A Science Fiction Project: The Trait Exchange World

What would you trade away—and what would you pay to gain? This collaborative unit turns your classroom into a sci-fi writers' workshop! Students build a shared world together where human traits—skills, memories, emotions, talents—can be bought, sold, and exchanged. Inspired by Henry Slesar's "The Self-Improvement of Salvador Ross," they explore the ethics, economics, and consequences of trading what makes us human. Divided into five groups, students develop the government, technology, social impact, marketplace, and history of the Trait Exchange. Then each writer creates their own story within the shared universe. Includes an icebreaker, world-building phases, collaborative drafting, revision checklists, and a final class anthology. Complete teacher's guides are available. Perfect for grades 9–12, creative writing, or science fiction units. No prep stress—just print and write.