October 30, 2014 - Thursday

Here's where we are:

A. First, we need to finish the TRANSFORMATION presentations.

Next:

B. Share a ghost story.  There are plenty out there. Find one. Practice telling it or practice reading it. Either way, you have no more than 5 minutes to share the tale. Use your voice, facial expressions and movements to make us believe that things really do go bump in the night. (75 points) http://americanfolklore.net/halloween.html


or
 B. We will study Halloween things. Draw your item out of the pumpkin. Your task is to find out all that you can about the history of the object. How did it come to be associated with Halloween? What is its significance? What special "powers" does it have? How is it viewed today. Create a picture collage of your object. Show it while you share the information with the class on Thursday. 75 points)

A. History
B. Halloween association
C. Importance
D. Powers
E. Reactions today

*******Extra Credit: Come in costume! This is NOT required but will take the place of 50 points of a PAST missing assignment. (Pictures, please!)

FYI:

 Now - let's take a look at Ghost Towns: http://www.cbsnews.com/sunday-morning/

 

TREAT TIME!

 

and . . . no homework - no trick.

 

Happy Halloween! Happy Haunting!

 

 

October 28, 2014 Tuesday

Class Work

This was the homework:

 

Select a character who undergoes a transformation. Explain:

1. What or who was the character before the transformation. Describe visually.

2. What or who the character becomes.

3. Discuss the personality before and after the transformation.

4. Explain if the transformation is for the good of society and the individual or if the transformation is evil and/or dangerous.

5. If possible, provide a link to the transformation scene if the story has been made into a movie. Or, provide illustrations.

6. Be prepared to share the information and the scene/illustrations in class on Tuesday, October 28, 2014.

(50 Points)

At the end of the presentations, you will be asked to compare your transformed or transforming character to the other transformed or transforming characters.  (Orange sheet provided) (46 pts.)

1. Identify your character.
2. How does your character transform?
3. What other character(s) transform as yours does?
4. What is the reason your character transforms?
5. What other characters have similar reasons?
6. What are the results of your character's transformation?
7. What other characters have similar results?
8. How did other "beings" react to your transformed character?
9. What other characters have similar reactions?
10. If you had the ability to transform, would you? Explain. What would be the advantages? What would be the disadvantages?

Thursday we will be sharing ghost stories. There are plenty out there. Find one. Practice telling it or practice reading it. Either way, you have no more than 5 minutes to share the tale. Use your voice, facial expressions and movements to make us believe that things really do go bump in the night. (75 points)


or



We will study Halloween things. Draw your item out of the pumpkin. Your task is to find out all that you can about the history of the object. How did it come to be associated with Halloween? What is its significance? What special "powers" does it have? How is it viewed today. Create a picture collage of your object. Show it while you share the information with the class on Thursday. 75 points)



Extra Credit: Come in costume! This is NOT required but will take the place of 50 points of a PAST missing assignment.

 

 Now - let's take a look at Ghost Towns: http://www.cbsnews.com/sunday-morning/

October 23, 2014 - Thursday

Class Work

1. Which story did you read? What did you like about it? What was challenging? Was it frightening? What Gothic elements did you find?

These were the choices:
For homework, read or listen to one of Poe's stories. Summarize the tale in a note to a friend where you try to get the friend to read or to avoid the story. (1 page)

 Choose from:

"The Black Cat"

"The Pit and the Pendelium"

"The Cask of Amontillado"

"The Masque of the Red Death"

"The Tell-Tale Heart"

 

Find them here: http://poestories.com/stories.php

2

4. What characters from literature, movies, or television transform?
Consider:
Superman
Incredible Hulk
Popeye
Batman
Cat Woman
Beast from Beauty and the Beast
Little Mermaid/Ursula
(Name more!)

Watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iojcp__Tm6Y

Beast transformations- good to bad and back again:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__x8CYAVMbk
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ms05La1pDIU

If there were a potion to cure all of the evil in the world, would you want a taste? Consider the following:

• Politicians
• Economic Leaders
• Religious Leaders
• Lawyers & Judges & Police
• Medical Workers

3. I think we can all agree that there would be a transformation of society!
What does "transformation" mean today? What did it mean in the late 1800s?
Now: https://dictionary.search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=AwrSbngIS0lURIMAqnVXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTB0OW44bmU5BHNlYwNzYwRjb2xvA2dxMQR2dGlkA1NNRTY1Ml8x?p=transformation&.sep=
Then: http://webstersdictionary1828.com/

For the rest of class we will look at the 1820 version of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

Homework:

Select a character who undergoes a transformation. Explain:
1. What or who was the character before the transformation. Describe visually.
2. What or who the character becomes.
3. Discuss the personality before and after the transformation.
4. Explain if the transformation is for the good of society and the individual or if the transformation is evil and/or dangerous.
5. If possible, provide a link to the transformation scene if the story has been made into a movie. Or, provide illustrations.
6. Be prepared to share the information and the scene/illustrations in class on Tuesday, October 28, 2014.

October 21, 2014 - Tuesday

Class Work
1. Write the title of the horror movie you watched on the board. Join with others who saw the same movie. If nobody else watched your movie, the choice of partners is up to you.

Discuss:
1. Main characters/acting
2. Music
3. "color" and lighting
4. The stuff that scared you.
5. Why you liked or did not like the movie.
6. Are there follow-up movies?  Should there be?

Were you scared of monsters in the closet, under the bed, or outside of the window? Share a memory.

Now for a little bit of fun: Monster's Inc. (Discover the answer to why children are scared of monsters in the night.)

************************
Back to ravens. What facts did you find out about the birds?

We will now follow along as Vincent Price reads Edgar Allen Poe's famous poem, "The Raven."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuGZ_wp_i9w
Look for the following and be ready to discuss.
Purple?
Raven?
Lenore?
Speaker?
Nevermore?
Friends?
Midnight?
Etc.
For homework, read or listen to one of Poe's stories. Summarize the tale in a note to a friend where you try to get the friend to read or to avoid the story. (1 page)
 Choose from:
"The Black Cat"
"The Pit and the Pendelium"
"The Cask of Amontillado"
"The Masque of the Red Death"
"The Tell-Tale Heart"

Find them here: http://poestories.com/stories.php

October 16, 2014 - Thursday

Class Work

Leftovers . . .
 Homework: A. What would you expect to find in a haunted house? List at least 20 items.
Having trouble? Check this site: http://www.virtualsalt.com/gothic.htm 
B. Think about it. Why do these items scare people? Select one to research. Find out the who, what, when, where, why, and how of the item. What is the history? Where did the "fear" begin? This should be at least one page in length. Cite your sources. This is due Tuesday.
What scares you? It is normal to have at least 2 or possible 3 fears. (Discussion)
Why do these things frighten you?
Is there a grain of truth in the fear - a reason for you to have the fear?

What horror movies have you seen? Why do people go to horror movies anyway? Why do we humans seem to enjoy a safe scare?
http://horror.about.com/od/horrorthemelists/tp/20basedontruestory.htm
http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/features/exploring-thrill-seeking-personalities
http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/10/why-do-some-brains-enjoy-fear/280938/
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/10/25/why-our-brains-love-horror-movies-fear-catharsis-a-sense-of-doom.html

Read at least two articles and then summarize the information in three paragraphs. You may locate other articles. Include your source. Post in CANVAS by Tuesday.


Over the weekend, you need to watch a horror movie and read a scary story.  (More information will be given on Thursday.) Let's discuss possibilities.


Class Activity
In class, you will listen to a folktale that originated in Afganastan. The selection is from And the Mountains Echoed,  a book by Khaled Hosseini. He also wrote The Kite Runner. As you listen to the folktale, draw the monster and add additional information about where the monster lives and what the monster does. Add notes to explain. Paper and markers will be provided. Feel free to add notes to your illustration.







 What do you know about RAVENS?



http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/raven/
http://news.softpedia.com/news/10-Amazing-Facts-About-Ravens-70914.shtml
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/492234/raven

Ravens and other birds: http://www.shades-of-night.com/aviary/birdfict.html

5. Read at least three stories featuring ravens from:
http://www.shades-of-night.com/aviary/birdfict.html
Post your summaries of each story in CANVAS. Due next Thursday.

6. Watch a horror movie over the weekend. Be ready for an in-class activity on Tuesday.

Now . . . on with The Raven!

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuGZ_wp_i9w
Purple?
Raven?
Lenore?
Speaker?
Nevermore?
Friends?
Midnight?
Etc.

October 14, 2014 - Tuesday

Class Work

1. In class, you will listen to a folktale that originated in Afganastan. The selection is from And the Mountains Echoed,  a book by Khaled Hosseini. He also wrote The Kite Runner. As you listen to the folktale, draw the monster and add additional information about where the monster lives and what the monster does. Add notes to explain. Paper and markers will be provided. Feel free to add notes to your illustration.

 2. Pick a monster, any monster, from literature or film. Read all that you can about that monster. Interview three friends or classmates to see what, if anything, they know about your monster. (You just adopted a monster!) Be ready to introduce your monster to the class next Tuesday. Prepare a poster or PowerPoint to use to describe the monster.  Be sure to tell us:

• The name of the monster.
• What the monster looks like.
• Where the monster originated.
• Where the monster lives.
• The size of the monster.
• Special abilities of the monster.
• Why the monster is famous or should be.
• Hardships faces by the monster.
• What the monster has done to become famous
• How to avoid or kill the monster

Have a bit of fun with this. We will share next Tuesday. Don't forget to bring your monster! Post in CANVAS by Tuesday, October 14, 2014.

What scares you? It is normal to have at least 2 or possible 3 fears. (Discussion)
Why do these things frighten you?
Is there a grain of truth in the fear - a reason for you to have the fear?

What horror movies have you seen? Why do people go to horror movies anyway? Why do we humans seem to enjoy a safe scare?
http://horror.about.com/od/horrorthemelists/tp/20basedontruestory.htm

Over the weekend, you need to watch a horror movie and read a scary story.  (More information will be given on Thursday.) Let's discuss possibilities.



3. Homework: A. What would you expect to find in a haunted house? List at least 20 items.
Having trouble? Check this site: http://www.virtualsalt.com/gothic.htm 
B. Think about it. Why do these items scare people? Select one to research. Find out the who, what, when, where, why, and how of the item. What is the history? Where did the "fear" begin? This should be at least one page in length. Cite your sources.










 


This was the homework.

Now, pick a monster, any monster, from literature or film. Read all that you can about that monster. Interview three friends or classmates to see what, if anything, they know about your monster. (You just adopted a monster!) Be ready to introduce your monster to the class next Tuesday. Prepare a poster or PowerPoint to use to describe the monster.  Be sure to tell us:

• The name of the monster.
• What the monster looks like.
• Where the monster originated.
• Where the monster lives.
• The size of the monster.
• Special abilities of the monster.
• Why the monster is famous or should be.
• Hardships faces by the monster.
• What the monster has done to become famous
• How to avoid or kill the monster

Have a bit of fun with this. We will share next Tuesday. Don't forget to bring your monster! Post in CANVAS by Tuesday, October 14, 2014.

We will present today!

October 7, 2014, Tuesday

Class Work

1. Cinderella Day - Watch and learn from each other.

• Each group will present. All must participate.
• Take notes. (Sheet provided)

2.  It's time to adopt a monster!

Speaking of monsters . . . what monsters do you know of? (Brainstorm at your table. Do a quick search for pictures/illustrations of these monsters. Also, see what written  information is available. Create an annotated list of links. (List the link - tell what you found there - one submission per table.)


This site has some "monster" information. You might find it interesting. Peruse it for homework.
http://public.wsu.edu/~delahoyd/monsters.html

Now, pick a monster, any monster, from literature or film. Read all that you can about that monster. Interview three friends or classmates to see what, if anything, they know about your monster. (You just adopted a monster!) Be ready to introduce your monster to the class next Tuesday. Prepare a poster or PowerPoint to use to describe the monster.  Be sure to tell us:

• The name of the monster.
• What the monster looks like.
• Where the monster originated.
• Where the monster lives.
• The size of the monster.
• Special abilities of the monster.
• Why the monster is famous or should be.
• Hardships faces by the monster.
• What the monster has done to become famous
• How to avoid or kill the monster

Have a bit of fun with this. We will share next Tuesday. Don't forget to bring your monster! Post in CANVAS by Tuesday, October 14, 2014.

Announcement: There is no class on Thursday, October 9, 2014. I have a medical appoint that cannot be changed.

October 2, 2014 Thursday

Class Work

We will begin with Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters - An African Tale.

Directions:
1. Join a group of no more than 5.
2. Select a Cinderella story.
3. Read it.
4. Compare and contrast it to the Cinderella stories already discussed in class.
5. Prepare to share the story with the class.
6. Use PowerPoint. Tell the story as the slides progress. Add facial expression and vocal inflection as the pages "turn!"
 7. All must participate.

Let the fun begin!

Groups will present on Tuesday. Post the project in CANVAS by Tuesday. Be sure to have ALL names of group members on the title slide along with the country and story title.


********************
Final 20 minutes of class:
Not everybody is in love with the idea of the perfect princess . . .

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/24/magazine/24princess.t.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

Listen to a few lines from the article. . .

For homework, please write a one-page reaction to the article. Read the entire article first. Look back at your notes. This is a paper where you will agree or disagree with the author of the article. Clearly show what you think. Record the one-page essay in Canvas. Due: Tuesday, October 7, 2014.