Strange New Worlds

For years 4+

Draw a picture of a brand new machine that has not been invented yet.

Label the most important parts of your machine. At the top of the piece of paper, write what your machine can do that makes it special.

If you are stuck, use the following questions to help you:

• Does your machine make things?
• Does your machine turn one thing into something else?
• Is your machine magical?

Write a story about the machine that you have created. If you get stuck, answer the following questions to help you:

• Who works with your machine?
• Who does your machine help?
• Who doesn’t like your machine? What will they do to stop it?

For years 7+

Warm up activity

Set a timer for one minute.

Use the time to write down as many positive (would be a good thing for people and the world) new inventions as you can think of. Keep writing ideas until the time is up, the more varied the better.

Set a time for one minute.

Use the time to write down as many negative (would be a bad thing for people and the world) new inventions as you can think of. Keep writing ideas until the time is up, the more varied the better.

For scripts

Choose one of the inventions from your lists and create a conversation between two characters (A and B) for one of the following scenarios:

• Your invention is a best seller and there is one left in the shop. Two customers both want to buy it and must persuade the other why they should get it.
• Your invention is controversial and the government wants to ban it. One character supports the ban and the other thinks the invention is a good thing.
• Two characters whose job is building the new invention.
• Two characters who are protesting against the invention.
• Any other scenario involving the invention that you can think of.

For stories

Write a story about a world where your chosen invention exists. Think about the following questions if you get stuck:

• How expensive is your invention? Is it available to everyone? If not, what conflict is created between those who can and cannot afford it?
• How popular is your invention? Does everyone think it is a good thing? If not, what conflict is created between those who do and do not support it?
• What changes has your invention made to the world? What are the positive consequences of these changes? What are the negative consequences of these changes?
• Who created this new invention? How do they feel about the impact it has had on the world?
• Any other scenario involving the invention that you can think of.