February 27, 2020 - Thursday

Class Work

1. Let's finish The Div.
A. What has happened so far?
B. What does your version of The Div look like?
C. A quick glance at other pictures: https://www.google.com/search?q=pictures+of+the+Div+middle+eastern+monster&tbm=isch&source=univ&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwigjsCWq_LnAhW3HzQIHbCmCpsQsAR6BAgHEAE&biw=1920&bih=937

D. Now on with the story ...

Back to the Trojan War!

What do you think - is the BBC series on Troy worth your time?

2.  What are the key elements in an epic!
A. Hero
B. Setting
C. Courage
D. Supernatural elements
E. Elevated style
F. Objective reporting by the teller

And

• Begins with an invocation to the muse
• Open in medias res - in the middle of things
• Catalog of warriors, ships, armies, etc.
• Long and formal speeches
• Simile and metaphor

3. Outline of Thr Trojan War in Chronological order

4. Name those Greeks and Trojans ...

Homework

Finish reading Homer's excerpts from The Iliad.

Complete the following

1. Highlight references to gods. Note if the god is favoring the Greeks or Trojans or both.

2. Underline all similes. (A simile is a comparison using like or as. 

3. In a  color for Greek and another color for Trojan, highlight the fighters/ heroes/soldiers/others mentioned.

Bring the highlighted sheets to class on Tuesday.

Part II

Conduct a bit of research. Answer the following:

1. What was Odysseus's strategy for winning the Trojan War?

2. Where did Achilles hide, and why was he hiding?

3. How and why was Iphigenia sacrificed? (Who was she?)

4. Why were Achilles and Agamemnon arguing?

5. What happened when Paris and Menelaus fought?

6. Describe the death of Hector.

7. What made Achilles almost invincible? How did he die?

8. What happened to Helen after the war?

9. What happened to Agamemnon after the war?

10 How long was Odysseus away from his home island of Ithaca?

The Internet is filled with wonderful answers! Don't forget our own EMCC online library! 

Due Tuesday. 

February 24, 2020 - Tuesday

We might need to save the Div pictures until Thursday. (Your  teacher can't find her speaker!)

How did the Trojan War begin?

Major characters in The Iliad /Trojan War- List and identify. Look for information in another book, on another site, or in a movie.

https://www.thoughtco.com/major-figures-in-the-trojan-war-112873

https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/i/the-iliad/character-list

Select 5 Trojans, 5 Greeks, and 5 Gods. (We shall decide in class.) Learn all that you can about your assigned Trojans, Greeks, and Gods. Be ready to share and perhaps play or make a game on Thursday.)




Watch this mini-series: In Search of the Trojan War

View Part I for homework. This is a BBC production in six parts. 

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkbUQKyie_w&list=PLH2l6uzC4UEVdmfoR1awrHKEJFIsbcdu6

List 10 key points made in the presentation. We will discuss on Thursday.

(We will see if we like the show before going further.)

February 20, 2020 . . . Thursday

This is where we left off . . . can't wait to meet your monster!

. Let's create a  list of monsters from around the world! (Our own Phoenix should be on the list!)

Think about monsters from movies . . .

1. Why might monter myths be developed?

2. Why did/do humans need monsters, or do we?

3. Consider: monsters as punishment

Monsters for excitement

Monsters who are real

Monsters to explain nature

4. Are all monsters terrifying?

5. What is the difference between a cute monster and a terrifying one?

6. Which monster might have existed or been created to personify fear or danger?

7. What monsters migh have been "invented" to explain something in nature?

Do you know these monsters from the Greeks? Draw a number . . . 

A. Identify the monster - describe

B. Find the origin of the monster

C. Tell of any memorable "episodes" that featured your monster. 

1. Cyclopes
2. Centimanus
3. Centaurs
4. Silent Lake Centaurs
5. Satyrs
6. Sirens
7. Gorgons
8. Graiae Women
9. Furies
10. Argus
11. Scylla

Homework:  Adopt a monster! 

Bring in a picture of a monster. 

Research the history of the monster. 

Share the story. 

Explain the need for this monster. 

Note, this monster should not be on the "Greek" list above. 

Activity #1 ... Meet the monsters ( Take notes about each other's monsters.) After all presentations, we will look for similarities.

(My monster . . . Meet the Div.  This monster is known in the middle east. Listen to this tale from Chapter 1 from  And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini - author of The Kite Runner. 

Paper, markers, and crayons are provided for your drawing pleasure. There are no photographs of this beast!

Activity #2 - 

Greek Monsters . . . see list above

https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0753LK642/ref=atv_dl_rdr?autoplay=1

Homework

The Trojan War

A. Fact or Fiction?  http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20200106-did-the-trojan-war-actually-happen
https://www.greekmythology.com/Myths/The_Myths/Trojan_War/trojan_war.html

https://blog.britishmuseum.org/the-myth-of-the-trojan-war/

Visit these sites. 

B. Tell how the Trojan War started.
C. Decide if there are enough facts to prove that an actual war took place. Justify in writing.(1-2 paragraps)
D. Who was Helen and what does a golden apple have to do with the story? http://dante.udallas.edu/hutchison/Trojan_War/golden_apple.htm
E.  Identify Helen's parents and briefly tell the love story. http://www.mythencyclopedia.com/Go-Hi/Helen-of-Troy.html

Feel free to consult additional sources. These are provided as a place to start. 

On Tuesday, we will get to know the major player in the Trojan War story. 

February 18, 2020- Tuesday

1. Features of the Cinderella story around the world . . .

1. Talking or singing animals
2. Bad cat or other critter
3. Fairy Godmother or guide
4. Use of vegetables (pumpkin)
5. Ball or party
6. Prince
7. Prince’s quest for the perfect woman
8. Magic
9. Magic spell/incantation
10. Shoe
11. Evil step mother
12. Evil sibling(s)
13. Quest/challenge for the woman
14. “Cinders”
15. Difficult circumstances/tasks
16. Happily ever after . . .
17. Justice for the evil ones…

. Why is this story so popular around the world?

2. Share your story.


Fun version: https://www.dltk-teach.com/fairy-tales/cinderella/story.htm Reader's Theatre



Homework:

Is Cinderella a proper role model for young girls? (There is no one right answer . . . )

Read this article:    http://sutterfield.weebly.com/uploads/1/2/6/8/12686139/kolbenschlag_article.pdf
AND
Read an additional article.

Then - 
A. Identify and summarize each article.

B. In a paragraph or two, share your opinion. Is Cinderella a proper role model for young girls today? If so, why? If not, why not? Share examples from the readings and from life experiences.

Additional Articles . . . read ONE. 

https://www.thethings.com/15-reasons-why-cinderella-should-be-your-favorite-disney-princess/

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/does-world-need-yet-another-cinderella-180954549/


https://folkstory.com/articles/cinderella.html

http://www.mtv.com/news/2269653/cinderella-chris-weitz-interview/

FYI
Titles from around the world:

• Yeh-Shen: A Cinderella Story from China by Ai-Ling Louie
• The Rough-Face Girl by Rafe Martin
• The Way Meat Loves Salt: A Cinderella Tale from the Jewish Tradition by Nina Jaffe
• The Golden Sandal: A Middle Eastern Cinderella Story by Rebecca Hickox
• Jouanah: A Hmong Cinderella by Jewell Reinhart Coburn
• The Turkey Girl: A Zuni Cinderella Story by Penny Pollock
• The Persian Cinderella by Shirley Climo
• Fair, Brown & Trembling : An Irish Cinderella Story by Jude Daly
• Angkat: The Cambodian Cinderella by Jewell Reinhart Coburn
• Estrellita de oro / Little Gold Star: A Cinderella Cuento by Joe Hayes
• Sootface by Robert D. San Souci
• Cendrillon: A Caribbean Cinderella by Robert D. San Souci
• The Korean Cinderella by Shirley Climo
• Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters by John Steptoe
• Domitila: A Cinderella Tale from the Mexican Tradition by Jewell Reinhart Coburn
• Raisel's Riddle by Erica Silverman
• Smoky Mountain Rose by Alan Schroeder
• The Gift of the Crocodile: A Cinderella Story by Judy Sierra
• The Egyptian Cinderella by Shirley Climo
• The Golden Slipper: A Vietnamese Legend by Darrell H. Y. Lum
• Little Gold Star: A Spanish American Cinderella Tale by Robert D. San Souci
• Baba Yaga and Vasilisa the Brave by Marianna Mayer
• Abadeha: The Philippine Cinderella by Myrna J. De LA Paz
• Chinye: A West African Folk Tale by Obi Onyefulu

Reader's Theatre:

http://www.aaronshep.com/rt/RTE12.html

*******************************************************************

Moving on . . .

Monsters - Real and Imagined

Pictures of monsters in the night https://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images;_ylt=A0SO8xbaFBxW670Af6NXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTEybHRncHM5BGNvbG8DZ3ExBHBvcwMxBHZ0aWQDQjA5MzRfMQRzZWMDc2M-?p=Monstes+In+the+Night&fr=yfp-t-901

A. Let's create  list of monsters from around the world! (Our own Phoenix should be on the list!)

Think about monsters from movies . . .

1. Why might monter myths be developed?

2. Why did/do humans need monsters, or do we?

3. Consider: monsters as punishment

Monsters for excitement

Monsters who are real

Monsters to explain nature

4. Are all monsters terrifying?

5. What is the difference between a cute monster and a terrifying one?

6. Which monster might have existed or been created to personify fear or danger?

7. What monsters migh have been "invented" to explain something in nature?

Do you know these monsters from the Greeks? Draw a number . . . 

A. Identify the monster - describe

B. Find the origin of the monster

C. Tell of any memorable "episodes" that featured your monster. 

1. Cyclopes
2. Centimanus
3. Centaurs
4. Silent Lake Centaurs
5. Satyrs
6. Sirens
7. Gorgons
8. Graiae Women
9. Furies
10. Argus
11. Scylla

Homework:  Adopt a monster! 

Bring in a picture of a monster. 

Research the history of the monster. 

Share the story. 

Explain the need for this monster. 

Note, this monster should not be on the "Greek" list above. 

February 13, 2020 - Thursday

Today the class will be devoted to LOVE myths.

Remember Romeo and Juliet? I seems that Shakespeare was familiar with the Greek myth of Pyramus and Thisbe. What do you think? Why would stories like this be popular?

R & J: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yClVlc_niac
Death of: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5sZmLAUTBs

P & T  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrlvRv8JApc


You were to locate one of  stories about Zeus and one of his many loves. What myth did you find?

(Chart)

We will share the stories and fill in the chart.

First, let's consider a couple of ideas.

What is Syncretism?

Have you heard of Santeria?

Why would Zeus appear to some as an animal or as something from nature?

What power might be added to a city or town if it could trace its roots to Zeus?

What other cultures worshiped gods that were a mixture of human and animal form?

After looking at the graphics below, you will see that the concept of god mixed with animal is not unusual.

Celtic



Native American


African





Polynesian


Chinese


Inca:


Egyptian



Beauty and the Beast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3Nl_TCQXuw

Now, back to stories of Zeus! Share and take notes.

If you want to know more, watch and listen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1qJTgz5lvY

As time permits, we will enjoy some of the many love stories gifted to us by the ancients:

Cupid and Psyche: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gjj_-CPxjCM

Echo and Narcissus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uMVPA2Vwh8

Homework:

Find a love story that was not covered in class. Write and retell the story in your own words. 
Be sure to share the culture from which it came. Explain if it is similar to a familiar story from our own culture. 


Also, Review the story of Cinderella! Grimm or Disney will do. 

February 6, 2020 Thursday

Review of the homework from Tuesday
Write your story. Be sure to include the required elements from the list we created in class. Please include one picture and one sound effect. (onomatopoeia)

Explain who needs to know this? (Demographic information)

Post the original myth in Canvas. We will READ these to each other on Thursday. Have fun!

Writing: 50 points
Reading to the class: 25 points
Demographic information, sound effects, and illustration: 25 points

100 points total



Why did certain things happen in nature?  Here are the items that you needed to include in your original story.

1. A visual
2. Sound effects 
3. Dialogue/conversation (correctly punctuated)
4. The answer to the question
5. Identify your audience. 


Time to read your story! Gather round the fire for some not-so-scientific reasons. 

Let's loosen up by weaving a myth together and answer the question - Why do_________________?

One student will begin then pass the ball to the next student who will move on with the story. The first two students create two talking animals and identify the question.

The remaining students continue the story, add sound effects, and eventually answer the question. That is the end. 

Let's try . . .

Now it is your turn to read your original story to us and to show us the visual. Have fun with the sound effects. 


Moving on to myths of LOVE! Cupic will be busy next week! 

Homework:

A. Identify Cupid. Tell of one of his "love" adventures".

Think about these quotations: 

“The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love, and to let it come in.”
— Morrie Schwartz

“Love will find a way through paths where wolves fear to prey.”
— Lord Byron

B. Now find a couple of quotations that "say something" to you. (share)


Keep those thoughts in mind as you read a famous love story that was given to us by the Greeks. 

C. Pick a "loving couple" from the pink envelope. Your task is to investivate the story as if you were a news reporter. You are looking for the Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How of the myth. 

Consult three sources.  Different versions add different information. Keep track of your sources.

Write your news story. Microsoft Word offers many templates for News Letters/flyers. Put the sources on the bottom of the page. 

Post the completed document in Canvas by Tuesday. We will share these. 


50 points for the document
10 points for sharing
Total: 60 

If time permits, we will have a bit of fun with a Readers Theatre love story that features a frog.

February 4, 2020

1. This was the homework:

Locate, read, and be ready to tell of story of how something in the natural universe/world came to be.

Consider: 
How tigers got their stripes
Why the wind blows
Why the moon changes in size
Why it rains
Etc . . . This is by no means an exhaustive list. Let's add to the possibilities!

Assignment:

1. Give the element of nature as the title.
Identify the culture and location (5 points)
2. Relate the story in points/bullets (10 points)
3. Provide a picture(10 points)
4. Give credit to your sources (5 points) YouTube has many viewing options. Conduct a quick Google search for options. The world is filled with stories of how things in the universe came to be. 
5. Share the story in class. You have 2 1/2 minutes. (20 points)

(Post 1-4 in Canvas by Tuesday, February 4, 2020. )

Now, gather around the fire and tell your story. You may make notes on an index card to reference as you relate the tale.  


2. Why were myths told? Why was there a need for myths? Does that need still exist? (Discussion)  http://myths.e2bn.org/about/info273-why-were-the-stories-told.html

3. Create your own myth to explain how or why some animal or feature of the animal exists.

A. Let's look at a popular one from Africa.
We will create a list of what to include in your own myth. Write down this list or snap a picture from the board. You will need the elements for your homework.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGmGwaYsBiw

B. Let's brainstorm some possible topics.

C. Homework: 

Write your story. Be sure to include the required elements from the list we created in class. Please include one picture and one sound effect. (onomatopoeia)

Explain who needs to know this? (Demographic information)

Post the original myth in Canvas. We will READ these to each other on Thursday. Have fun!

Writing: 50 points
Reading to the class: 25 points
Demographic information, sound effects, and illustration: 25 points

100 points total