Learning about Charles Dickens

Click here to watch a biography on Charles Dickens.  There is an interactive element to the video as well as games to learn more about Dickens. 

"The Lottery" Survey

Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven"

Before we read Poe's famous poem, "The Raven," watch The Simpson's version in their House of Horrors series.


Click here to read "The Raven" 

Click the image below to read "The Raven"online.  Use the interactive tool to enhance your understanding of the poem.

"The Monsters are Due on Maple Street"

 7th graders-- Today we begin a new play, The Monsters are Due on Maple Street. This is a screenplay, a play that was written for television. It was written as an episode for a show called The Twilight Zone. Ask your parents about it--many of them will remember watching it. We will watch a clip today of the opening scene of every Twilight Zone show. Rod Sterling, the writer and narrator of The Twilight Zone began every show the same way. His opening introductions are a good example of a lead that really pulls you in and makes you want to know more! Click here to watch the epilogue of The Monsters are Due on Maple Street

Reading Log

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