Time Travel in
Literature
Movies in the
Classroom
 |
| � DreamWorks, Warner Brothers |
Grade Level- 6-12
Subject – English, Science
Keywords – time travel, Albert Einstein, theory of relativity,
Einstein’s Dreams, warped time, Nobel prize, Time Machine, H.G. Wells,
Clockstoppers, Alan Lightman, Somewhere in Time, science, English
Affiliation - ClassBrain, Inc.
Date - 5 May, 2002
Duration - 1-5 class periods
Background
Time control is a recurring theme of literature since the late 1800’s. H.G. Wells was one of the first to start exploring the idea that we could perhaps move through time. His book, The Time Machine, is as contemporary today as it was over a hundred years ago, when it was written in 1895. Alan Lightman explored Einstein’s Theory of Relativity in his book Einstein’s Dreams. Another book, Pastwatch: The Redemption of Christopher Columbus, wonders what happens to the timeline if we go from observing the past to changing it.
Questions & Projects
With the help of the following resources explore time and its impact on our lives.
Project 1 - Review the synopsis of the novel Einstein’s Dreams.
Choose one of the time patterns and write about your day at school.
· Additional writing assignments for use with
Einstein’s Dreams.
Project 2 – The
Time Machine takes a look, primarily, at what it would be like to travel into the future, while Somewhere in Time takes a look at what it would be like to travel into the past. Make two lists. What existed at the beginning of the 1900’s that no longer exists (example: horse drawn ice carts)? What exists now that you don’t think will exist by the year 2100?
Project 3 –
Create a comic strip that summarizes The Time Machine by H.G. Wells. Use the Comic Strip Worksheets supplied. The first block is for
the title and your name. In each of the next 12 blocks to a drawing that represents the most interesting point
in each chapter. Write a descriptive title for each drawing.
· Comic Strip Worksheet
· Additional discussion and writing topics for use with The Time Machine.
Project 4 – In Somewhere in Time and Pastwatch: The Redemption of Christopher Columbus people are able to travel into the past. Write an essay exploring the issues that might arise if we had the ability to send a person or team into the past. Would safeguards need to be put in place to avoid changing our time line or is the past unchangeable?
Resources &
Materials
Somewhere in Time (PG-13 rating)
Einstein’s Dreams by Alan Lightman
Pastwatch: The Redemption of Christopher Columbus
by Orson Scott Card
Available worksheets
· Comic Strip Worksheet
Reading Connections
The Time Machine
How to Build a Time Machine
Additional Learning Links
Information on Warped Time
Our perception of time can vary depending on what is
happening in our lives and around us. Learn how Einstein looked at time.
Source: Byrd and Block Communications, Inc.
Reading Level: Easy
Clockstoppers
The official website for this movie about relative time.
Please note: You must be a member of Nick.com to go into the
eCollectibles section of this site.
Clockstoppers: Future Freezer – The Game
Source: Nick.com
Reading Level: Easy
Spacetime Wrinkles
This exceptional site makes Einstein’s theories
understandable through diagrams, movies, and well-written text. Learn about Einstein, black holes,
gravitation theory and the theory of relativity.
Source: University
of Illinois
Reading Level: Moderate
Professor Marguirite Helmers’ site is an excellent
exploration of science and art through the book Einstein’s Dreams.
Source: Marguirite
Helmers - University of Wisconsin
Reading Level: Moderate
The Time Machine Official Site
Read about the cast and crew of this 2002 film and read a
short biography on H.G. Wells.
Source: DreamWorks,
Warner Brothers
Reading Level: Moderate
A High School Teacher’s Research Page –
The Time Machine
This wonderful resource has vocabulary lists, summaries, and
suggested projects for high school teachers interested in teaching H.G. Wells’
The Time Machine.
Source: DreamWorks,
Warner Brothers
Reading Level: Moderate
The Time Machine – Novel Analysis
If you’re reading the book and want to read a profile
of the characters or theme or metaphor analysis, this is the right place.
Source: Novel
Guide
Reading Level: Moderate
Email this article
Printer friendly page