There’s a reason Rod Serling’s series, The Twilight Zone, has stood the test of time. The stories are compelling, the episodes are well-crafted, and the themes are timeless. With this lesson download, you can also use The Twilight Zone to help students develop analysis skills and connect classic storytelling to modern issues.
In this episode, “Nick of Time,” a newlywed couple is nearly destroyed by a fortune-telling machine. Issues raised by the program include the power of superstitions, fate vs. free will, and over-reliance on Artificial Intelligence. Please note: This program was first broadcast in 1960 and a character casually uses the word, “retarded,” one time in the episode. One of the worksheet questions specifically addresses this. If you are not comfortable leading a discussion about the evolution of language and the current climate surrounding usage of this slur, do not purchase this item.
The video is about 24 minutes long and the worksheet completion will take about 15-to-30 minutes, depending on how much time you allow for discussion.
On my last product update, this episode was available to Paramount+ subscribers. It can be purchased via Amazon Prime and YouTube. This download also includes a link to an open-access website where the episode is being streamed with ads.
Want your classes to learn more about Rod Serling, the creator of The Twilight Zone series? Click here for a student-led research activity: https://laurarandazzo.com/product/rod-serling-author-study-biography-worksheet-twilight-zone-pdf-google-drive/
Hope you and your students enjoy this Twilight Zone activity. Thanks for stopping by!
Image credit: Pixabay, Public domain
$1.99
