BDA: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

BDA stands for Before, During, and After.

I've created some BDAs with activities students can complete before, during, and after reading books. I've tried to create activity options that appeal to different intelligences. (Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligences theory)

The first BDA I'm posting is for Douglas Adam's The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy:

Before You Begin Reading…

Complete one of the following activities.

1. Are we alone in the universe? Do you think there is life on other planets? If so, do you think there are aliens that are more intelligent than people on Earth? Write at least 1 page, discussing what you think. Give reasons for your positions.


2. If you met an alien from another planet at a party, and it asked you to describe your home planet, what would you say? Write at least one page, providing details about Earth.


3. Imagine your perfect planet. What would it look like? Draw pictures of at least 5 views of your planet. Write captions for each picture.


4. Pretend you are an alien. Describe Earth from the perspective of someone/something from another planet. Remember that it may not be familiar with things like cars, planes, sports, buildings. Write at least a page.

While You Are Reading…

Complete one of the following activities.

1. Write diary entries for one of the characters. Make sure you write an entry for each of the memorable moments.


2. Make a scrapbook of pictures, newspaper clippings, momentos for one of the characters.


3. Complete a chart of character traits for 8 characters in the book.


4. Choose at least 15 difficult vocabulary words from the book. Create a crossword puzzle using these words. Make sure you include an answer key.

When You Have Finished Reading…

Complete one of the following activities.

1. Write your own Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy based on your reading. Include at least 15 entries for important people, places, objects, and events.


2. What do you think Adams is trying to say about the meaning of life? Why do you think this? Give examples from the book. What do you think is the meaning of life? Write at least three pages.


3. There are many items advertised in the book. Create an advertisement for at least 5 items. Here are some examples you might choose from: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Encyclopedia Galactica, Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster, the Heart of Gold, Vogon poetry, Infinite Improbability Drive, Sirius Cybernetics Corporation robot with the new GPP feature, Magrathea planets.


4. Write 5 stories for a galaxy newspaper using important events from the book.