The Time Machine – Layered Curriculum Study 

Melissa Wotherspoon
Clarington Central Secondary School
Bowmanville, Ontario (Canada)

C Layer Activities 

Each activity… will be marked out of ten, must be peer edited using the process discussed (with the exception of quizzes), must   be accompanied by an edited rough copy and peer assessment (with the exception of quizzes) 

Complete THREE activities (they can be in the same category, or from four different categories) before moving on to the B Layer.   

To be completed by: ____________________________ 

Interpersonal

• Have a five minute conversation with your teacher about one of the chapters in the book.  Be prepared to answer  questions about plot, characters, setting, narration and significant literary devices.
• Present the Time Traveller’s story as a CNN news item.

Intrapersonal

• Create an emotion web for the Time Traveler.  Include at least six branches which are all supported with textual proof.

Verbal/Linguistic

• Create ten vocabulary flash cards using unfamiliar words from the text.  Include a written piece using each of the words in  its correct context.
• Write a poem about Weena that makes use of strong imagery.

Musical/Rhythmic

• Choose excerpts of music to serve as a soundtrack to the film version.  Explain your choices.

Bodily/Kinesthetic

• Alone or with a partner, act out a scene from the book.  Be expressive.  Get teacher approval for your scene choice.   Include a written explanation of the scene you chose and what you were trying to express.

Logical/Mathematical

• Create a plot map for the novella
• Study for and complete one quiz (Chapter 1-3, 4-6, 7-12). 

Visual/Spatial

• Recreate the cover of the book.  Submit a written explanation of your artwork.
• Be a costume designer and create an Eloi outfit.  Provide textual proof of your choices.

B Layer Activities 

Each activity… will be marked out of ten, must be peer edited using the process discussed, must be reviewed by the teacher   through informal interview must be accompanied by an edited rough copy and peer assessment 

Alone or with a partner, sign up for one of the following topics and teach a 15-minute lesson to the class.  Your peers are required to have a set of notes for each of the lessons presented.  Incorporate at least one audio-visual component and one interactive component.  Lessons are in order of presentation (taking place during week 2):

1.  ____________________ The Life of H.G. Wells

2.   ____________________ The Science Fiction Genre

3.   ____________________ The Time Machine: A Dystopia

4. ____________________ Frame Narrative

5. ____________________ Diction

6. ____________________ Victorian England

7. ____________________ Women in Victorian Society

8. ____________________ Communism and Time Traveller’s first theory

9. ____________________ The Capitalist and the Labourer: Time Traveller’s ultimate theory

10. ____________________ Possible sources for the terms “Eloi” and “Morlock”

11. ____________________ Wells’ teacher, T.H. Huxley

12. ____________________ References from the novella (choose three): Grant Allen, Charles Darwin, Carlyle,      Nebuchadnezzar, Kodak, Carlovingian Kings

13. ____________________ Other (must be approved by teacher)

Complete TWO of the following before moving on to A Layer Activities.  To be completed by: ___________________________ 

Intrapersonal:

• Write a letter to the Time Traveller in which you explain why you either agree or disagree with specific actions he has  taken, what you think he should do next and why.  This letter should be at least one page long.

Interpersonal

• Have a five minute conversation with your teacher about a selection of text on which you have conducted a close analysis,  considering elements such as: literary devices, characterization, theme, diction, etc.

Verbal/Linguistic

• Revise and submit one of the short writing exercises given at the beginning of class.

Bodily/Kinesthetic

• Alone or with a partner, create and perform an interpretive dance based on the theme “Dystopia”.   Please accompany  your performance with a brief explanation.

Logical/Mathematical

• Create a do-it-yourself manual on how to create your own time machine, based on descriptions of  the Time Traveler’s  machine

A Layer Activities 

Each activity will be marked using the rubrics provided 

All students are required to participate in the following formal debate: 

                  “Is democracy, as is so often assumed, really the best form of government?” 

Context:

Democracy is best defined as government of the people, by the people. In the West we can tend to assume that democracy is the only valid form of government. However, this assumption must be justified. The classical example of a democracy is that of Ancient Athens, where the whole populace would meet in the marketplace to vote on decisions. It can be argued from this position that modern ‘democracies’ are not in fact democratic. 
 
 
 

In addition to the formal debate, complete ONE of the following, peer-edited activities:   

• Write a science fiction story.  Your story must involve research on  a topic relevant to current issues.  See the posted list for ideas. 

• Compose and perform a song about the Time Traveler and his  society.  Listen to Elton John’s “Rocket Man” or David Bowie’s  “Space Oddity” as modern-day examples.

• Write a personal essay on The Time Machine.  Create a strong  thesis and develop your opinion with quotes and examples from  the book. What you think about the novel is not as important as  why you think it. A reader should reach the end of your essay and  say, "I may not agree with this writer's conclusions, but I  understand how she/he came to think this."

• Produce and film a short, modernized version of The Time  Machine.  Show your film to the class, who will evaluate your  product.  You will require access to a camera and you will need to  arrange to film your work outside of class time.