The Skull Readers' Theatre Unit -Philip K. Dick

Conger agreed to kill a stranger he had never seen. But he would make no mistakes because he had the stranger’s skull under his arm.

Included in The Skull Readers’ Theatre Unit:
36 pages
1 Major Character + the narrator
2 Supporting Characters
11 Minor Characters
Reader’s Theatre Evaluations based on 4 levels and 5 criteria.
Student Success Criteria
Student Friendly Goals
Teacher’s Reader’s Theatre Checklist
27 Metacognitive Questions
Book Report Rubric based on 4 levels
Drawing Conclusions about Characters activity

The Skull synopsis:
Prisoner Omar Conger is approached while in prison by a council speaker who offers him a chance at redemption: he must travel back in time to eliminate the Founder before he can influence society with his doctrine of non-violence. Former hunter Conger is equipped with a futuristic weapon and the skull of the Founder, which is purported to be the only way he can identify his target. As he navigates the past, Conger encounters suspicious townspeople and begins to unravel the implications of his mission, grappling with existential questions about fate and purpose. How will Conger find the Founder with only his skull? Will Conger be able to change the future while xenophobic and nosy townspeople question him about being a communist? Find out in The Skull Readers’ Theatre Unit!

The Skull delves into the complexities of time travel and the philosophical implications of altering the past, focusing on the themes of identity, mortality, and the consequences of one’s actions.

Mr. Marvel’s Musings:
This story reminded me of the movies 12 Monkeys (a prisoner from the future is asked to travel to the past to alter his present timeline) and The Terminator (A person from the future appears from the past with a mission to eliminate a target).

I hope you, and your students enjoy reading The Skull, and continue to do so for many years.

Excelsior!
Mr. Marvel: The King of Reader’s Theatre