English 8/9 (1)

Today students were first checked to make sure that homework from last class was complete.  Students were encouraged to make additions or amendments.

Students then discussed some different themes in Of Mice and Men.

In small groups, students found events from the story that supported the varying themes.  We then created a list as a class.

Students will need to choose a theme for next class, as we will be practicing our writing of paragraphs.

Themes in Of Mice and Men

Prejudice:

Racism - Crooks is made fun of by the rest of the men. (p.75)

Sexism  - Curley’s wife says that Curley won’t let her talk to anyone (p.95)

Ageism – They kill the dog because it is old and stinky (p.54)

Friendship:

Lennie: “I was only fooin’ George, I wouldn’t eat no ketchup… George, I would leave it all for you” (p.13). 

George: “With us it ain’t like that.  We got a future.  We got someone to talk to that gives a damn about us.” (p.15)

Lennie: “But not us, and why? Because you got me to look after you and I got you to look after me…” (p.15)

Lennie: “I been with George a long time.  He will come back to me.” (p.78)

p.115

p.43

p.99

p.49

p.79

Violence:

George has the gun at the back of Lennie’s head.  (p.117)

Lennie kills the puppy (p.93)

Lennie crushes Curley’s hand.  (p.70)

Lennie kills Curley’s wife.  (p.100)

Women:

Curley’s wife –

·      over powering

·      flirtatious (p.97)

·      reckless

·      indiscreet

·      thoughtless

·      cares about appearance (p.99)

·      jokes around

·      judgmental

·      speaks her mind (p.95)

·      gold-digger (p.31)

·      desperate

·      big-mouth

·      confident

·      self-centred

·      attention seeking

·      had dreams of the future (p.96-97)

Language Arts 7

Today students began by creating a question based on an event from chapter 12 of White Jade Tiger.  Students then wrote their questions down on a piece of paper and passed the paper around their tables.  Other students added to their list of questions.  Students finished the activity by receiving their list of questions back and then were asked to answer the questions in full sentences.

Students were then given mini-lesson on how to write a sentence:

Students next were asked to read chapter 13 and with sticky notes, marked the 6 most important events in the chapter.

Students were then asked to begin an activity on interesting facts on one of the following topics:

• China
• Chinatown (Victoria, Vancouver, San Francisco)
• The Canadian Pacific Railway
• Life in 1800s

After lunch, students were given time to complete their facts exercise and we then shared the facts in small groups.

Students were given time to do a run around the school.

Students had the rest of the class to complete their letters to self and personal identity assignments.

English 8/9 (2)

This morning we began class by recapping the most important events from chapter 5 in The Pearl.

Students, in small groups, re-enacted the most important events in a short skit.

Students then were given sticky notes and asked to mark the six main events as we read aloud chapter six.

For homework, students must write out the most important events from chapter six, just as we did as a class above for chapter 5.

English 8/9 (1)

Today students began by recalling important events from chapter 5 in Of Mice and Men:

Students were then asked to come up with recall and response and critical thinking questions in small groups, which were then shared as a class.

Students were asked to generate three recall and response and two critical thinking questions and their subsequent answers (students were asked to also include page numbers for each question and response).  Students who finished early were given their journals for a free choice write.

Finally, we all began listening to and reading along with chapter six.  Feel free to use the link below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3706MGVDUbw

For homework, students must complete chapter six reading and create an outline like above for chapter six.

Language Arts 7

Today students began class by reviewing the major events in chapter 8 from White Jade Tiger.  Together we created an outline:

Students then created short skits encompassing the information from above.

In small groups, students then created an outline for chapters 9-11.  Students were then asked to again present a skit for their designated chapter.

After lunch, students were given time to complete their grade 12 letters and the Personal Identities exercise, or have free choice reading.

Finally, students were asked to get into small groups and read to each other from chapter 12.

Chapter 12 must be read for homework.

English 8/9 (2)

Today students began with a free write.  They were encouraged to write about anything using any style or form.

Students then used their character webs from yesterday and their own personal identity web to complete a compare and contrast of personal identities.

Students had until the rest of the class to complete this exercise.

English 8/9 (2)

Today students began by acting out a scene from chapter four of The Pearl.  Again, the audience was responsible for naming the scene.

Students were then asked to complete a quiz on chapters 3 and 4.  Students were asked to gage their success in the quiz's completion.  They were asked to explain why (or why not) they had been successful.  Students were questioned as to what they might do differently next class.  And finally, students were asked to create a goal for next class.

Students then in small groups, created a personal identity web for one of three characters from the novel.  Students recorded their data on the white board.  Students were then responsible for recording the data of the remaining two characters and were encouraged to use the information generated by their peers, as well as add anything extra they felt relevant.

Finally, students listened and read along to chapter five in The Pearl.  The rest of the chapter is due tomorrow for homework.  Students may use the following link to listen along with reading:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFjOhUDuTzc