From the golden autumn to the snowy winter, the sixth-grade students of the Shanghai High School International Division embarked on a remarkable journey through the world of science fiction literature. The activities were organized sequentially: "I Watch" (watching a Science Fiction movie), "I Read" (reading a Science Fiction novel and completing a reading report), "I Write" (writing a Science Fiction story), "I Speak" (a Science Fiction themed speech contest), and "I Evaluate" (peer reviews of Science Fiction writing). During the National Day holiday, the sixth-grade Chinese language team guided students to start reading science fiction literature and complete reading reports as a means to foster interest and provide knowledge for entering the world of science fiction.

During the recently concluded Science Fiction Month, the sixth-grade native Chinese language team organized a series of exciting activities. First, in class, we conducted an in-depth reading of Liu Cixin's novel "The Wandering Earth," combining reading and writing instruction. Then, teachers guided students on how to write Science Fiction stories. This was followed by a Science Fiction writing competition, encouraging students to create their own visions of the future. Subsequently, a class Science Fiction speech event was held, allowing students to transform their stories into oral presentations and confidently showcase them in front of an audience. After intense evaluations, the Chinese language team teachers awarded numerous prizes for the Science Fiction Writing Star and Science Fiction Speech Star.

In this highly anticipated recent Science Fiction event, the award ceremony highlighted the glorious moments of the winners. Particularly notable were the speeches by students 6-7 Matthew and 6-5 Tianyao, who showcased their creativity through the continuation of classics and the exploration of intelligent games.Science Fiction writer Ms. Gu Bei's sharing provided students with a more comprehensive understanding of science fiction, while Mr. Jiang Bo's "Face-to-Face with the Writer" activity inspired students' enthusiasm for Science Fiction creation

The event began with an exciting award ceremony. Teachers MS.Gao Xiaoling, Ms.Chen Fan,Head of SHSID Middle School Chinese Department.Ms.Wu Wenyi, Grade 6 Supervisor,and Ms. Gu Bei presented awards to the winners of the Science Fiction Star Writing Competition and the Science Fiction Star Speech Competition.

Next was the Science Fiction speech presentation. The student 6-7 Matthew from Class S Level, who won the Science Fiction Speech First Prize, presented a story titled "Our Mission," a continuation of Liu Cixin's "The Wandering Earth," narrating a story about building a spaceship with new materials to rescue a girl.6-5 Tianyao from Class H Level, who also won First Prize, delivered a Science Fiction speech titled "Species Optimization," exploring how computers optimize species based on intelligence within the context of intelligent games and brain-computer interaction games. His innovative storytelling method, involving a self-directed and self-acted skit with a dialogue with another self in the video, won rounds of applause from the students.

Renowned Science Fiction translator and author Ms. Gu Bei, known for translating the famous novel "Dune," was met with enthusiastic cheers from the students upon her appearance. Ms. Gu Bei shared her journey with science fiction under the theme "From Reading Science Fiction to Writing Science Fiction," giving students a deeper understanding of the genre. She also introduced the "Big Three" of Science Fiction writers—Arthur C. Clarke, Robert Heinlein, and Isaac Asimov—and mentioned various Science Fiction themes and important works, providing students with a more comprehensive perspective on science fiction. Her engaging and insightful lecture elicited enthusiastic cheers and admiration from the students present.

To give students passionate about science fiction the opportunity to engage deeply with a renowned author, the Chinese language team arranged a "Face-to-Face with the Writer" event with famous Science Fiction author Mr. Jiang Bo at noon in the Reading Room D605 of the West Building. This was a rare opportunity for students to directly ask Mr. Jiang Bo questions and gain valuable insights into creative writing. The event began with a long line of young readers waiting for Mr. Jiang Bo's autograph. After signing, Mr. Jiang Bo engaged in a lively discussion with the award-winning young Science Fiction authors and other Science Fiction enthusiasts, sharing his creative experiences. Mr. Jiang Bo emphasized that Science Fiction creation is about recording one's ideas about the future world in words, and while the initial inspiration for creation is easy to find, maintaining it is challenging. He encouraged students to "read ten thousand books and travel ten thousand miles," as this is the foundation of creation and the path of growth. In this exchange filled with wisdom and passion, students actively sought advice from Mr. Jiang Bo on the art of creation, creating an atmosphere of lively interaction and intellectual exchange. Every participating student felt they gained immensely, with their love and understanding of Science Fiction creation reaching new heights.

Thus, the 2024 Grade 6 Science Fiction Month activities concluded successfully. However, today is not the end but the beginning of a new journey. This Science Fiction journey cultivated students' imagination and creativity, igniting their passion and exploration of science fiction literature. We look forward to seeing students continue to explore the world of science fiction in the future, maintaining their curiosity about exploring future worlds, and using creativity and dreams to illuminate the future.

Written by Zhang Xinyi

Pictures by Xu Jing, G6 Chinese Department Teachers

Reviewed by Chen Fan,Jin Jing, Chenli Shen, Luo Cong, Judah Kuhn