Welcome toPlanet Ghoti We have been working day and night for two months trying to regain communication with Earth. We have failed. We have run out of food and water. We will all die unless we fight for our lives. (Aren't we lucky that we areReading Lord of the Flies and have seen lots of bad sci fi movies??) The planet we have landed on is called Ghoti (pronounced fish). It is amazingly similar to Earth. We will be forced to settle here and start a new life. Time is running short; after four days, we will run out of food, water and
fuel. We will spend the next week planning our new society. Although I will be an advisor and participant, you will be responsible for the success of
our society. You will choose a group to work with and complete the task
assigned. Obviously, it is in the best interests of the group for you to work in a group that best uses your unique talents, even if it does not mean working with your friends. When we have completed our work, we will celebrate our success and thank all the members of the community for working cooperatively to make our new life beautiful. Thank you. Over and out.
Jobs that must be completedWe will divide into groups according to the following tasks: Flag, slogan, seal, and anthem - Design a seal and construct a flag that
will serve as the official symbols for the new community. You should also adopt a slogan, a rallying cry for our people. Every community must have its own national song. Select music, composing your own if possible, and write the lyrics to go with it. The song should be about our new home or how we got here. In your paper, explain why you made the choices you did.
Educational system - On Ghoti, we can correct the errors made in the
American educational system. Decide at what age children should begin school, what subjects should be taught, what our educational goals should be, and how we should train our teachers. You should also consider our need for a library and how we might recover the literature we have lost by leaving earth. Try searching for information on Canadian Education or on Montessori schools.
Language - Every community develops a body of colloquial or slang language along
with its formal language. The planet is a new place, so we need some new words.Write a dictionary of new words to be used to describe the unique features of and events on Ghoti.
Constitution and government - You must write a basic Constitution setting up
the basis for our government and law. Organize a system of community government and write the basic laws by which we may live together in harmony. You should consider the Bill of Rights, the court system, and the police department. How will we deal with complex moral/social/legal issues like abortion?
Customs, costumes, and food - We have left behind our traditions of our native
land. You should decide what customs our new community should observe and how our family life should be organized. Consider moral standards as well as social norms. You should also design the dress for our people and determine what types of food we will eat and how we will get it. Lucky for us, Ghoti is dotted with chocolate chip trees.
Map and transportation - This new land must be explored and charted. You should
design a plan for construction of our community and a system of public and private transportation. Design our homes, schools, stores, and whatever otherdwellings we will need.
Occupations and currency - Many new kinds of jobs will be necessary on our new
planet. Remember,we have no machines except what's aboard ship. Develop a system of currency and credit so people will be able to buy what they need. Recreation and Entertainment - All work and no play makes Ghoti a dull planet.
Decide what games or sports might be suitable for our new planet's terrain (Ghoturf). What diversions might we create to entertain ourselves?
Resources: Here is a list of a few
websites to help you get started. This is by no means a complete list. Please
use other sources if necessary. Books may also be helpful.
State
Seals for the United States
Job Profiles
or Occupational
Outlook Handbook
Work together, be creative, have fun, and let your imaginations run wild !As in the real world, if any group works totally independently of the rest of
the groups, the society will not work.
Assignment originally created by Ronnie Campagna
of San Marin High School in Novato, California in 1973. Modified in 2003
by Titas