This set of 12 Speed dating questions are a fun alternative to a traditional class discussion and will help your students analyze "Dark They Were, and Golden- Eyed", originally published as "The Naming of Names", by Ray Bradbury!

In order to prepare, you simply have to copy the 12 discussion prompts below and cut them into separate strips. You can laminate them if you’d like! Arrange your classroom so pairs of students will be facing one another. My classes have about 24 students in each, so I set up my desks facing one another down the center of the classroom. Alternatively, you could do two concentric circles depending on the space you have to work with!

When it’s time for the speed dating to begin, each “couple” will flip over their question and discuss it. I usually set a timer for 60 seconds, but you can do longer or shorter depending on the needs of your students. When the timer buzzes, one row (or circle) moves one way, and the other goes in the opposite direction. In this way, each student will have the opportunity to discuss every question.

I've included a reflection/ ticket out the door half sheet question for afterwards if time allows!

Please let me know if you have any questions about this activity! I’d love to hear your feedback after you complete it in your classroom. Thank you so much!

Hello!

This is a Write The Room Silent Discussion activity that will aide your students in analyzing Gabriel Garcia Marquez's "A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings"! It's an alternate way to do a station rotation and will foster a deep- thinking discussion that takes place on chart paper!

To set up, you’ll need to copy the large questions and paste them onto larger poster size paper. (I like to use those giant Post-Its so I can hang them up afterwards!) I have included 8 questions so that you can place one at each table or station. You will also need to project the page of directions onto your Smart Board, or make a copy of them and put them where students can see. My students like to write their comments in colored ink, marker, or colored pencil in order to make it a little more fun.

To begin this discussion, students will first read the question. Then they will scan the answers their classmates have already written, and write an answer that hasn’t already been said. They may put a hashtag comment for fun after their comment. As the activity goes on, they have the option of responding to a comment that a classmate has already made instead. After a set time you deem appropriate for your students has elapsed, direct them to silently move to the next station.

Andy Weir's Science Fiction short story masterpiece "The Egg" attempts to answer the question "Who am I and what role do I play in the Universe?"

This Google Doc contains 10 rigorous analysis questions for students to answer during/ after reading the text. You can print it and have students work on paper or assign it digitally. A suggested answer key is included for your convenience.

This Google doc helps students analyze Ursula K. LeGuin's short story "The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas". You can print the doc or have students complete it digitally.

I've included the full text of the piece on the left side of the doc and chunked it to correspond to analysis questions on the right. Students will answer questions on tone, theme, characterization, setting, author's craft, diction, syntax, paradox, and the allegorical nature of the piece.

An answer key is included for your convenience. Thank you for looking!