New Year's Resolution

Extra Credit! Due Tuesday, January 5, 2010

As you celebrate the New Year, take a few minutes to think about something you could do to improve your life or make yourself a better person. You new year's resolution should be something that you dedicate yourself to for the duration of 2010 - in other words, set an on-going goal for yourself and start working toward it immediately.

Think carefully. What are your shortcomings? What about you needs improvement? What types of things could you do now to help you achieve your goals in the future?

For instance, if lack of organization is keeping you from reaching your maximum academic potential, you may resolve to put everything in it's place rather than just shove things in your backpack, desk drawers, closet, etc. Or maybe you feel so tired after school that you tend to confine yourself to the couch and watch t.v. all afternoon and you feel like you don't have much fun on the weekdays. You could resolve yourself to exercising or eating a nutritious snack when you get home to get your energy level up and then head out with friends and have fun before dinner.

Think for a while about what you would like to improve about yourself or your life and make a new year's resolution. Write at least two paragraphs - one focusing on your inspiration for this goal (your shortcomings or areas for improvement) and the other focused on the goal itself and your on-going plan for achievement.

This needs to be realistic and must be something you can work on every month of the year - not just during one sport season, etc. The goal does not have to be academic. Plan carefully! I'm going to check in with you on this throughout the second half of the school year.

Good luck and happy 2010!

Animal Farm Project: Post to Blog by Thursday, 12/17

Animal Farm Project

DIRECTIONS: Create an artistic project that portrays how one of the themes is shown in the novel and post it to your blog. Present the project in class on Thursday, December 17.

Projects must be posted to your blog - each group member must post his/her project by the due date.

Ideas for projects include:

Group options (up to three or four people can get credit for the same project if they all contribute equally to the production of the project.)

·      Make a movie – either live action or stop-animation (Playmobile/Lego/other toys, etc.) Be sure it is clear that your characters are animals (some type of costume, such as pig ears or noses, would be appropriate). Extra credit is available for quality work.

·      Movie trailer – use voice over, titles and music to show a theme’s usage in several scenes from the book.

·      Write and perform a song. Record the song and post it or post the lyrics and perform the song in class.

Individual options

·      Write a narrative or epic poem (at least one page in length).

·      Create a representation of one of the themes and its impact on the novel using Photoshop.

·      Make a children’s book or comic strip teaching important lessons using a computer drawing program.

·      Your own idea – see Mrs. Gilman for approval prior to beginning.

Presentation/Writing:

·      Before you show your project to the class, give a brief (30-60 second) speech about the theme of your choice and its impact on the novel. Showcase your in-depth understanding of the novel. All group members must participate in the presentation.

·      Write a page of analysis of the theme’s use in the novel and write COMMENTARY on how your project highlights the theme. GROUP PROJECTS – Specifically describe what you contributed to the project and how much time you spent working with your group.

Grading Criteria: 50 points possible

·      Projects will be evaluated on relevance to the novel, understanding of the theme, effort, and creativity.

·      Writing will be graded on insightful understanding of the theme and use of commentary.