Created by a high school English teacher, this language arts project integrates literature study, creative writing, and technology. Based on Kindred, a story about slavery in the United States written by Octavia Butler, the unit uses literature to examine the impact of historical events and social norms on personal lives. Students complete such activities as using the internet as a research tool and writing and posting journal entries, essays, and letters on a class online discussion forum, where peers read and respond to each other's writing. A class discussion forum is available free to teachers at nicenet.org. As a culminating activity, students create an original short story, based on the characters and events from Kindred and historical information gathered through independent research. A short story writing chart and grading rubric are also available at the website. (author/ncl)

Using this lesson, students in Health Science career field can develop research techniques while finding information about implications and consequences of slavery, including conditions in Sudan, South Africa, Argentina, and Serbia. Agricultural & Environmental Systems students can learn about communities and how they respond to political and social conditions. Students who are in the Human Services career can learn about the social structure of slavery, human interaction of class or caste systems, and other cultures. Students engage in informational reading and writing about social inequities; in addition, they conduct a practicum for career field work.