Science Fiction Short Stories

One of the genres that the state of Michigan recommends I teach my students is Science Fiction.  I know science fiction isn't for everyone and that it comes in a lot of forms, from super machines to dystopian futures, so I've decided to read a bunch of Science Fiction short stories instead of reading one Science Fiction chapter book to my class. So far I have found stories in the following two anthologies to use.  


Tomorrowland: Stories about the Future
Compiled by Michael Cart



"His Brother's Keeper"
by Gloria Skurzynski


Scientific advancements allow for groups of four to travel to Mars. The Holbrook family is the current group of four.  Their mission is to make Mars hospitable for humans. While working in Science Fiction elements the story mainly focuses on the relationship between genius brother Kern and happy go lucky brother Dylan. Everyone should be able to relate to the jealousies and annoyances that arise from being stuck on Mars with no other children to distract them.


"The Last Dog"  
by Katherine Peterson


Brock lives in a dome.  He has been told everything outside the dome is a wasteland and that nothing can survive out there.  He decides he wants to go out of the dome anyway.  Wearing protective gear he discovers the impossible, a living breathing puppy.  What will Brock do when he sees something that goes against everything he's been taught?


 2041
Selected and Edited by Jane Yolen



"Lose Now, Pay Later"
by Carol Farley


Trinja and Deb discover Swoodies, a free dessert, at the mall.  They fall in love with it and gain a lot of weight.  


Eventually, The Slimmer opens up in the mall parking lot.  For a fee, it instantly makes you lose weight.  Trinja and Deb have to decide if spending all of their money losing weight is worth eating all the free Swoodies they want.


"Moby James"
by Patricia A. McKillip


This story is about relating with your brother.  It just happens to take place in the future where all classes are taught by computers and students read reading disks on viewers instead of reading books.  


The two brothers, Rob and James share a bedroom.  James is annoyed with Rob.  Rob is mad at his brother.  Read "Moby James" to see if Moby Dick can help them work things out.






I would love to find more Science Fiction stories to share with my students.  I've read a bunch of good one but most aren't appropriate for fifth graders.  I would love to hear about any Science Fiction Short Stories that you could recommend to me.