one real fact about each from a trusted source.
3. Record the fact and where you found it.
4. Decide: does your world follow the fact, or bend it on purpose? Either is fine in sci-fi, but you should know which.
5. Add one real detail to your story.

How you'll know: Your world includes at least one real fact, with its source recorded in your world bible.

Go further: Interview a scientist, engineer or teacher about whether your future could really happen.

You need: the Nyari retelling · talking piece · agree / disagree / not sure signs

1. Reread the part where some Chelari reject the change.
2. Stand by a sign that matches your view, and give one reason from the story.
3. Listen to someone at a different sign and paraphrase their reason before you reply.
4. Move if you change your mind, and explain why.
5. Write the question your own story will ask its readers.

How you'll know: You can explain a view that isn't your own fairly, and your story has a clear question at its heart.

Go further: Find a real-world example of the same question, such as new technology, conservation or medicine, and compare.