Class

(Winter) Solarpunk: Building Renewable Worlds through Science Fiction for Ages 9 to 11

In this workshop, students will learn about Solarpunk, a utopian genre that imagines the ecological, aesthetic, and social possibilities of a world transformed by renewable energy. We will discuss examples of Solarpunk stories from diverse writers and artists, including Becky Chambers and Hayao Miyazaki, and then students will collaborate to research technological innovations and aesthetic inspiration for their own Solarpunk worlds. Students will then have time to begin their own short stories that take place in the collaborative world. Along the way, we will experiment with worldbuilding techniques, including social relationships, setting, and figurative language. Taking a page out of the utopian stories we discuss, the class will endeavor to use creative writing to build stronger communities in and out of the classroom.