Twilight Zone “Where is Everybody?” Media Analysis, Twilight Zone Episode CCSS

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 “Where is Everybody?” episode, a man with amnesia finds himself trapped in an abandoned town. Issues of social isolation and the limits of technology to meet the basic human need for companionship will certainly get students talking about their own COVID-related experiences.

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. Works great as a standalone lesson, sub plan, or supplement to a larger unit on a similar theme.

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.

Download includes: 3-page PDF + Google Drive version of student worksheet (uneditable)

Want to expand this lesson and have students learn more about Rod Serling, the creator of The Twilight Zone? Click here for a student-led author biography research activity designed to help them learn about the fascinating life of Rod Serling, a guy who joined the Army to fight in WW2 the day after he graduated from high school, used entertainment writing as a tool of activism, and worked as a teacher even while he was a big-shot Hollywood producer. Kids should know him.

Please note: This item is included in my Short Story Unit Plan for Older Teens. To avoid a double-purchase, please do not buy the item on this page if you also intend to buy the budget-priced short story bundle.

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