'Orbital' — Lesson 05: The Crew as a Collective: Connection, Isolation and Interdependence

An editable VCE English and EAL lesson examining the six astronauts as a collective in Samantha Harvey’s Orbital.

Students consider how life aboard the spacecraft creates connection, isolation and interdependence. They examine the station as a “nationless, borderless outpost”, explore the limits of the crew members’ understanding of one another and analyse how they remain both together and alone.

The lesson helps students develop interpretations of the crew that move beyond individual character analysis to consider shared experience, cooperation and emotional separation.

Includes:

• Editable PowerPoint lesson slideshow
• Editable student worksheet
• Detailed sample answers

This resource is Lesson 5 of the complete 14-lesson Orbital unit but can also be purchased and taught independently.

The novel is not included. This is a digital product supplied as a downloadable ZIP file. Available with an Individual Teacher Licence or Faculty Licence — One Campus.