My students and I have been studying mythology (Greek and otherwise) recently. I wanted to come up with something to challenge those who have finished a myth-writing assignment with the tremendous speed that I wasn't expecting. While browsing the K-12 Online Conference archives, I came across Kevin Hodgson's The Heroic Journey Project. He is a 6th grade teacher and so am I, so it made perfect sense to adapt his idea to my situation. I used Google Docs and Google Maps to create an introduction to the project and a tutorial.
Google Maps is involved because this project involves a journey, created and mapped out by students. The journey involves a hero or heroine who has to get home from some remote location on the globe. He or she has to encounter mythical creatures and battle them along the way. It is a modern day "The Odyssey" that combines literature, writing, and technology. It also presents a challenge to those students who need one and can handle the independent nature of the activities.
In Kevin Hodgson's version, his students also uploaded pictures from Picasa into their maps. I have left that feature out of mine for now, until I become more familiar with the service, or find another way to involve images.
This link will bring you to the Google Doc about this project.
Challenge Project
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Friday, January 22, 2010
Thursday, January 7, 2010
I Hope the New Year....
Recently, I asked my students to write an entry in their Warm-Up Journal in place of the usual poem response. The entry was to be about the new year and their hopes for it. Instead of asking for the usual paragraph of ideas, I thought I'd try something a little different.
On the board I wrote, "I hope the new year is/isn't..." and then asked them to help me list the 5 different types of figurative language we've been studying. Simile, metaphor, personification, idiom, hyperbole. They were to write use one or more in their response. I wasn't sure what to expect, especially after seeing some of their faces when they heard what I wanted them to do. I told them I wasn't giving them an example, for fear that it would distract them from an original thought.
The responses were quite varied and thoughtful. I'll include a sampling here. I was glad I asked for these, because it became clear that many of my students have more on their minds than I might have once guessed.
"I hope the new year is like a piece of cake so that we can get through it easy and fast."
"I hope the new year isn't going to be dangerous like a raging bull on a deadly live wire."
"I hope the new year isn't a bad dream."
"I hope the new year is like a roller coaster with ups and downs, but always thrilling and exciting."
"I hope the new year isn't the Great Depression."
"I hope the new year is like a yellow bird, graceful and peaceful."
"I hope the new year isn't like when taxes are due."
"I hope the new year is like a newly paved highway, once bumpy, but now smooth."
"I hope the new year is like a door of opportunity that brings luck and awareness."
What is your hope for the new year?
On the board I wrote, "I hope the new year is/isn't..." and then asked them to help me list the 5 different types of figurative language we've been studying. Simile, metaphor, personification, idiom, hyperbole. They were to write use one or more in their response. I wasn't sure what to expect, especially after seeing some of their faces when they heard what I wanted them to do. I told them I wasn't giving them an example, for fear that it would distract them from an original thought.
The responses were quite varied and thoughtful. I'll include a sampling here. I was glad I asked for these, because it became clear that many of my students have more on their minds than I might have once guessed.
"I hope the new year is like a piece of cake so that we can get through it easy and fast."
"I hope the new year isn't going to be dangerous like a raging bull on a deadly live wire."
"I hope the new year isn't a bad dream."
"I hope the new year is like a roller coaster with ups and downs, but always thrilling and exciting."
"I hope the new year isn't the Great Depression."
"I hope the new year is like a yellow bird, graceful and peaceful."
"I hope the new year isn't like when taxes are due."
"I hope the new year is like a newly paved highway, once bumpy, but now smooth."
"I hope the new year is like a door of opportunity that brings luck and awareness."
What is your hope for the new year?
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