Introducing the expert of horror: Edgar Allen Poe

EDGAR ALLAN POE

 "Poe is the supreme short story writer of all time."

     ~Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

"What a strange, though enormously talented writer, that Edgar Poe!"
     ~Fyodor Dostoevsky

"You might call him the Leader of the Cult of the Unusual."
     ~Jules Verne

Today you are going to begin learning about the great American Short Story writer, Edgar Allan Poe. He is best known for his horror stories and his haunting poems.


You can also watch this biography from Scholastic

Use the resources below to complete the Scavenger Hunt.
Scavenger Hunt Worksheet
The Life and Times of Edgar Allan Poe has most of the answers.  DO NOT USE GOOGLE!
 
Resources
Poe Museum Student Page
Poe Museum Poe's Life
Knowing Poe
Life and Times of Edgar Allan Poe 

The Tell Tale Heart-
How well do you know the story?  Click here to take this trivia quiz to find out!

"All Summer in a Day" comparing the story and movie

You read Ray Bradbury's short story "All Summer in a Day." Now you will have the chance to watch the movie version of the same story. As you watch, compare the short story to the movie and complete the graphic organizer. Be sure to include specific examples from the movie in your chart.

Quizlet Links

Quizlet is a great study resource.  You may use sets your classmates have made by belonging to the same classroom..Join by clicking the links below.

1.  Log in to Google
2.  Click on each subject  to join the quizlet class

Social Studies

Science 6

Vocabulary 6

Vocabulary 7

Science 7

Vocabulary 8

Science 8

Ms. Casassa's Language Arts

More examples of Common Craft Videos

Not sure how to start your script? Take a look at a few more Common Craft videos to see how they are made. Remember, your script should be simple, explain the concept through a simple story, but be engaging, fun to watch and thorough. Have fun!

Social Networking in Plain English

 Click here to watch Social media in Plain English 

Libraries in the Internet Age 

Click here to watch Electing a president in Plain English
Click here to watch The Federal Reserve in Plain English (it is long!)

Creating Common Craft-like videos on the Economy

Common Craft videos are made using simple paper cutouts and dialogue that focuses on explaining concepts "in plain English." Pioneered by Lee and Sachi LeFever, this style of video utilizes a white background and will have all elements planned out to make a complex subject simple. Another key to the video style is that it is short, usually around two to four minutes (definition from edutopia).
 For the first tech project of the year, you are going to create Common Craft-like videos to explain the new concepts and ideas you are learning about The Economy in Social Studies class.  Before you begin, however, you need to understand what a Common Craft video is like.  Watch the examples below.
 







Please, no Zombies in your videos!  So...where to begin?
1.  Decide on an idea--get it approved by a teacher!
2.  Create a script--keep it simple and clear!
3.  Create visuals--Keep them simple and eye catchingly BOLD! This is not the assignment for fancy details.  -click here to access the cut-outs from the Common Craft site
4.  Practice!  You want to be able to narrate your script smoothly without mistakes.  You also need to know when to change your props!  The actual video taping should not take more than 10 minutes!
5.  Film your Common Craft-like video
6.  Show the class---and the world. Help people understand how and why the econmoy works!
7.  Have fun!
 More resources:
Making Common Craft Style videos:  Here's a How-to that gives some good tips for making these videos.  You don't have to read everything.  Just take a look at the diagrams.

Welcome to Barnard School Open House

Scope Magazine: "Why are Your Clothes So Cheap?"

 

This narrative nonfiction article reveals the shocking truth about the lives of those who make our clothing and provides important information about the global garment industry and child labor. 

Click here to read this article.  

Log-in: barnardla68

Click here to watch the video about the article
Essential Questions
1.  What does it mean to be a global citizen?
2.  How can individuals affect huge companies?
3.  What is the power of working together?

Student Resources
Vocabulary from story 
Close Reading Questions (we will discuss as class--no need to write out)
Nonfiction Elements worksheet  
Guided Letter Writing 

Collecting Quotes about Reading and Writing

In her book Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life, Anne Lamott says, 

 “For some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth. What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet or excite you. Books help us understand who we are and how we are to behave. They show us what community and friendship mean; they show us how to live and die.”

"Selecting a Reader" by Ted Kooser

"Selecting a Reader" by Ted Kooser

After reading the poem, in the Response section of your R/W Notebook describe what the woman in the poem looks like.  Underline the words that support your description.

Next, underline words or phrases that you noticed as we read the poem.  Place a question mark next to any lines that you are confised by.

Why does the speaker choose this reader?  What type of reader would you choose for your writing?  Explain your answer.

Welcome Back!

Welcome Back!  It was so nice to see all the middle school students today.  Everyone found a book and spent some time reading this afternoon!  I am looking forward to a wonderful year of reading and writing with all of you.  Here's our new and improved classroom library!

Delaney Place--Eclectic excerpts every day from editor Richard Vague

Click here to read today's excerpt from Delaney's Place.

Here's today's excerpt:

gershwin, rodgers, porter, kern, and berlin -- 7/08/15

Today's selection -- from The B Side by Ben Yagoda. In the 1920s, 1930s, and beyond, the America music scene was dominated by five composers -- George Gershwin ("Someone to Watch Over Me"), Cole Porter ("I've Got You Under My Skin"), Richard Rodgers ("My Funny Valentine"), Irving Berlin ("White Christmas"), and Jerome Kern ("All the Things You Are"). The work of these five giants still pervades American music today: