Subjects:
  Language Arts
  Art

Learner Outcomes:
  Students will comprehend and analyze a short story.  They will learn the terms, protagonist, and antagonist.  They will be able to create an original science fiction short story.  Students will learn to create a sculpture to illustrate the story read.

Duration of Lesson:
  3 weeks

Materials:
  Textbook or anthology with the short story, "User Friendly" by T. Ernesto Behancourt
   Print-outs of the worksheets, Creating Characters / Writing a Science Fiction Story (links in procedures below)
   Computer with Internet access
   Art supplies: tape, wire, cardboard, foam core, mat board, glue, scissors, found materials (students may bring in items to enhance their creation, i.e. beads, string, computer parts, etc.)

Technology Tools:
  Computer with Internet access

Teacher Notes:
  A signed Acceptable Use policy should be on file.

Procedures:
   1. Have students read the short story, "User Friendly", by T. Ernesto Bethancourt.
     2. Discuss with students the character of Kevin and the character of Louis, the computer.  Discuss with students the meanings of the words protagonist (the main character in a play or story) and antagonist ( a character who opposes the main character in a play or story), and  what makes a good protagonist and antagonist in a science fiction story.
     3. Instruct students to complete the worksheet activity, Creating Characters.
     4. Instruct students to complete the worksheet activity, Writing A Science Fiction Story.
     5. Using the two characters developed in the worksheet from step 3, and the framework established in step 4 as a starting point, instruct students to write an original science fiction story that could be considered a cautionary tale.
     6. As the art component of the lesson, instruct students to create a sculpture of a computer that has human characteristics.
        a. Discuss with students the difference between organic and geometric form and how a computer
            with human characteristics would be a combination of both forms. Have the students list some
            physical characteristics of a computer; hard, plastic, metallic, square, sharp corners and so on.
           Then list physical characteristics of a human.
        b. Students will then do thumbnail sketches of original designs of a computer sculpture with human
            characteristics.
        c. Students, either in groups or as individuals, will use any type of sculpting materials to create their
           designs.
        d. Students will display their work.

Modifications:
   Modifications for students' I.E.P.'s may be made.

Enrichment Activities:
    1. Have You Hugged Your Computer Today?  If Louis, the computer from “User Friendly,” ever got a voice module, what would he ask for next?  Visit the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Humanoid Robotics Group to meet Coco, Cog, Kismet and Macaco.

    2. A Meeting of the Minds-or Just Plain Mindless?  What would two computers have to say to each other? Visit BotSpot, where “Secret Agent” Don Barker investigates conversation between two chatterbots.

Evaluation/Assessment:
  Rubric for original science fiction story
  Sculptures: Students will be evaluated on use of materials, participation in the project and completion of the sculpture.

West Virginia IGO's and National Standards :
  English Lang Arts IGO's:
           6.11, 6.14, 6.16, 6.17, 6.18, 6.19, 6.22, 6.26, 6.27, 6.32,
           6.33, 6.34, 6.35, 6.44, 6.48, 6.52, 6.54, 6.60, 6.65, 6.67,
           6.82, 6.132, 6.135, 6.136, 6.137, 6.139, 6.140, 6.141,
           6.153, 6.154, 6.156, 6.160, 7.19 - 7.37, 7.38 - 7.50, 7.52, 7.66
    Art IGO's:
           7.1, 7.3, 7.7, 7.14, 7.15, 7.20, 7.27
  National Standards for Language Arts:
         *Gathers and uses information for research purposes
         *Demonstrates competence in the general skills and strategies of the reading process
         *Demonstrates competence in the general skills and strategies for reading a variety of literary texts
           *Uses listening and speaking strategies for different purposes
     National Standards for Art:
         *Understands and applies media, techniques, and processes related to the  visual arts
         *Knows how to use structures (e.g., sensory qualities, organization principles, expressive features
   and functions of art)
         *Knows a range of subject matter, symbols, and potential ideas in the visual art

Career Clusters:
  Fine Arts and Humanities

References:
    Enrichment activity - http://www.ai.mit.edu/projects/humanoid-robotics-group/
    Enrichment activity - http://bots.internet.com/pcai/article4.htm

Authors:
      Mark Graham, Melissa Ridenour, & Vicky Neal
      Bruceton School - Preston County Schools