Students own their learning by reading and discussing one of four
books action-adventure book which focus on the life experience of
young adults in various African countries
Islam
Video Project:
Raising awareness and erasing misconceptions
about Islam and Muslims through documentary film clips.
The 6th Grade spent seven weeks studying the religion and history of the Islamic faith and the diversity among Muslim peoples. After their studies, the class of 2010 created their own survey questions and polled 90 people outside of the Town School community on their knowledge and opinions of Islam and Muslims.
These files are large and take a moment to open. Please be patient.
So far this year, you have created a movie, designed a fair booth, and learned
to become expert writers and researchers. It is time to apply those skills
to the wonderful world of the web. Your task, to "role play"
as a specific or general figure from Feudal Japan and explain your life, and/or
topics, in an autobiography. This is a three-part project that will have
three separate project grades.
Use these internet resources
in addition to the text resources provided in class. You are required to
use at least TWO text resources for this assignment and a you must have a total
of FOUR resources for this research project. If you need a
photocopy of one of our text resources, feel free to ask Ms. Hall or Mr.
Schaper.
pbs.org-scroll over "characters" to find
specific information about artisans, cooks, courtesans, merchants, daimyo,
farmers, artisans, samurai, shoguns, writers
Literature
Circles are an approach to reading that allows students to own their learning by
choosing one of four books to read and discuss with a small group. This year,
each of our four action-adventure book options focus on the life experience of
young adults in various African countries. Many of the books touch on powerful
and provocative issues, including political turmoil, oppression, social
disorder, and various coming of age experiences. We invite you to engage in
frequent conversations with your son about these topics.
THE BOOKS
A Girl Named Disaster
by Nancy Farmer
An adventure novel about a young girl from
Zimbabwe who tries to escape an arranged marriage.
Chain of Fire
by Beverly Naidoo
An adventure novel that address political
and social issues in South Africa by chronicling the experience of young
students who speak out against apartheid.
The Other Side of
Truth by Beverly
Naidoo
An adventure story that addresses “the
critical themes of political oppression, exile, Africa, and childhood,”
through the lives to two Nigerian teens who are smuggled from their country
to London.
No Turning Back
by Beverly Naidoo
An adventure novel about a 12-year-old South
African boy who flees domestic abuse to live the tough life of the
malunde, or homeless boys, on the streets of Johannesburg.
THE PROCESS
The boys
design their own reading schedule with the members of their group. Our
expectation is that they are finished with the novel by June 2, having reached
an assigned mid-way point by May 16. In class, we will host mini-lessons that
address common themes and techniques used in all of the novels, and the boys
will then discuss the book with their group and write journal responses. Please
refer to the attached calendar for a general and tentative overview of our
schedule.