Of Myths and Mermaid Tears

Our work over the remaining weeks of school will focus on, and in some ways weave together, the mythology of ancient Greece and River of Words poetry writing and art.  Students should be working toward completion of their mythology project, which is due on or before June 10. Next week, we don our dancing shoes to learn some traditional Greek dances!  Each class is also preparing recitations of ancient Greek poetry to perform at their showcase on June 11 (see invitation linked below).  

In class this week, students are reflecting on their observations and experiences during our field trip to Smith College, specifically at the "Plastic Entanglements" exhibit and Paradise Pond.  They will be composing a poem that integrates their observations, thoughts, and reactions and will have the opportunity to submit their poem to the River of Words contest. (If you didn't see last week's blog, there is a link to the River of Words Project for description and information.)  

Homework:

PROJECT DUE ON OR BEFORE JUNE 10

POEM draft due Friday for conferencing & revision

POEM FINAL DRAFT due Monday 6/3 (typed and printed, please)


Greek Showcase Invitation

River of Words Poetry Instructions

"Sing to me, oh muse, of the man of twists and turns driven time and again off course..."

So Homer invoked the muses to guide the retelling of the great warrior Odysseus, separated from home and family for 20 years, 10 at war and 10 journeying home to rocky Ithaca.  Starting today, students will hear "The Odyssey" told in three parts over three days. Through the descriptive language of this story, students will experience Poseidon's churning of the seas, will hear the song of the Sirens, and will bear witness to the integrity and loyalty of Odysseus to resist temptations and find his way home.  Following each story segment, students are discussing the imagery and themes that arise, all of which lead back to the essential question begged by the myths:  what does it mean to be human?

Friday's field trip to Smith College promises to be thought-provoking and engaging as students visit the museum, botanical garden and greenhouse, and Paradise Pond.  The ELA portion at the pond will bridge themes and ideas of "Plastic Entanglements" with those of the River of Words project (see attached link).  I have worked with ROW collaborators Margaret Babbott, Carol Berner, and Nancy Allen to create curriculum that stimulates students to think about entanglements in the natural world and our own place within it.  This will be achieved through a physical activity involving yarn, individual observations of nature, and an interactive poetry writing activity inspired by "Plastic Entanglements".   We will follow up this day's events with poetry writing and an art project--details to come in future blogs!

River of Words Project 

(be sure to click on 2019 winners/finalists--our own Trey Rivera, now in eighth grade, was a finalist for his poem, "The Mill River"!)

HOMEWORK:

Monday/Tuesday:  essay due; submit to google classroom by Wednesday.

Wed-Fri:  god(dess) chart due by 5/29

                   work on project!  due by 6/10

"Like wild doves, the goddesses swept from the skies...raised a roar like a great clap of hawk wings." --from "The Golden Apple"

When Eris, the goddess of discord, rolls a golden apple inscribed with "to the fairest" into a wedding celebration, Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite swoop in to vie for possession of it, each believing, of course, that they are the fairest.  Zeus charges the Trojan Paris to choose, and as each goddess offers him something in exchange, he picks Aphrodite, goddess of love and beauty, who offers him the love of the most beautiful woman in the world--Helen of Troy.  Thus sparks the Trojan War.  

Today students listened to Mr. Kachulis tell this story as well as scenes from "The Iliad", Homer's epic about the Trojan War.  They considered the mood of these scenes as well as titles and music that could be set to them.  

Tomorrow, students will begin drafting their essay about the mythological character they've been researching.  Mr. Kachulis will return later this week to talk about Greek drama and poetry, and students will work in groups to perform some Greek verse.

Homework

Monday:  completed research organizer due tomorrow--BRING IT TO CLASS!

Tuesday-Friday:  Draft essay; edit; revise; FINAL DRAFT of essay to be submitted on google classroom by 5/22.

Gods Chart:  continue working on this; turn it in by 5/29

Mythology Essay Outline

Diving Into Projects!

This week students will formulate their Greek mythology project plan and begin research for their essay/project.  They are choosing either a god, goddess, demigod, hero, or creature to research their domain, symbols, family, stories they're involved in, interesting facts about them, how the Greeks worshiped them (or not), and their influence on human beings then and now.  The research and essay writing will be done in class over the next two weeks, while projects will be completed at home.  Students have two options: either a 3D project or performance piece; they are also able to work with a partner provided they can get together outside of school to do this.  Instructions, schedule, project plan, updates, and research organizer are all linked below, and students were given hard copies in class.  Please note that the project planning sheet and each of 3 updates needs to be signed by a parent/caregiver.

Students will showcase their work at our "Celebration of Ancient Greece" event scheduled for June 11.  On that day, family members are invited to visit, preferably during their student's ELA class period, to view projects and performances. Students will be encouraged to wear a simple costume (think bed sheet toga, sandals, belt, wreath of ivy/flowers; sometimes girls have dresses or dance costumes that work well as a goddess costume). Keep an eye out in upcoming weeks for an invitation that outlines class period times (I will give students a hard copy and link it to my blog).

Homework
 
Monday:  Persephone/Hades diary due tomorrow--PRINTED!  
                   Read/chart Hermes
                   Project plan due Wednesday

Tuesday:  Project plan due tomorrow
                    Read/chart Hephaestus

Wednesday:  Read/chart Aphrodite
                          Gather project materials


Thursday:  Catch up on reading/charting
                      Gather project materials

Friday:  Catch up on reading/charting; work on project

Project instructions, plan sheet, update form

Research organizer