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

"If you wish to be a good reader, read; if you wish to be a good writer, write." --Epictetus, Greek philosopher 55-135 AD

Students used their imaginations and creativity as they wrapped up their study of "Theseus and the Minotaur" with booklets illustrating the story, including group members' reviews of the tale.  This week they will be treated to two myths.  Today we listened to the story of "Demeter and Persephone," usually heard by children as a nature myth that explains the changing seasons.  However, after discussing the characters and their actions, students have come to realize that there are many more layers to this story than first appears, and that ultimately, it shows us what it means to be human.  We also viewed a slide show of paintings and sculptures portraying the characters in the story, as well as photographs of the ruins of Demeter's temple and sacred well, and Hecate's cave (thought to be an entrance to the Underworld).

Next up is the story of "Perseus and the Medusa", another hero's journey that involves both gods and monsters.  Perseus is given gifts of the gods, but he must have the inner wisdom and courage to use them to his advantage.  Students will engage both of this week's myths through creative writing activities.  They will work on the first one, a Persephone or Hades diary, this week.  Next week they will write a Perseus travelogue pamphlet.

Homework:

Monday/Tuesday:  catch up on reading/charting (through the story of Demeter); if didn't finish Theseus page, need to do so!

Wednesday/Thursday:  read Birth of the Twins & Artemis (due Friday); draft of diary entry due Friday for conferencing

Friday:  Final draft of diary entry due Monday (PRINTED!)

Persephone/Hades Diary Instructions

Diary brainstorming organizer

Wisdom Begins in Wonder --Socrates

Today we spent some time wondering about Greek mythology:  what do the myths have to do with us today?  What can we learn from god(desse)s who possess supernatural powers along with human characteristics?  How does ancient Greek culture influence our own literature, art, and music?  We will revisit these questions as we hear and read the stories of the Greek gods and goddesses.

We have officially set sail for ancient Greece, and our ship will at times be navigated by artist-in-residence Nick Kachulis.  Nick is a resident of Florence; he is a Greek scholar, musician, and visiting teacher in public and charter schools.  We began the "Celebration of Ancient Greece" program about 15 years ago, yet each year our curricular activities morph based on students' interests as well as changing standards.  Throughout our unit, Nick will visit each week to tell myths, introduce us to ancient Greek art forms and drama, and to guide students with their research projects.  Our journey through ancient Greece will end in June with a showcase of students' projects and performances (date tba).  [Note:  this program is funded by a grant from the JFK PTO and the Massachusetts Cultural Council Creative Schools Grant]

Homework:

Monday:  read Zeus & Hera in mythology book; domain pic due Wed.

Tuesday:  read Athena; domain pic due tomorrow

Wednesday:  catch up on reading if needed

Thursday:  none unless you owe something

Friday:  read Poseidon & Hades (if didn't finish in class); begin putting the god(desse)s you've read so far on your chart [you will also have time to work on this on Monday in class]

Domain pic assignment

Theseus and the Minotaur animated video

"A poem begins in delight and ends in wisdom." --Robert Frost

I can't say that all students respond with delight to the thought of poetry writing.  It's often met with at least a couple of outward groans, and maybe some inner sighs as well.  But I can say that I have had the pleasure over the course of many years to watch the metamorphosis occur from sighs and groans to pleasure and pride!  Poetry is, in fact, the perfect vehicle for students--anyone really--to express their thoughts, ideas and emotions in fresh new ways.

In celebration of National Poetry Month, we will be reading and writing poems this week.  After those initial groans, I think that today's "line auction" successfully triggered some delight!  Students were asked, as a "do now" activity, to write one line of poetry on a piece of paper and not share it with anyone.  Then, once all lines were dropped in a basket, I held a line auction:  when students heard a line they loved, they needed to shoot their hand in the air to claim it.  And so the delight began as students considered their line as inspiration for a free verse poem; to let their minds take that line in any direction and to use the line anywhere within the poem. The wisdom that often emanates from children's poetry and their creative play with language then becomes the teacher's delight! 

Mid-week I will launch a "chain poem" which is generated from a stream of consciousness list of words.  The final poem will be inspired by French artist Francis Picabia who said, "Our heads are round so our thoughts can change direction."  Students will be challenged to craft a poem about a thought, idea, or belief that at some point changes direction, both in their minds and within their poems.

Though we've run out of time for a separate unit on poetry, we will engage in this week's intensive workshop and I will incorporate poetry into our Greek mythology unit which will begin after April break.  This poetry writing will also tie into our field trip in late May to the Smith College museum, botanical garden, and Paradise Pond, where students will engage in learning activities related to the "Plastic Entanglements" exhibit.  Our poetry writing and possible art project connected to the field trip is part of an international program called "River of Words" (see attached link), which I lead in collaboration with Smith professor Carol Berner, and former parent/teacher/poets Margaret Babbott and Nancy Allen.

River of Words Program

I'm so pleased to say that one of my students from last year, Trey Rivera, was nominated as a finalist in the ROW poetry contest!  His poem will be published in digital and print volumes of all finalists' work.  This was his poem:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/10epnPWlLZ9FJ0MNOZcWutp9r3ts3hsN12h7r_OGW0E4/edit

Resources for those who didn't save the handout:
Literary Devices p. 1
Literary Devices pg. 2
Poetry Writing Criteria

Homework:

Mon-Tues:  final draft "line auction" poem due (PRINTED to turn in!) WEDNESDAY
Wed-Thurs:  final draft "chain poem" due (PRINTED) FRIDAY
Friday:  work on "Our heads are round" poem; due Monday 4/22 (PRINTED to turn in)

Our Heads Are Round Poem Instructions/Example
Our Heads Are Round Brainstorming Chart

Please note:  anyone traveling over break who cannot work on this poem can have extra time to complete it (just see me upon return to determine a due date).