“The Rocket” by Ray Bradbury – Close Reading, Analysis, Writing Short Story Unit

Item description

“The Rocket” by Ray Bradbury is a wonderful story about a determined, poverty-stricken protagonist named Fiorello who dreams about going to space with his family. While not as well known as some of Bradbury’s other dystopian short stories, it includes the same masterful language, unforgettable characters, and an imaginative setting. Therefore, it serves as a fantastic teaching tools for students. This reading, analysis, and fiction writing unit is a comprehensive package that allows students to fully explore the content and effectiveness of “The Rocket,” as well as their own imaginations as dystopian writers.

Materials Included:

– Detailed Lesson Plans (CCSS Aligned)

– A Copy of the Story – for students to mark up as they read

– Pre-reading Anticipation Guide – to foster engagement and thematic discussion

– Informational Text Pairing Activity – to promote real world relevancy (focuses on Virgin Galatic and commercial space travel)

– Guided Reading Activity – to encourage purposeful reading and collaboration

– “Think Like A Writer” 2-Day Jigsaw Activity – so students can analyze the creative and narrative details of the story

– Multiple Choice and Matching Quiz – to assess student learning and standards mastery

– Dystopian Short Story Planning Guide – for students to create their own dystopian short story diea

– Dystopian Short Story Rubric – to provide students with clear expectations

– Detailed Answer Keys – to ease your grading burden!

Together, these materials allow students to closely read and analyze “The Rocket,” use evidence from the text to support their answers, connect the contents of the story to a modern, informational text on commercial spaceflight, discover what it takes to be an effective fiction writer, and finally, test their own fiction writing abilities. There are also plenty of opportunities for students to engage in small and whole group collaborations, as well as teach material to their peers.