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" - 

http://youtu.be/chqi8m4CEEY

Or try this link... (Same clip)

http://ca.video.search.yahoo.com/search/video;_ylt=A0SO82CLX9dSpDYA0TE5ByI5?p=v+for+vendetta&fr=onesearch&fr2=piv-web&psqn=2

"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.

 

Upcoming dates

Homework

Dystopian Word Charts google doc

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

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.

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!!

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. 

Good French YouTube references

Great sources

http://youtu.be/KT_UfAKgOBo

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. 

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

Nelson Mandela Prayer Assignment

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

 Presentation Tips for Preparing for Your Monologue
Google - Doc * Open and dowload or read over.

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...

 

Critical Reflection Questions - The Legacy of Nelson Mandala

* 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. 

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