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

Author  - Cynthia F. Kirkeby thebrains@classbrain.com   

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

 

Movies

The Time Machine (PG-13 rating)

The Time Machine (G rating)

Clockstoppers (PG-13 rating)

         Somewhere in Time (PG-13 rating)

 

Books

Einstein’s Dreams by Alan Lightman

Pastwatch: The Redemption of Christopher Columbus

by Orson Scott Card

 

Internet resources

Available worksheets

 

·      Comic Strip Worksheet

Film Connections – Click Here

 

 

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

 

Einstein’s Web

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