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How Star Trek Shaped Our Today
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Ages 9-14
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3 pre-recorded lessons
3 weeks of teacher support
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3 pre-recorded lessons
3 weeks
of teacher support1 year access
to the contentClass Experience
Students are invited aboard the starship Enterprise as we boldly explore how Star Trek's allegorical episodes, advanced technology, and vision of the future helped shaped our present day. PowerPoint slides will guide the lesson through photographs, maps, and other authentic materials as learners look at how the advanced technology, character diversity and allegorical episodes inspired and shaped our modern society. An Outline of the Themes and Content are as follows: The Original Series * A look at the American culture, stereotypes, and grassroot movements of 1950s and 1960s as reflected in the diversity of the crew. Star Trek Technology: Inspiration to Invention * Peek into the movies and television shows to see the inspiration for many of today's most commonly used devices. Hidden Messages and Allegorical Meanings * An examination of selected episodes and the cultural context for which they were written for themes and allegorical tales. Please note that a portion of the class will be spent reviewing the following information as influential events as they relate to Star Trek: World War II as related to cast background; Civil Right Movement; Cold War; Second Wave of Feminism). For complete description, please refer to the Learning Goals.
Learning Goals
Students will examine Star Trek from a historical aspect and connect how the series' served as an inspiration for developing today's technology, diversity, and tolerance.
The Original Series
* A look at the American culture, stereotypes, and grassroot movements of 1950s and 1960s as reflected in the diversity of the crew.
* World War II as related to cast background (Japanese interment camps; German concentration camps; combat; Hiroshima)
* Civil Right Movement (Brown v. Board of Education; Montgomery Bus Boycott; interracial relationships)
* Cold War (definition; dominion effect; Vietnam War in relation to the 1960s draft and Tet Offensive; combat)
* Second Wave of Feminism (National Women's Organization; perceptions of masculine and feminine at time)
Star Trek Technology: Inspiration to Invention
* Peek into the movies and television shows to see the inspiration for many of today's most commonly used devices.
* Innovations (computers; communications; entertainment devices)
* NASA (exploration; inventions and ideas from the show; LIGO Observatory)
* Theoretical Physics and Inventions (Einstein; warp drive; matter-antimatter; tractor beams; artificial intelligence; replicators; cloaking devices; other)
* Medical Advancements (noninvasive surgeries; tricorders; cybernetics)
Hidden Messages and Allegorical Meanings
* An examination of selected episodes and the cultural context for which they were written for themes and allegorical tales including but not limited to:
* “Chain of Command Parts 1 & 2” (1992), The Next Generation (Iraq-Iran War; The Gulf War)
* “Terra Prime” / “Demons” (2005), Enterprise (xenophobia; 9/11; Second Gulf War; Abu Ghraib scandal)
* “Duet” (1993), Deep Space Nine (Israeli–Palestinian conflict)
* “Workforce Part 1 & 2” (2001), Voyager (negative working conditions; modern-day slavery and human trafficking)
* “The Burn” (2020), Discovery (climate change)
* “Let That Be Your Last Battlefield” (1969), The Original Series (tensions leading up to Martin Luther King's assassination and the Holy Week Uprising riots in its aftermath)
* "Absolute Candor” (2020), Picard (displacement; refugee situations and conditions; second-class citizenship)
Syllabus
3 Lessons
over 3 WeeksLesson 1:
The Original Series
A look at the American culture, stereotypes, and grassroot movements of 1950s and 1960s as reflected in the diversity of the crew.
Lesson 2:
Star Trek Technology: Inspiration to Invention
Peek into the movies and television shows to see the inspiration for many of today's most commonly used devices.
Lesson 3:
Hidden Messages and Allegorical Meanings
An examination of selected episodes and the cultural context for which they were written for themes and allegorical tales.
Other Details
Parental Guidance
Please note that a portion of the class will be spent reviewing the following information as influential events as they relate to Star Trek: World War II as related to cast background; Civil Right Movement; Cold War; Second Wave of Feminism. For complete description, please refer to the Learning Goals.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Sources
Please note that a portion of the class will be spent reviewing the following information as influential events as they relate to Star Trek: World War II as related to cast background; Civil Right Movement; Cold War; Second Wave of Feminism. For complete description, please refer to the Learning Goals.
Episode References:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0060028/episodes/
General Websites:
biography.com; britannica.com; forgottentrek.com; history.com
- 15 Star Trek Gadgets That Exist In Real Life. https://screenrant.com/star-trek-real-life-gadgets/
- How Martin Luther King Jr. convinced ‘Star Trek’s’ Lt. Uhura to stay on the show. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2015/07/31/how-martin-luther-king-jr-convinced-star-treks-uhura-to-stay-on-the-show/
- How the Original ‘Star Trek’ Addressed the War in Vietnam. https://www.history.com/news/star-trek-series-episodes-vietnam-war
- Masculinity, Gender Roles, and T.V. Shows from the 1950s. https://the-artifice.com/masculinity-gender-roles-tv-1950s/
Books:
- Black, White, and in Color: Television and Black Civil Rights by Sasha Torres (Princeton University Press, 2003)
- Physics of Star Trek by Lawrence M. Krauss (Basic Books, 1995)
Meet the teacher
Teacher expertise and credentials
Hello! My name is Janie. I am a graduate of Charleston Southern University with a Bachelors in Elementary Education and History, and was certificated in Elementary, Early Childhood, and Early Childhood Special Education. As a member of Learning for Justice, I am up-to-date on current issues and best teaching practices in order to align my classroom to inform accurate details in a fun learning environment where children and youth feel respected, valued and welcome participants. In my 15-year career, I have worked with children aged one to ten. I believe that children do not care what you know until they know that you care, and that real learning occurs somewhere between laughter, smiles and mess.
The goal in my sessions is to engage students in topics of their interest through discussion, storytelling, and creativity to encourage authentic learning of the material and an appreciation of others. Questions and comments as well as topic-related pictures, items, and other creative means are always welcome. I LOVE to crochet and I have a passion for Science-Fiction/Fantasy, history and all things Warrior Cats.
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