Humanities 2BG: Doodling to Think

Today was our first day with laptops.

We'll began with our thirty circles again as a quick warm up.  This led right into the rest of our thinking.

We watched a short news clip about a recent story about a break-in in Maine.

 We  identified  the key points as a class and then set them aside for a moment, while I showed you about these super cool tools from Austin Kleon.

We'll did some work with this alphabet and saw what we can create.  I even added an alphabet item or two.

Then we'll bring it back over to the key points and find ways to demonstrate the key points using the visual symbols we can create with the drawing alphabet.   We find it incredibly helpful and powerful for people to be able to express their ideas in both words and images -- even if those images are super simple.  (Actually, simple images can sometimes do the work of representing an idea much better than complex ones.)  

From here, you will be able to choose one out of six readings/listening/watchings to explore using this new set of thinking and demonstrating tools.  All of these readings and listenings can be found on our new Google Classroom space.  

Out of Class Work

Complete.  Guidelines & Expectations signatures sheet.

ASAP.

Complete.  Personal flag.

ASAP.

Humanities: To Kill a Mockingbird Analysis: Final Day

Today will be a our last day breaking down To Kill a Mockingbird the film, as we will be looking at a few excerpts from the text and a close viewing of one scene in particular: the jailhouse.

We'll start with a quick LNG.  It's Monday after all.

Then we'll look at To Kill a Mockingbird  as it appeared in text.  See if we can identify the same themes, foreshadowing, and cultural components showing up there and they did in the film.

And we'll end with a film study.  A close view of just that single scene.  And we'll test my thesis:  the jailhouse scene tells the entire story of To Kill a Mockingbird

ASSESSMENT.

Blog: 3+ Posts.
Req'd Post:  Franklin County as Maycomb County.   Using effective composition skills, take at least three pictures that show evidence of Maycomb County culture showing up in Franklin County.  Consider any of the eight components of culture.  You may need to think outside the box a bit here.

These pictures could very well become part of your photo essay, an assessment to be announced this week.

Humanities: Firing Up & Making Happiness. DT Flashlab.

This week we revisit two projects that are unresolved: fidgets and Romeo & Juliet.  To do so, we've got to re-familiarize ourselves with the DEEP design thinking process and today's class is intended to do just that.

LNG.

We'll start with a quick LNG.  We want to have a nice collection of evidence from all of you that you are understanding these texts and demonstrating those understandings.  It's why we keep hitting on this.  It is also how we tackle our current events portion of the curriculum.

During this time, we'll be circulating around and giving you lengths of blue painters tape.  We want you to make your desk into quadrants.

DEEP DT. DESIGN THINKING FLASHLAB. HAPPINESS IS A MANILLA FOLDER.

Materials. You will each be given a manila folder, 4 paper clips, and a length of tape. You may also access your design kits and the two drawers of markers, pencils, glue and scissors in the design cabinet.

Your challenge is:  HMW increase happiness at Mt. Blue Campus?
Constraint: these materials, graphic organizers, and 45 minutes on the clock

Process.  You may follow the DEEP DT process in whatever order you like.  If you already want to experiment, go for it.  If you want to jump right into empathy, that's okay as well.  If you want to go in order, that's why it's called a process.

Why the quadrants?  To help us track your progress through the 45 minutes, you will be putting evidence of each phase in the boxes as you complete the phase.  This way we can observe your process, offer guidance, ask questions, and generally assist you to the end.

If you would like a larger space to work, we've the tables in the room at your disposal or you may double up two desks.

HOMEWORK.
Blog. 3+ Posts.

Req'd Blog Post.  Choose any of the TED Talks posted here and on Google Classroom. (I've got a list going of three/four choices.) 

Explain how your folder challenge product relates to the ideas presented in that TED Talk OR how it doesn't connect at all.  Prove your case with specifics. (NOTE.  That last part is important.  We are stepping up the blog posts.  These should be demonstrating more and more evidence of your thinking and understanding moving forward.)

Some thinking prompts.
How would your product be similar or different had you watched this TED Talk first?
How does your product reflect the spirit of that TED Talk?
What might that speaker say about your product?
What kind of feedback would you expect from that speaker?

Due. Friday, Feb 27.

Humanities: Work the Essay.

Today we finish the work we've be wrangling with all week.

Complete the theme song essay.

Put up your blog post.

Finish LNGs.

Stick the landing.

After break?  Fidgets revisited.  Romeo & Juliet project revisited.  Everything is a process in the service of making exceptional product.


HOMEWORK.

Blog. 3+ Posts.
Req'd Post.  Look at the LNG choices for this week and find a theme song for one of the people featured in the article.  Post a video or the song itself and explain your thinking in 3 to 5 sentences.

Feel like doing others?  Go for it!
Due. Today.

Complete.  LNGs.
Due.  Overdue.

Design. Production Phase. Theme song essay.
Due. Today.

Submi

Humanities: FrankenWord, LNG & Teen Culture/Music Culture

Hey!  We have school today!

Remember improv?  Let's do a little of that this morning.  I've got an idea.

VOCAB.

We'll start with FrankenWord.  Take any root from Roots 7 and combine it with a Root from any other list to create a brand new word that relates to . . . wait for it . . . music and/or culture.

Remember the FrankenWord expectations.
Word.
Definition & Part of Speech.
Used in a Sentence that Shows What the Word Means.
Visual.

LNG.

From there, we will LNG because we missed out on it yesterday and we are trying to get game on with it.

MUSIC CULTURE/TEEN CULTURE.

Finally, there will be time to complete/refine our music culture/teen culture work.  Three graphic organizers are due.  One on Leader of the Pack, one on Summertime Blues, and one on a song about teen culture of your choice.  (It might be one from the playlist.)

HOMEWORK.

Blog.  3+ Posts.
Req'd Post: My Heart Like a Kick Drum.  If your life  -- your self -- was a drum kit, what would it look like?  Double bass?  Bongos?  Set of toms?  Take a look at clips below for inspiration.

Neil Peart from Rush.

Art Blakey.

The famous "Amen Break" from G.C. Coleman (this has been sampled a TON.)

Buddy Rich & Gene Krupa

and Joe Morello who is crazy rad and I only heard about because of this rad teacher

Then doodle your life as a drum kit.  Actually draw it out.  Check out Mr. Ryder's here as an example.

And explain your thinking.  You might want to look at the anatomy of a drum kit.  Learn a bit about the parts and pieces and most certainly the names.

Mr. Ryder's would be super simple.  One kick drum.  One snare.  One hi hat.

• Snare. Sharp. Quick.  Super flexible & can make a lot of different sounds.  It's a lot like how he's involved in a lot of different things.  Goes anywhere.
• Hi hat.  Punctuation and that snap that goes underneath everything else.  It's my brain.  Never quite stops.  Sometimes it's constantly going because of a pedal.  
• Kick drum.  Boom.  Thud.  Right in the chest.  I love that feeling.  I love when I get hit by an idea or an experience and lands right in the center of my being.  And I hope I can create experiences for others that do that as well, whether it is in the classroom or on stage or on social media.

Teen Music/Teen Culture.  Complete the three graphic organizers.  Look on Google Classroom.

Vocab.  Roots 7 Quiz & Product (FrankenWord counts!)
Due. Thursday 2/5