Friday, February 7, 2014

Dystopian Book Club Interschool Digital Collaboration

Welcome everyone!! Today's the day to launch the Dystopian Book Club Interschool Chat. This is the first time that a project of this collaborative nature has ever been done before here in Regina Catholic Schools and possibly one of the first here in Saskatchewan, so you are all part of this monumental event!!

In today's chat you will get a chance to talk about a video which relates to our Dystopian theme and discuss the novel with students who are reading the same book as you. Your discussion will be lead by one of the teachers involved in the project. These schools include: Deshaye, St. Gabriel, and St. Francis.

In today's chat we will be discussing questions about a clip from Wall-e and your novels. These questions may be seen below.

Here are the links to the chats. Be sure to go to your book club chat!



Novels
Teacher Leader
Today’s Meet Link
Edmodo Code
Divergent
Mr. Bresiciani (Deshaye)
5fwnnc
Legend
Ms. Stewart-Mitchell/Ms. Treptau
(St. Gabriel)
ej9jiw

City of Ember
Ms. Stewart-Mitchell
(St. Francis)
b6ugtk
UPDATED
Hunger Games
Mr. Rieger
(St. Francis)
w3exqw
Among the Hidden
Mrs. Nicolson
(St. Gabriel)
jxj9k4
Eleventh Plague
Mrs. Folk
(Deshaye)

fjevzs
Matched
Mr. Redler
(St. Gabriel)
8gf58p
Maze Runner
Ms. Treptau
(St. Gabriel)
7ttvf4



Live Chat! Today’s Meet Discussion Questions
Big Question: Is Our World Becoming Dystopian?
The video clip you watched is from the movie, “WALL-E”. Although it is an animated movie, we can still focus on the essential question, “Is our world becoming dystopian?”, and explore similarities between the movie and the current world we live in.


9:45 - Watch the link to the video: “Human Dystopia” (3 min)
Is our world becoming dystopian? Let’s compare the similarities between the clip and our world…


Questions you will explore in the Today’s Meet Chat…
10:00 - 10:15 Wall-e and Dystopia

  • How do people communicate with each other in Wall-e?
  • Is there a similarity to our world? What does this similarity say about us?
  • Are we on our way to total “Screen dependence”?
  • In the video, when people finally “detached” themselves from the screen, what was their reaction? (such as when Wall-e introduced himself to them).
  • How comfortable were they with face-to-face communication?
  • How is this compare to us?
  • What similarities do you see between this clip and on-line bullying in our society? Do screens allow us to be detached from the rest of the world?
  • Are we heading the wrong direction with technology?
  • How do we keep if from making us de-humanized in the way we communicate with each other?
  • How could our dependence on technology affect us in other ways? Any hints from Wall-e?

10:00 - Go to your Teacher’s Blog and click on the link for your Today’s Meet Novel Group.

Your teacher leader, who is in charge of your novel group, will introduce themselves.
First thing you do is type your first name only (no nicknames) and introduce yourself and share what school you are from.


Your teacher leader will present the first question, you will respond to only to that first question.
Note, you can keep it short, as you only have 140 characters to respond.


10:15 - 10:25 Dystopian Book Club Discussion
Talk to your group about your novel so far, exploring some of these questions...

I Wonder or What If Questions

What if your job (as an adult) was decided for you at the age of thirteen?

What if there is was no more water in the world?

What if one city ruled the entire world?

What if where you lived determined your job and lifestyle?

What if you had no memories or history to learn from?

What if the government chose who you married?

What if you were forced to look a certain way?

What if there were no adults?

What if one label decided your entire life?
What if the law stated that each family was only allowed to have two children?

What if most of the world’s population was wiped out by disease or war?

What if there was an opportunity to preserve humanity and way of life by going underground? Would you do it?

What if you knew someone in power was not working in the favour of the citizens, but instead their own interests? What would you do?

What if you lived in a world where you had to turn your back on your whole way of life, if it meant doing the right thing?

What if you disagree with how your leaders were running things?

What if you knew the people in power were keeping secrets from the population, but nobody questioned it because it has "always been that way"?

What if you learned the government was conducting tests on the population?


10:30 Wrap Up - Thanks for your participation and goodbye.

Thursday, February 6, 2014

Tweet Out!

Student "paper tweets" on dystopian themed music, "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" by Lourdes

#creative and interesting comments!! 

paper tweeting

Dystopian Music - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1z5I5dCWFtvt8yAxQAD4nSSE9P2rT0l2cqPeJ8mv-8Qk/edit?usp=sharing

See out "paper tweeting" lesson in the link above.

Homework

Digital Collaboration LIVE meeting tomorrow morning! Get ready to chat about our dystopian theme and your dystopian novel with students from our school, St. Gabriel and St. Francis! 

Other ELA homework...
All word charts for Section 1-2 are due Friday. 

Section 2 Deep Thinking Questions and Responses (ROUGH DRAFT) are due 
Friday. The blog response good copy is due Monday. 

Work on Assignment 2 of the Dystopian Fakebook Assignment (see handouts or this blog). 

Extension assignment - Paper tweet on Lordes' song, "Everybody wants to rule the world".

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Homework and dates




Friday, January 31, 2014

Homework


Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Dystopian Novel Sections

City of Ember
Chapter 4 pg.(1-53)
Chapter 8 pg.(54-113)
Chapter 12 pg.(114-155)
Chapter 16 pg.(156-212)
Chapter 20 pg.(213-258)

The Hunger Games
Section 1: Page 3- Page 73
Section 2: Page 74- 160
Section 3: Page 161- 222
Section 4: Page 223 – Page 290
Section 5: Page 290- Page 374

Legend 
1. Pages 1-60
2. Pages 60-120
3. Pages 120-174
4. Pages 174-252
5. Pages 252-305 (the end)
Divergent
1. Jan. 28- Chapters 1-8
2. Feb.4- Chapters- 8-16
3. Feb. 11- Chapters- 16-24
4. Feb. 24- Chapters- 24- 32
5. March 3- Chapters- 32- end 


Suggested Novel Divisions

 

City of Ember

Chapter 4 pg.1-53

 

Chapter 8 pg.54-112

 

Chapter 12 pg.113-154

 

Chapter 16 pg.155-212

 

End
 pg.213-270

 

The Hunger Games

Chapter 6

Pgs 3-73

Chapter 12

Pgs. 74 – 160

Chapter 17

Pgs. 161 - 222

Chapter 22

Pgs 223 - 290

End

Pgs 290 - 374

Legend

June

Pgs 1 – 60

June

Pgs 61 - 119

June

Pgs 120 - 173

Day

Pgs 174 – 251

End

Pgs 252 - 305

Divergent

Chapter 9

Pgs 1 - 90

Chapter 16

Pgs 91 - 189

Chapter 22

Pgs 190 - 281

Chapter 29

Pgs 282 - 377

End

Pgs 377 – 487

Eleventh Plague

Chapter 9

Pgs 1 - 58

Chapter 14

Pgs 50 - 110

Chapter 21

Pgs. 111 - 168

Chapter 27

Pgs. 169 - 220

End

Pgs. 221 - 278

Maze Runner

Chapter 11

Pgs 1 - 71

Chapter 23

Pgs. 72 - 145

Chapter 35

Pgs. 146 – 223

Chapter 49

Pgs. 224 - 301

End

Pgs. 302 - 374

Matched

Chapter 7

Pgs. 1 - 68

Chapter 13

Pgs. 69 - 138

 

Chapter 20

Pgs. 139 - 215

Chapter 27

Pgs. 216 - 289

End

Pgs. 290 - 366

Among the Hidden

Chapter 7

Pgs 1 - 29

Chapter 15

Pgs. 30 - 59

Chapter 20

Pgs. 60 - 94

Chapter 25

Pgs. 95 - 118

End

Pgs. 119 - 153

 

 
Big Brother or Teacher is watching you... So make sure you get your reading completed... Don't let down your Reading Group!!
 




Monday, January 27, 2014

Character Fakebook Assignment

Please review the Character "Fakebook" assignment. We will NOT be using the actual Facebook, just another site. This will be an ongoing major project throughout the course of our unit; therefore we will be adding to it as we read our novels.

The Rubric for Evaluating the Character Fakebook... click on the link.


Ms. SM's Example of Haymitch from Hunger Games
http://www.classtools.net/fb/11/iUZ5Gh

Past Students Examples of Fakebook Profiles and Timelines
http://stewiessmartthoughts.blogspot.ca/2012/05/dystopian-character-fakebook-links.html

Go in using Chrome, it's faster!!

Audiobook Links

Dystopian Novels Book Links

City of Ember
 

Among the Hidden
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4 
More chapters on this YouTube Sunscriber's site 

The Hunger Games
Chapter 1 
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
*there are so many versions of people creating audiobooks, I'm sure you can find one.

Hunger Games Entire Audiobook - scholastic publishing. 

Scholastic Publishing - more audiobooks
Part 1 - ch. 1-11

Part 2 - ch. 12-19

Part 3 - ch. 20-27

Divergent
Chapter 1 

Chapter 2

There are more chapters on YouTube for you to find! Click on one of the other links. 

Dystopia Word Sort categories

Dystopian Word Sort Assignment


Dystopian Word Sort
1. Sort the following Dystopian Related Vocabulary into 4- 6 categories. Discuss with your group why you categorized your words the way you did.



2. From your chosen vocabulary for your Dystopian Novel for Section one you are going to sort the words you selected into the Dystopian Categories, from part 1 (above). If there are words that do not fit the categories, then create new categories as needed.

Friday, January 24, 2014

Enjoy the weekend but...

Make sure you read section 1 for Tuesday and with sticky notes, identify examples of dystopian characteristics and powerful language.


Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Dystopian Controls in the Movies!!


Thursday's ELA assignments

Complete the questions for the short story, "The Lottery" on looseleaf. Be sure to write in complete sentences. BE SURE TO COMPLETE THE ASSIGNMENT FULLY, WRITE YOUR NAME ON THE PAPER AND HAND IN TO READING.

Just as the Matrix explores Dystopian Controls, there are many other movies which explore dystopian controls, some even go back to old black and white movies!

See the links below to watch movie clips which explore dystopian controls. Complete the chart using your Reference Handout for Dystopian Controls and Characteristics.

Dystopian Controls in the Movies handout.

Dystopia Controls and Characteristics handout.


Here are the links, just in case there is a problem with Google docs... Sorry they are not in order with the handout.

"I Robot" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05bGPiyM4jg

"The Adjustment Bureau" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZJ0TP4nTaE

"The Truman Show"- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3gI9ms8Fdc

"V for Vendetta" - 

Or try this link... (Same clip)

"Pleasantville" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrEAfkY9ods

"Metropolis" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9PPG1XblF4

* Original Black and white film with English subtitles.
1. Opening credits (00:00-3:16)
2. Shift Change (3:17-5:40)
3. The New Tower of Babel (15:51-17:01) 
                  
Metropolis (Fritz Lang, 1927) Information
Metropolis is set in the year 2026, when the populace is divided between workers who must live in the dark underground and the rich who enjoy a futuristic city of splendor. This work is one of the earliest examples of a dystopian film. The following three scenes provide an overall glimpse of the dystopian characteristics that are present throughout this film. The first two scenes depict the drudgery of daily work on an assembly line. The third scene shows images of what the director pictures as what the world of the future will look like.
 

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Upcoming dates

Homework



Watch this slide show to explore figures of speech.

Read through the different forms of figurative language on Kids Connect.

Figures of speech games to go with activity.

Dystopian Vocabulary Word Charts

Complete 6 word charts for the Short story, "All Summer in a Day". Due Weds.
Vocabulary and Word Charts Assignment

Sites to help you that are good visual thesaurus and dictionaries. 
www.visuwords.com
www.wordnik.com
www.lexipedia.com

In case you need the handout for the lesson again, here's a link to the Dystopian Short Stories and simulation lesson

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Dayplan

Link to my day plan...




DOL

DOL sentences for Wednesday...

Being that I am not here. I thought it would be easiest to post DOL via my blog, so that it can be projected on the whiteboard.

See DOL Sentences link here!

Do the Day 1 and 2 sentences (yes, I know it's Day 3!). This means you will complete 4 sentences in total.

Homework Tuesday

ELA - Dystopian or Other Skies Cover page due Weds, Jan. 8th
5 sketches that reflect the theme, 10 phrases which explore your idea of a perfect world.

Rough draft paragraph of your vision of a perfect world - due Jan. 8th

* Note all information is in the handout in the Google Doc that was previously posted.

Sunday, January 5, 2014

Dystopian ELA Unit


Why are are so obsessed with Dystopian fiction? Click on the link and reflect on the answer in the poster....
Why Dystopia??



It's the start to a new year and to our unit of study in ELA, "Other Skies and Exploring Dystopian Literature"!

This lesson can be found in the following link to my Google Doc. Please click on the link and print the handout if you need it.


Other Skies Introduction handout

This week we will begin examining famous dystopian movie clips from "The Matrix", explore the characteristics of dystopia and the connections to our society and start our new Dystopian novels and Reading Book Club Discussions.


Matrix Blog Assignment for Kidblog

Analyzing “The Matrix”
Blog Response - In a Kidblog Post with the Title, “Reactions to the Matrix”
Complete a blog post entry in response to the following question: What does the film, “The Matrix” communicate about the world? What controls the world in this film and the people who live in that world? What connections can you make to the message? Do you agree or disagree with this message from the film writer? Why or why not?
In addition to answering the questions above, respond to 3 other questions (see below) in your blog response.


What illusion of a perfect society is depicted in the clips? What is the society like in reality?


How are the members of this society being oppressed?


What kind of control is used to keep the members of this society oppressed?


What current trend, societal norm, or political system is exaggerated in this world?


What criticism is made through this exaggeration in the clips? What current trend, societal norm, or political system is addressed?


How did the video clips extend and confirm your understanding of the characteristics of a dystopia?







Is Big Brother Watching us?? Curious if our lives are really private? Check out this thought provoking video about Russian Meterorites and Surveillance....


Side note: I am trying to locate copies of Legend by Marie Lu. Does anyone have an extra copy at home? I have 2... I would like 2 more. Chapters does not have any extra copies for purchase! Geesh!!


Friday, January 3, 2014

Mandela Tribute


A Tribute to Mandela
Check out the this tribute! 50 rods of steel to symbolize his years of imprisonment - constructed in memory of Mandela. 

Monday, December 16, 2013

Good French YouTube references

Great sources

See YouTube 

Many thanks for volunteering

Our class has received many words of appreciation for our class Advent volunteer work at the Regent Park Safeway... Parents of young children and seniors offered many words of thank you through cars and emails - for the help they received with shopping. 


Well done! Grade 8, now there's showing the true spirit of Christmas!!

Here's a photo of some cheerful volunteers! 

Birth of Jesus

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkHNNPM7pJA&sns=em

Child labour campaign button rubric

Ensure your button is in full colour and is eye catching. 

Sunday, December 8, 2013

Amazing Resource for Teachers

Teachers of all grades, check out this site... It is a curation of so many amazing tools, you just need to visit the site to get the full impact of how useful it is!
http://www.2learn.ca

Storybird Mandela Prayer Assignment


Storybird reverses visual storytelling by starting with the image and "unlocking" the story inside. Explore artists, get inspired, and write.

http://storybird.com/create/

http://storybird.com/classes/st-francis-16/stewies-students/students/add/
Student access code

CLASS ACCESS CODE:
RCXFD




Friday, December 6, 2013

Child Labour Monologue Rubric for Writing and Presentation


CHILD MONOLOGUE PRESENTATION RATING SCALE  EVALUATION
Criteria
Comments
Volume – Loud, easy to hear in all areas of the classroom, projection …
1           2          3        4      5
Voice – Expressive, suitable to the character, adds to the presentation and adds personality to the character. More than just “reading” the part
1           2          3        4     5
Pacing  - Appropriate pauses for emphasis, adds to the story, not too slow or fast
1           2          3        4      5
Preparation – Obviously the student prepared for the presentation, note familiarity, no excess pausing to find place… or stumbling on what is written
1           2          3        4      5
Enthusiasm – Eye contact, dramatic inflection in speech. Student is ready to share their child labourer’s life story.
1           2          3        4      5
Presentation Extras – Inclusion of images which reflect the presentation (picture of child labourer, images which reflect main aspects of their lives from presentation). Note level of preparation with either a slide show or images included in blog.
1           2          3       4       5

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Organizing Persuasive Writing Interactive Outline

Awesome interactive outline for persuasive writing...

http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/persuasion_map/

Well known Human Rights Activist Nelson Mandela passes away today

Nelson Mandela, one of history's greatest leaders passed away today. If you check out this link you can see Twitter feeds that are trending around the world. Globally Nelson Mandela and what he has done for humanity was on everyone's mind...


 
* Click on the link above to access the Google Doc
 
See Trend map twitter feed...

http://trendsmap.com

CBC links on Nelson Mandela
http://www.cbc.ca/news

Interactive Timeline on the life and times of Nelson Mandela  - CBC
http://www.cbc.ca/news2/world/features/mandela/timeline/

Photo Album of Mandela's life
http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/photos/nelson-mandela-leader-and-legend-1.1424419


Video on Mandala as an activist
http://www.biography.com/people/nelson-mandela-9397017/videos/nelson-mandela-dedication-to-activism-25583171876

Video clip: The Legacy of Mandala
http://www.biography.com/people/nelson-mandela-9397017/videos

For Teachers - Critical reflection questions on Mandela's life
http://www.biography.com/assets/pdf/study_guides/classroom/NelsonMandela.pdf


Words of Wisdom from Nelson Mandela - No wonder he is a Nobel Peace Prize winner
http://www.biography.com/people/groups/nobel-prize/videos/nelson-mandela-words-of-wisdom-35905603523


Blog Assignment
Why is Mandela called a freedom fighter? Why did he inspire so many?
Paraphrase your favourite quote from Mandela. In a blog post explain what it means to you personally. Why should we reflect and think about the life of this great activist?

Homework

Be sure to also have all revisions for the monologue completed too. Add to Kidblog and find pictures which reflect your presentation. 

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Transition practice work sheet

http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/writing/worksheet1.asp?topic=Iditarod

http://www.studyzone.org/testprep/ela4/h/chronologicalnarrativep.htm

http://www.elfs.com/AniMenWrk.html

http://flang1.kendall.mdc.edu/3/332/L332Activity2/L332activity2v6.htm

https://www.glastonburyus.org/staff/VemuriC/Documents/TRANSITION%2520WORD%2520PRACTICE.doc

http://englishlinx.com/transitional_words/Transitional-Words-Sequencing-P-1-Intermediate.pdf

http://englishlinx.com/transitional_words/Transitional-Words-Sequencing-P-2-Intermediate.pdf

http://englishlinx.com/transitional_words/Transitional-Words-Writing-in-Sequence-P-1-Intermediate.pdf






Revising the child labour monologue

1. To revise for content, reference the questions given on your original sheet with the assignment and graphic organizer (kid with soccer ball).

2. To revise for organization, read through your paragraphs. Ensure each paragraph has an opening and closing sentence. Read your paragraphs and look for transitions. You should have at least one or two per paragraph. 

Transition words - for connecting ideas 

3. To revise for word choice, grab a thesaurus! But ensure that you use "million dollar words" well. Include figures if speech like similes, metaphors and personification. Try to incorporate one figure if speech. Be sure that you have described life with specific adjectives and adverbs. Ensure that in at least 2 paragraphs you have described some aspect of your life. 

Great comment on blogging for teachers

http://langwitches.org/blog/
Why blogging is worthwhile and improves learning!