Science-fiction author Ray Bradbury was born in 1920.
Event Description
Bradbury authored over 500 works during his literary career. His credits include short stories, novels, plays, and poems. Now classics of science fiction, two of his best-known works are The Martian Chronicles and The Illustrated Man. Bradbury earned many awards and honors, including the Grand Master Award from the Science Fiction Writers of America, an Emmy, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame! Bradbury died on June 5, 2012.
Classroom Activity
Have your students do a Bradbury author study, and then create flyers to advertise their favorite story. First, have students read several titles from Bradbury's extensive body of work. Provide a classroom library or a booklist from which students can select titles. After students have read a sample of Bradbury's stories, ask them to select their favorite.
- Have students use the ReadWriteThink Literary Elements Mapping tool to record the story's characters, setting, conflict, and resolution. They should also write a brief synopsis of the plot.
- Next, have them use this information to create a flyer advertising their favorite Bradbury story. Direct students to the ReadWriteThink Printing Press tool.
- Finally, have students share their recommendations as a group.
Websites
Bradbury's official website offers author information and other resources. There is a booklist, message board, biographical information, video clips of him speaking, and more. Fans can even sign up to receive a Ray Bradbury newsletter.
This Teenreads.com webpage offers a brief Bradbury biography, a timeline of his life, and an article about his writing that lists many of his important works.
This study guide, from Paul Brians of Washington State University, provides detailed background information about each of the individual stories in Bradbury's classic book.
This page from the NEA's The Big Read program offers resources related to Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451. Resources include information about historical context, discussion questions, and an extensive teacher's guide.