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"If This Goes On..." Technology, Truth, and Happiness in Fahrenheit 451
Students explore the effects of technology and censorship in Ray Bradbury's dystopian novel and make connections between his futuristic society and their own.
ELA
Unit 1
10th Grade
Unit Summary
Please Note: In March 2026, this unit and its lesson plans received a round of enhancements. This unit is still 23 days instructional days (no change from prior version). The writing projects of the unit have been adjusted significantly and additional assessment options have been added. Teachers should pay close attention as they intellectually prepare to account for the updates.
The first unit of the year kicks off the year-long theme of the individual in society. This core text is Fahrenheit 451, which presents a future society where books have been outlawed, and people are addicted to technology. Through Montag, Bradbury explores the tension that exists between being an individual and a member of a society where conformity is valued over individuality.
Before reading the novel, students engage in a stations activity about screen time and media in which they explore technology's impact on their own society to help them connect to the impact of technology in the society of Fahrenheit 451. Then, they read "The Pedestrian," Bradbury's short story, which inspired Fahrenheit 451; it introduces students to his writing style and themes as well as to the genre of science fiction.
Throughout the unit, students explore additional supplementary texts that connect to important concepts and themes discussed throughout the unit. Plato's "Allegory of the Cave" is a philosophical text that Bradbury alludes to as Montag undergoes his transformation from ignorant to enlightened. Students also explore the concept of censorship by reading and summarizing different nonfiction articles. They will then read Kurt Vonnegut's letter "I Am Very Real" (1973) and Viet Thanh Nguyen's essay "My Young Mind Was Disturbed By a Book. It Changed My Life" (2022) to compare the ongoing conversation about censorship in the United States. Lastly, students read an article from TIME about the use of data and algorithms on social media platforms.
As students read about the lives of the characters in Bradbury's dystopian futuristic society, they explore how he uses science fiction to make social commentary about censorship, technology, and happiness. In addition, students examine how Bradbury's rich imagery and figurative language paint a vivid picture of life in the society he has created. Ultimately, students draw parallels between Bradbury's dystopian society and contemporary society during an end-of-unit Socratic Seminar; additionally, they will write an informational article for their school newspaper about the impact of technology on an aspect of modern society to make further connections to Bradbury's novel.
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Texts and Materials
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Core Texts
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Book: Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (Simon & Schuster, 2012)
Supporting Texts
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Article: “Americans Check Their Phones an Alarming Number of Times Per Day” by Emily Forlini (PC Mag) ("Americans' Cell Phone Usage and Habits" infographic)
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Video: “Virginia students speak out on school cell phone bans” by TODAY
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Video: “Changing to a Flip Phone changed my Life” by gracie K
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Video: “What is Technology Addiction?” by the American Psychiatric Association
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Article: “Social media's impact on our mental health and tips to use it safely” by UC Davis Health
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Short Story: “The Pedestrian” by Ray Bradbury
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Article: “Multi-level barrage of US book bans is 'unprecedented', says PEN America” by Marina Dunbar (The Guardian)
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Article: “What You Need to Know About the Book Bans Sweeping the U.S.” by Teachers College (Columbia University)
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Article: “Most banned books feature people of color and LGBTQ+ people, report finds” by Gloria Oladipo (The Guardian)
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Article: “How Students Fought a Book Ban and Won, for Now” by Isabella Grullón Paz and Maria Cramer (The New York Times)
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Article: “Removing Books From Libraries Often Takes Debate. But There's a Quieter Way.” by Elizabeth A. Harris (The New York Times)
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Letter: “I Am Very Real” by Kurt Vonnegut
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Essay: “My Young Mind Was Disturbed By a Book. It Changed My Life” by Viet Thanh Nguyen
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Excerpt: “Allegory of the Cave” by Plato
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Article: “What to Know About Meta's 'Political Content' Limit—and How to Turn It Off on Instagram” by Chad de Guzman (TIME)
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Article: “"Phones Track Everything but Their Role in Car Wrecks"” by Matt Richtel (The New York Times)
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Article: “"How a driving score turned road safety into a national game in Korea"” by Moon Joon-hyun (Korea Herald)
- Recommended Texts for Independent Reading
Rubrics
Resources for Lessons and Projects
Assessment
The following assessments accompany Unit 1. For more guidance, see the Summative Assessments Teacher Tool.
Authentic Assessments
The Socratic Seminar measures students' ability to think critically, engage meaningfully in discussion about key unit content, and support their ideas with evidence.
The Performance Task is the culminating assessment of the unit in which students have the opportunity to demonstrate the skills and content they have learned through an authentic task.
Optional Assessments
The Warm Read Assessment measures students' ability to apply the core reading standards and their knowledge from the unit to comprehend new, topically or thematically aligned texts. It includes both multiple choice and short written response questions and should serve as the primary assessment for the unit.
The Vocabulary Assessment measures students' acquisition of text-based vocabulary words from the unit.
Unit Prep
Intellectual Prep
Essential Questions
- What is the importance of books and literacy to a society? Is censorship, in any form, justified?
- How does technology both help and hinder a society?
- What are the implications of a society that values conformity over individuality? How can an individual challenge the status quo?
Vocabulary
Text-based
beatificceaselesscensorshipcontemptibledisplaceinsidiousmanifestodiousperishperpetualpedestrianprobingruinous
Literary Terms
allusionallegoryanti-herocharacterizationdystopiafigurative languageimageryliterary foil
Root/Affix
dys-pedprob
To see all the vocabulary for Unit 1, view our 10th Grade Vocabulary Glossary.
Supporting All Students
In order to ensure that all students are able to access the texts and tasks in this unit, it is incredibly important to intellectually prepare to teach the unit prior to launching the unit. Use the guidance provided under 'Notes to the Teacher' below in addition to the Unit Launch to determine which supports students will need at the unit and lesson level. To learn more, visit the Supporting All Students Teacher Tool.
Notes to the Teacher
Fahrenheit 451 is a dystopian novel that includes emotionally mature content, such as violence, drugs/overdose, suicide, and nuclear war. Some students, especially those who have been personally touched by one or more of these experiences, may find the text emotionally challenging. Be prepared to provide appropriate support for students who may be affected by these topics.
Lesson Map
Write a summary of an informational text about book banning.
Plan a summary by identifying the main ideas and supporting details in a text.
- Writing Prompt and Rubric Handout (G10, U1, L7)
- Two-Column Notes Graphic Organizer (G10, U1, L7)
- Two-Column Notes Graphic Organizer Sample Response (G10, U1, L7)
Standards
RI.9-10.1RI.9-10.2W.9-10.2.bW.9-10.2.eW.9-10.4W.9-10.5
Introduce an article and summarize its main ideas with some supporting details.
- Two-Column Notes Graphic Organizer (G10, U1, L7)
- Two-Column Notes Graphic Organizer Sample Response (G10, U1, L7)
Standards
W.9-10.2.aW.9-10.2.bW.9-10.2.cW.9-10.2.e
Revise a summary by using relative clauses.
- Relative Clauses Reference Handout (G10, U1)
- Clause Libs Handout (G10, U1)
Standards
L.9-10.1.bW.9-10.4W.9-10.5
Write an informational article for your school newspaper about a topic connected to technology in modern society.
Plan an article about the impact of technology in modern society by reading nonfiction sources that present different perspectives about the topic.
- Performance Task Prompt and Rubric (G10, U1, L17)
- Nonfiction Sources (G10, U1)
- Source Notes Graphic Organizer (G10, U1, L17)
- Source Notes Graphic Organizer Sample Response (G10, U1, L17)
Standards
RI.9-10.1RI.9-10.2W.9-10.2.bW.9-10.4W.9-10.5
Outline an article using a headline and subheadings.
- Nonfiction Sources (G10, U1)
- Source Notes Graphic Organizer (G10, U1, L17)
- Source Notes Graphic Organizer Sample Response (G10, U1, L17)
- Article Outline (G10, U1, L17)
- Article Outline Sample Response (G10, U1, L17)
Standards
W.9-10.2.aW.9-10.2.bW.9-10.2.eW.9-10.4W.9-10.5
Draft body paragraphs that incorporate expert quotes with clear and proper attribution.
- Article Outline (G10, U1, L17)
- Article Outline Sample Response (G10, U1, L17)
- Mentor Text: "Phones Behind the Wheel: Distraction or Lifesaver?" (G10, U1, L17)
Standards
W.9-10.2.aW.9-10.2.bW.9-10.2.cW.9-10.2.eW.9-10.4
Draft an engaging introduction and a conclusion that connects both perspectives and explains their significance.
- Article Outline (G10, U1, L17)
- Mentor Text: "Phones Behind the Wheel: Distraction or Lifesaver?" (G10, U1, L17)
Standards
W.9-10.2.aW.9-10.2.fW.9-10.4
Provide feedback on a peer's writing and then use peer feedback to improve one's own writing.
- Guide to Effective Feedback Handout (G9–12)
Standards
L.9-10.1.bW.9-10.2W.9-10.4W.9-10.5