Wednesday, December 4, 2019

The Great Thanksgiving Listen- Creating Podcasts of a Family/Friend Story or Interview

Over Thanksgiving you participated in Storycorps "The Great Thanksgiving Listen"as you interviewed an older relative or friend. Today you are going to share the stories you heard and think about one story that interests you most to turn into a podcast. 
Part I- The Debriefing

Discussion
1.  Share with your group what it was like to do the interview.  Who did you interview? Where? How long was the interview? Did you record it or take notes? How did it go?
2.  Next, think about what you learned about the person from the interview.  What surprised you? What had you already known? What story or stories did you find most interesting? 
Planning
3.  In your Writer's Notebook, write 2-3 stories or topics that you might want to share or turn into your podcast. 

Part II- Deconstructing a Podcast

Defining Podcasts
In your groups, discuss the following questions. Be prepared to share your responses with the class.
  • What's a podcast
  • What are podcasts about?
  • Where can you hear podcasts?
  • Why would YOU listen to a podcast?
  • What makes a podcaster different from a YouTuber?
Listening to Podcasts 
In your groups, listen to a few podcasts to determine the elements and qualities of a podcast.

1.  Kind World: So Chocolate Bar (7 mins, 23 sec.)
In this episode of Kind World, host Erika Lantz uses sounds and interviews with multiple people to tell a story about a friendship.
2.  Hidden Brain: The Haunting Effects of Going Days Without Sleep (7 mins, 2 sec.)
Play this story twice. The first time,make a note of all the sounds they hear and people that speak on tape. Afterwards, compare notes with your group. Then, play the story through a second time — following along with the transcript to check your work.
3.  How I Built This: Instagram: Kevin Systrom & Mike Krieger (33 mins, 32 sec.)
This is a long one, so perhaps just listen to a few minutes at the beginning. (A good place to start is about 30 seconds in.)

Still interested?  Here are a few more:
Kind World: A Different Window (7 mins, 2 sec.)
Hidden Brain: How Labels Can Affect People's Personalities and Potential (6 mins, 35 sec.)

And some examples of Storycorp Interviews/Podcast-
Driving Lessons 
Storycorps The Great Listen
Amnesty Days
Danny and Annie

Debrief
1.  What types of sounds do podcasts include?
2.  What are some ways that podcasts are structured?
3.  What podcasts did you like best? Why?

Other Podcasts to explore-

Pickle
Is it ever okay to tell a lie? What makes a real friend? And here’s a question: How much is a person’s life worth? Yikes, that’s a tough one! Join the cast of Pickle as we explore life’s stickiest wickets, with the help of curious kids --and the occasional elephant. It’s philosophy, made fun.
Story Pirates
The Story Pirates aren’t your typical swashbuckling sailors. We don’t steal gold, pillage villages, or claim land; We’re searching for a different kind of treasure: kids’ wildest, most imaginative stories.
NPS Peas In A Podcast
NPS Peas in a Podcast features our 5th and 6th grade classroom at Newington Public School. It's the definition of a student-led podcast as the writers, directors, hosts, voices, and editors are all age 12 and younger. Tune in to see what our amazing class is up to.
The Memory Place- The Memory Palace is a storytelling podcast and occasional radio segment created and produced Nate DiMeo in 2008.
Talking with Thunderbirds-This podcast will feature guests in the community of Tuba City that students deem to be heroes. They will interview these heroes about their job and how it led them to their current position.
Freakonomics-  Discover the hidden side of everything with Stephen J. Dubner, co-author of the Freakonomics books. Each week, Freakonomics Radio tells you things you always thought you knew (but didn’t) and things you never thought you wanted to know (but do) — from the economics of sleep to how to become great at just about anything

adapted from NPR (https://www.npr.org/2018/11/15/662116901/teaching-podcasting-a-curriculum-guide-for-educators#overview)








Tuesday, December 3, 2019

Charles Dickens and "A Christmas Carol"

"A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens

Next week you will be going to the play "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens.  Before you attend the play, you are going to learn a little about Charles Dickens and his writing and read the play.
Click here to watch this Brain Pop video introducing the famous playwright. 

Username:barnard1
password:brainpop



Thursday, November 14, 2019

A Christmas Carol and Charles Dickens

 A Christmas Carol and Charles Dickens

“No space of regret can make amends for one life's opportunity misused"

“Bah," said Scrooge, "Humbug.” 

“I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach!”   ― Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol

Monday, November 4, 2019

Exploring Classic Short Stories

So... after watching the brief explanation of FATE verses FREE WILL and reading "The Monkey's Paw" by W.W. Jacobs what do you think? Was the family in “The Monkey’s Paw” destined to suffer the way they did or was their suffering the result of choices they freely made? Use the ideas in the video and the details in the story to answer.  Click here to read the short story.
Even The Simpson's get into the act.  Watch their version of this story:
 


Monday, June 3, 2019

Reading an Epic--Beowulf

We studied the epic story of Perseus and discovered what makes an epic and an epic hero.  We are going to begin reading Beowulf.  This story comes from an Anglo-Saxon poem, which was probably written sometime between the years 700 and 800 A.D  The Anglo-Saxon people began to settle in Britain around 450 A.D. They came from Europe, mainly from the countries we now call Germany and Denmark.  Beowulf is written in an Anglo-Saxon Language (sometimes called Old English), but the the story does not take place in England at all. It is about some of the ancestors of the Anglo-Saxons, tribes who lived in countries that are now called Denmark and Sweden.

Listen to Beowulf in Old English--can you understand any words?



Do you want to know more about the famous epic?  Click here to go to an interactive site to read more about Beowulf.

Click here to watch a video why you SHOULD read Beowulf!

Click here for a Glossary of Beowulf 

Click here to learn more about topics and different sections of the story.

Index of Link Material

Click here to view some of the things you can find out about in Beowulf for Beginners. This list will help you know where to look.

The Family Tree


 

Sunday, May 26, 2019

Create a Greek God Trading Card

Create a Greek God

 Trading Card

 You will be choosing a Greek god to become an expert on.  You will be creating a Trading Card about your god.  You will find information about your god at the sites listed below.


Greek Mythology 
Resources:   
Ancient Greek Myths                           
Greek Mythology

Here's your job:

Create a Greek God Trading Card
1.  Choose a god to make a trading card.
2. Use the resources listed below to research your god.  You need to be able to answer the questions below. You may take notes  or complete the graphic organizer.  (Click here to access the graphic organizer)
·      Where do you read or see your god?  What myth?
·      Identify the following character traits:  physical and personality
·      What is your god’s most important thoughts?  Feelings?
·      What is your god’s problem or challenge in the myth?
·      What does your god want to happen by the end of the story?
·      Does your god succeed?
·      What memorable thing does your god say?
·      What is one interesting or important action made by your god?
·      How does your god get along with others?
·      Do you like your god?  Why or why not? 
·      Does your god remind you of anyone?
3.  Find image of your god.  Save image to your desktop
4.  Click here to go the Trading Card Creator and begin creating your Greek god Trading card.  Be sure to complete all the sections!
5.  Click Finish editing when you are done.  Then click Finish.  Save your Trading card so you may access it later.  If you need to edit it be sure to save as draft! 
6.  When you are done (be sure to proofread/edit), take a screen shot of your trading card to upload onto your blog.
7.  Create a new blog post.  Label it Greek God Trading Card.  Upload your image onto the post.  Publish!
8.  Print out a copy of your trading card to share with class.
9.  Click here to view Greek God Trading Card Rubric

Thursday, May 16, 2019

Oral Tradition Unit: American Tall Tales

Oral Tradition-American Tall Tales

Today we will begin our unit on Oral Tradition by starting with American Tall Tales. Watch this short video to learn more about this tradition.  Complete the graphic organizer as you watch.  You may go back and watch it again to find the answers.

Now that you have an idea of why Tall Tales were created.  Complete the scavenger hunt to learn about some of our American heroes. You may print a copy or use the online version is on Google Classroom. Use the link below to find the answers.
Click here to read more about American Tall Tales.

Think you can write a few whoopers of your own?  The first thing you have to do is be able to tell an hyperbole!  Write a few hyperboles to see if you have what it takes to be a American storyteller. You may print a copy of this form or use the online version which is on Google Classroom.

Grade 8: Learning about Anne Frank

The Diary of Anne Frank:  Exploring the Secret Annex:
  Today you will begin to explore The Secret Annex and learn about its inhabitants.  Visit The Secret Annex and answer the questions on the handout.  Please take your time, explore the different sections, watch the videos and read the descriptions.  There are so many interesting things in this site to do and learn about. Go to Google Classroom to get a copy of the worksheet or  Click here to download the worksheet.
Click here to read the interactive version of The Diary of Anne Frank play
Another version of the play (same as our text book)
Listen to Anne introduce the Annex 
Click here to research the outcome of the people living in the Secret Annex
Click here to access The Diary of Anne Frank:The Outcome Presentation
 

Sunday, April 7, 2019

Sunday, February 24, 2019

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

Tools and Strategies: How to Tell Fake News From Real News

Tools and Strategies: How to Tell Fake News From Real News





How the Pig Rescues Goat Video went Viral
Worst Twerk Fail EVER —Girl Catches Fire
Mexican Red Rump Tarantula Missing in Brooklyn
Information about Missing Poster
West Point Pillow Fight

Ask these six “consumer questions” when vetting a story:
  • Who made this?
  • How was this made?
  • Why was this made?
  • When was this made?
  • What is this missing?
  • Where do I go from here?
"Backtrack Journal" --Choose a video you have watched and shared (this should take no longer than five minutes--don't get distracted and carried away watching a ton of You Tube videos). Ask the "consumer questions" above.  Create a "backtrack journal" (using Google Slides--go to Google Classroom for template) showing when and where the video, post or article first appeared.

Click here to view Media Literacy class presentation

Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Harriet Tubman: Guide to Freedom

We are going to read Harriet Tubman: Guide to Freedom a story that describes the Underground Railroad and Harriet Tubman's role in helping free the slaves in the south in the 1800s.  Before we read the story in our textbook, you are going to learn a little about The Underground Railroad and Harriet Tubman by watching a video, completing a web quest and completing an interactive journey on The Underground Railroad yourself.

Watch Underground Railroad on PBS. See more from History Detectives.
Click here to watch a video about Harriet Tubman
Your assignment is to complete the web quest on Harriet Tubman. Follow the directions on the sheet and learn more about Harriet Tubman. There is a copy of the webquest questions posted on Google Classroom.

Click here to go to interactive Underground Railroad site







Further Reading-
Click here to go to our Follet Book Shelf in Library Resources on the Barnard Webpage -you will need to log in-
username: guest
password: barnard
From the virtual bookshelf choose either Go Free or Die or How Did Slaves Find a Route? and read more about Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad.  
Then show what you know.  Add three tags to the Harriet Tubman Thinglink. 
login-scasassa@sau21.org
password-barnardla
1.  Image with a caption
2.  Link to a website/video that adds to our knowledge of the topic
3.  Fact or detail that tells more about the image you put your tag on