Curated OER
Back to the Past
What was the Untied States like in 1938? What were the concerns of Americans in the post World War I era? What were their fears? What were their sources of news and entertainment? To understand the reaction to Orson Welles' radio...
Curated OER
Afraid! Who, Me?
Learners confront fear through literature. In this literary elements lesson plan, students discuss fear and what they know about the horror genre of literature. Learners then examine the painting "The Scream," by Edvard Munch and listen...
Curated OER
"War of the Worlds": A Broadcast Re-Creation
Why did Orson Welles' 1938 Broadcast of a adaptation of H.G. Wells' The War of the Worlds cause such a panic? To answer this question, class members listen to the original broadcast and research the panic that resulted. They then engage...
Curated OER
Stage Fright
Students create radio play scripts. In this "War of the Worlds" lesson, students write new scenes to be added to the radio play and then perform the scenes for their classmates.
Curated OER
Science Fiction
Learners write a science fiction story. In this science fiction activity, students read selections of science fiction and compare them to supernatural stories from the Bible. Learners identify themes and discuss elements that are...
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Oral Storytelling and Dramatization
Students begin this lesson by discussing what makes a good, vivid story and creating a working checklist of the criteria for a good story. They explore background information about the Mercury Theatre production of the "War of the...
Bartleby
Bartleby.com: The War of the Worlds, by H. G. Wells
Contains a brief introduction and links to each chapter of the complete text of the book. Also provides a picture of Wells.
Fourmilab Switzerland
John Walker: The War of the Worlds
An online version of H.G. Wells's War of the Worlds. Separated by chapter and book, and based on the work of Project Gutenberg.
Other
The Mercury Theatre on the Air
Listen to many of the original Mercury Theatre of the Air broadcasts, with Orsen Welles, John Houseman, Agnes Moorehead and others. Also on the site you can find broadcasts of many of the programs from Campbell Playhouse, which is what...
Other
The War of the Worlds: H. G. Wells
Contains a good biography of Wells and a brief plot summary of the book.
Wisconsin Historical Society
Wisconsin Historical Society: Orson Welles, 1915 1985
A short biography of Orson Welles, director of many films including the acclaimed Citizen Kane. Welles is also well known for his reading of War of the Worlds over the radio in 1938, which caused many people to believe that the Earth was...
Other
The Complete War of the Worlds Website
Contains information on the original book by Wells and the various movies, television shows, etc. inspired by the book. The site treats the invasion as if it actually happened.
Curated OER
War of the Worlds
Contains information on the original book by Wells and the various movies, television shows, etc. inspired by the book. The site treats the invasion as if it actually happened.