Welcome to a world of bizarre phenomena, conspiracy theories,and great hoaxes-- this is
Stranger Than Fiction! This far-out issue features stories that will shock and amaze your students.
Our Center Stage play, War of the Worlds, is a READ adaptation of the broadcast performed by Orson Welles. In our version, a family in Concrete, Washington listens in, unaware that the story unfolding before them is false. They truly believe that aliens have landed. This play is lacedwith lines and scenes from the actual broadcast. It is based off of the very real reaction that listeners had to Welles' production.
On the blog... Don't forget to tune in to our Word blog on October 13, when we will post a segment from the actual broadcast.
More! If you're looking for more information of Welles' version of War of the Worlds, try this website, which includes the entire broadcast itself, as well as photos and news clippings from the event.
Our nonfiction excerpt explores the conspiracy theories surrounding the year 2012. Some people believe this year may mark the end of the world. Our (lighthearted) review of these ideas takes a look at a phenomenon that has fascinated the superstitious for centuries.
On the blog... On October 14th, we will post student responses to the writing prompt attached to this article. Be sure to check out our favorite fictions about the last day on earth.
More! Please note that the ideas expressed in this article are not intended to be taken seriously. We explored this issue as a fun and shocking approach to nonfiction. We hope your students appreciate this article with a healthy dose of skepticism.
This issue's Lit Scene Investigation takes a serious turn when we examine a section from Tim O'Brien's groundbreaking book, The Things They Carried. In this section, we explore tone to tell the story when the author struggles between a strange story and an even stranger truth.
More! Be advised that this book, although widely taught in schools, is full of violence, mature language and situations. Although our excerpt is perfectly appropriate, you may want to review the book before introducing it to your classroom.
"Truth in News?" is the title of our second nonfiction article, which includes 5 short news stories. Only two of them are true. Can your students discern the difference? Use subtle clues in the stories and a critical eye to figure out which is which.
On the blog... We reveal the true stories on October 7th. Don't forget to stop by and see.
In the Writing section, we feature a Grammar Slammer about using the right synonyms. Break out your thesaurus and get started finding the best big vocabulary word out there.
Our feature story, "Wild Ways of Writing" is about writing style. Poems, stories, news blurbs, and journalistic essays all have a different style. Our tips help students learn what style is appropriate for their writing assignment, and how to acheive it.
Then, turn to "Truth in Research" for a look into the overwhelming world of online research. This article teaches how to find credible sources online.
We hope you enjoy this weird and wacky issue. If you have any questions or comments, please email us at
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