Description
Read the dystopian short story The Machine Stops by E. M. Forster, a prophetic cautionary tale that imagines a world completely dependent on technology. Written long before the digital age, this story challenges students to question how technology shapes human connection, independence, and emotional and spiritual well-being. It naturally leads to thoughtful discussion about whether modern society relies too heavily on machines to meet human needs.
Students begin the lesson with pre-reading activities designed to build personal connections and activate prior knowledge, including a reflective activity centered on spending a day without technology and a guided journal prompt. As they read the story, students work with academic vocabulary using a graphic organizer that supports comprehension of Forster’s complex ideas and language.
During reading, students respond to twenty guided questions that blend reading comprehension, literary analysis, and discussion. These questions encourage close reading and require students to think critically about themes such as dependence, isolation, conformity, and the consequences of technological control. A PowerPoint presentation supports instruction by introducing key vocabulary terms, definitions, and brief background information about E. M. Forster.
All student activities are provided in editable Word document format, allowing teachers to modify assignments as needed, while teacher materials and answer keys are included in PDF format for easy reference. This resource works well for high school ELA, particularly in units focused on dystopian literature, science fiction, or technology and society, and it consistently sparks meaningful, reflective classroom conversations.