The Illustrated Man

Many of the stories in the collection explore the relationship between technological advances and family life. How are these two seemingly disparate ideas connected? How might technology negatively impact a family?

Teaching Suggestion: Stories that explore this theme include “The Veldt,” “Rocket Man,” and “The Rocket.” It may be helpful to encourage students to cite specific examples from these (and other) stories as they discuss the prompt. Afterward, you might consider extending this discussion by asking, “How does technology negatively influence people and their relationships today? What lesson does Bradbury appear to be conveying through these related cautionary tales?”

Differentiation Suggestion: If responding in writing, students who struggle with written expression might benefit from turning in an organizer in lieu of paragraph responses. English language learners and students with executive function differences may also appreciate the opportunity to explore and analyze a single story in a group. Small classes could be divided into three groups (one for each story), and then group leaders could share their ideas in a class-wide discussion. You might also consider breaking down a single story with the class as an example, allowing students to address the other two stories independently or as a take-home assignment.