Week at a glance May 3 - 7, 2010

Curriculum focus: identifies, interprets, and analyzes the use of symbols (1.3.K4i), compares and contrasts character traits (1.4.K7a), compares and contrasts themes across multiple stories ( 1.4.K7b), identifies and describes the protagonist (2.1.K1a), identifies and describes the antagonist (2.1.K1b), analyzes the contextual aspects of setting (historical, social, and cultural) and their impact and influence on characters and events in the story (11.2.1.K2), recognizes ways that literature from different cultures presents similar themes differently across genres (11.2.2.K1), and compares and contrasts works of literature that deal with similar topics and problems (2.2.K2).

This week we'll wrap up our unit over English mythology and our focus over the legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. We'll begin the week with a discussion of the Quest for the Holy Grail. We'll then move on to the end of the Arthurian Legend as we discuss the fall of Camelot and the "death" of King Arthur. We'll wrap up the week with a review and an exam.

• Mon: No school
  
• Tues: Assignment due: Comparing the English and French Traditions. The Arthurian Legend - The Quest for the Holy Grail. Notes and discussion.
  
• Wed: The Arthurian Legend - The "Passing" of Arthur. Notes and discussion.
  
• Thurs: Review for English Mythology Exam
  
• Fri: English Mythology Exam
  

Week at a glance April 26 - 30, 2010

Curriculum focus: identifies, interprets, and analyzes the use of symbols (1.3.K4i), compares and contrasts character traits (1.4.K7a), compares and contrasts themes across multiple stories ( 1.4.K7b), identifies and describes the protagonist (2.1.K1a), identifies and describes the antagonist (2.1.K1b), analyzes the contextual aspects of setting (historical, social, and cultural) and their impact and influence on characters and events in the story (11.2.1.K2), recognizes ways that literature from different cultures presents similar themes differently across genres (11.2.2.K1), and compares and contrasts works of literature that deal with similar topics and problems (2.2.K2).

This week we'll begin by bridging the gap between Norse and English mythology by reading and discussing Beowulf. From there we'll take a look at one of my personal favorite mythologies: the legend of King Arthur, Camelot, and the Knights of the Round Table. One might argue that the Arthurian Legend does not deserve mythological study because it lacks a pantheon of gods and is mainly about people. However, like most mythologies we've studied, the Arthurian Legend is a rich set of stories written by various authors over a 1500-year period. Also like other mythologies, authors and artists have used the tales of the Arthurian Legend as mirrors so that they could study their own age. We'll push through a brief overview of the legend's main points throughout the week.

• Mon: English Mythology - Read and discuss Beowulf, pgs 269 - 288. Finish reading on your own what we do not finish in class.
  
• Tues: English Mythology - Finish Beowulf discussion. Beowulf assignment due by the end of the hour.
  
• Wed: English Mythology - The Arthurian Legend - Overview and notes in class
• Thurs: English Mythology - The Arthurian Legend - The British Tradition. Readings and notes in class.
• Fri: English Mythology - The Arthurian Legend - The French Tradition. Readings and notes in class. Study guide due by the end of the hour.

Week at a glance April 19 - 23, 2010

Curriculum focus: identifies, interprets, and analyzes the use of symbols (1.3.K4i), compares and contrasts character traits (1.4.K7a), compares and contrasts themes across multiple stories ( 1.4.K7b), identifies and describes the protagonist (2.1.K1a), identifies and describes the antagonist (2.1.K1b), analyzes the contextual aspects of setting (historical, social, and cultural) and their impact and influence on characters and events in the story (11.2.1.K2), recognizes ways that literature from different cultures presents similar themes differently across genres (11.2.2.K1), and compares and contrasts works of literature that deal with similar topics and problems (2.2.K2).

This week students will wrap up their research for their Mythology Research Project. Groups will meet in the classroom this week and polish their presentations. An electronic copy of all presentations is due by the beginning of the hour on Wednesday. This due date is to ensure that students have the chance to rehearse their presentations at least one day before they are due to present. We'll wrap up the week with presentations on Thursday and Friday.

• Mon: Mythology Research Project - Meet in the classroom and synthesize research.
  
• Tues: Mythology Research Project - Meet in the classroom and finish the project.
  
• Wed: Mythology Research Project - Electronic copy of the presentation due at the beginning of the hour. Rehearse the presentation.
  
• Thurs: Mythology Research Project - Group presentations
  
• Fri: Mythology Research Project - Group presentations
  

Week at a glance April 12 - 16, 2010

Curriculum focus: identifies, interprets, and analyzes the use of symbols (1.3.K4i), compares and contrasts character traits (1.4.K7a), compares and contrasts themes across multiple stories ( 1.4.K7b), identifies and describes the protagonist (2.1.K1a), identifies and describes the antagonist (2.1.K1b), analyzes the contextual aspects of setting (historical, social, and cultural) and their impact and influence on characters and events in the story (11.2.1.K2), recognizes ways that literature from different cultures presents similar themes differently across genres (11.2.2.K1), and compares and contrasts works of literature that deal with similar topics and problems (2.2.K2).

This week students are headed to the library to do research over the Mythology Research Project. Students randomly drew topics and formed groups last week. By the end of this week, groups should have most of their information researched and should be in the process of assembling it into handouts and a PowerPoint presentation.

• Mon: Meet in the library to begin work on the Mythology Research Project
• Tues: Continue research for the Mythology Research Project
• Wed: Begin designing the PowerPoint for the Mythology Research Project
• Thurs: Continue work for Mythology Research Project
• Fri: Complete all library research for the Mythology Research Project.

Week at a glance April 5 - 9, 2010

Curriculum focus: identifies, interprets, and analyzes the use of symbols (1.3.K4i), compares and contrasts character traits (1.4.K7a), compares and contrasts themes across multiple stories ( 1.4.K7b), identifies and describes the protagonist (2.1.K1a), identifies and describes the antagonist (2.1.K1b), analyzes the contextual aspects of setting (historical, social, and cultural) and their impact and influence on characters and events in the story (11.2.1.K2), recognizes ways that literature from different cultures presents similar themes differently across genres (11.2.2.K1), and compares and contrasts works of literature that deal with similar topics and problems (2.2.K2).

This week we'll wrap up our work studying the various myths of Norse mythology. We'll read and discuss "Sigurd the Volsung." This famous myth became the basis for the German epic Nibelungenleid and Richard Wagner's "Ring Cycle" opera. On Wednesday (Odin's Day), we'll finally see Ragnarok, the Twilight of the Gods. We'll also begin preparing for the Thursday exam over Norse Mythology. We'll wrap up the week by preparing for the Mythology Research Project. This will be a group research project in which groups will be responsible for researching and presenting an assigned mythology. We'll have more details as the week progresses.

• Mon: Norse Mythology - "The Valkyrie" and "Sigurd the Volsung," begin reading and discussing the story.
  
• Tues: Norse Mythology - "Sigurd the Volsung," finish reading and discussing the story. Study guide due by the end of the hour.
• Wed: Norse Mythology - Ragnarok, the Twilight of the Gods, reading and discussion. Review for exam.
• Thurs: Norse Mythology Exam
• Fri: Mythology Research Project - Assemble groups, assign topics, overview of the assignment.