VACATION HOMEWORK: WORK ON YOUR PACKETS AND REFLECTIONS ON TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD AND OTHER BOOKS WE HAVE READ

COMPARISON OF TRAYVON MARTIN CASE AND TOM ROBINSON CASE

WHAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THE INJUSTICE IN THESE CASES. WHAT CAN WE DO TO STOP THIS KIND OF INJUSTICE?

INJUSTICE IN TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD....DO YOU THINK BOO SHOULD GO ON TRIAL FOR THE MURDER OF BOB EWELL...WHAT IS THE RIGHT JUSTICE?

WHAT DO YOU PREDICT WILL BE THE VERDICT OF THE TRIAL? GUILTY OR NOT GUILTY? EXPLAIN YOUR ANSWER.

SCOUT SAVES ATTICUS FROM THE MOB

Scout was able to stop the men from trying to lynch Tom Robinson. What can we do to make sure that people get their right to a fair trial? Do you know someone who didn't get a fair trial? Describe what happened.

COMPARISON OF APARTHEID IN SOUTH AFRICA TO SEGREGATION IN THE SOUTH

TODAY WE READ AN ARTICLE COMPARING APARTHEID IN SOUTH AFRICA TO SEGREGATION IN THE SOUTH. WE SHOWED OUR CONCLUSIONS ON A VENN DIAGRAM. HOMEWORK IS TO REFLECT ON THESE SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES AND THINK OF ANY OTHER ONES YOU CAN THINK OF. WRITE A BRIEF PARAGRAPH ON WHAT WAS WORSE: APARTHEID OR SEGREGATION IN THE SOUTH. GIVE YOUR REASONS FOR YOUR ANSWER.

RACISM IN SOUTH AFRICA AND AMERICA

WE HAD SUCH A LIVELY DISCUSSION OF RACISM TODAY WE DIDN'T GET TO MAKE ALL THE COMPARISONS OF APARTHEID AND SEGREGATION IN THE SOUTH. WE WILL CONTINUE TOMORROW. MEANWHILE, YOUR HOMEWORK FOR TOMORROW IS TO DESCRIBE A SITUATION WHERE YOU HAVE BEEN TREATED UNFAIRLY BECAUSE OF YOUR RACE, GENDER, OR AGE. GIVE REASONS WHY YOU THINK YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW WAS TREATED UNFAIRLY.

LIVESTREAMING THE MEMORIAL CEREMONY FOR NELSON MANDELA AND THE USE OF THE "N" WORD

WE WATCHED LIVE THE END OF THE CEREMONY OF REMEMBRANCE FOR NELSON MANDELA. WE WERE ALL IN AWE OF WATCHING WITH MILLIONS AROUND THE WORLD THE FINAL WORDS SPOKEN OF MANDIBA, AS THEY CALLED HIM. wE HEARD THE FINAL PRAYER OF ARCHBISHOP DESMOND TUTU. WE ALL FELT WE SHOULD MAKE CONNECTIONS TO THE RACISM OF SOUTH AFRICA TO THAT IN THE BOOK, TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD. WE ALSO DISCUSSED THE DIFFERENCE IN FEELING ABOUT USING THE "N" WORD AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE AND THEIR PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS. WE ARE GOING TO EXPLORE THIS MORE TOMORROW.

COURAGE IN TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD

ATTICUS FINCH AND MRS. DUBOSE BOTH SHOWED COURAGE IN THEIR LIVES. DESCRIBE A SITUATION IN YOUR OWN LIFE WHERE SOMEONE SHOWED COURAGE. TELL WHAT THEY DID SPECIFICALLY THAT WAS COURAGEOUS. WE DISCUSSED THE COURAGE OF NELSON MANDELA IN HIS LIFE IN SOUTH AFRICA. YOU CAN DESCRIBE WHAT HE DID IN HIS LIFE THAT WAS COURAGEOUS.

LEGACY OF NELSON MANDELA

WE PAID OUR RESPECTS TO THE LIFE AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF NELSON MANDELA. AMONG THE MANY GREAT STATEMENTS HE HAS MADE, EVERYONE LIKED THIS ONE: "TO BE FREE IS NOT MERELY TO CAST OFF ONE'S CHAINS, BUT TO LIVE IN A WAY THAT RESPECTS AND ENHANCES THE FREEDOM OF OTHERS." WE MADE MANY CONNECTIONS TO PREVIOUS READINGS: BURIED MY HEART AT WOUNDED KNEE, GRAPES OF WRATH, AND THINGS FALL APART. JASMINE THOUGHT WE SHOULD EACH WRITE A LETTER TO NELSON MANDELA SAYING WHAT WE THINK OF HIM AND HIS CONTRIBUTION TO THE WORLD.

SCOUT UNDERSTANDS SOCIAL CLASS DIFFERENCES WHEN SHE GOES TO SCHOOL

SCOUT TELLS THE NEW TEACHER MISS CAROLINE ABOUT SOME OF THE STUDENTS IN CLASS LIKE WALTER CUNNINGHAM WHO IS TOO POOR TO BRING LUNCH TO SCHOOL. THEY HAVE TO BARTER FOR THINGS THEY NEED. SHE ALSO SEES BURRIS EWELL WHO IS FILTHY AND ONLY COMES TO SCHOOL ON THE FIRST DAY. WRITE A PARAGRAPH ABOUT THE SOCIAL CLASSES WE SEE IN OUR SOCIETY TODAY.WHAT ARE PREJUDICES WE KNOW BETWEEN RICH AND POOR.

WHO IS "BOO" RADLEY AND WHY ARE SCOUT, JEM AND DILL FASCINATED BY HIM?

WE DISCUSSED THE MAIN CHARACTERS SCOUT, JEM AND DILL AS THEY ENJOY THEIR SUMMER. DILL STARTS TO BECOME FASCINATED BY THE STORY OF BOO RADLEY AND DARES JEM TO GO UP TO HIS HOUSE. WHAT ARE WE LEARNING ABOUT THESE CHILDREN AS THE MAIN CHARACTERS? HOW OLD ARE THEY? WHT ARE THEY LIKE? HOMEWORK IS TO COMPLETE THE CHART DESCRIBING YOUR FAVORITE CHARACTERS SO FAR.

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD--INTRODUCTION TO SETTING AND MAIN CHARACTERS

YESTERDAY YOU WERE INTRODUCED TO OUR NEW BOOK, TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, AND HEAR THE FIRST CHAPTER THROUGH AUDIOBOOKS. YOUR HW WAS TO THINK ABOUT WHAT THIS BOOK MIGHT BE ABOUT. TONIGHT'S HOMEWORK IS TO DESCRIBE A SITUATION YOU SAW OF PREJUDICE IN ONE OF THE AREAS WE DISCUSSED. FOR JASMINE WHO WANTS ANOTHER HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT, SHE CAN TALK ABOUT WHY "BOO" STABBED HIS DAD IN THE LEG.

OKONKWO'S FINAL ACT...THINGS HAVE TRULY FALLEN APART

WE WERE ALL SHOCKED BY THE END FOR ONKONKWO BUT MANY OF US WERE NOT SURPRISED GIVEN HIS VIOLENT PERSONALITY. AS A CONCLUSION TO THE BOOK, THINGS FALL APART, FINISH THE TAKE-HOME FINAL QUESTIONS AS MUCH AS YOU CAN DO. HAVE A GREAT THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY! WE WILL BE STARTING A NEW BOOK ON MONDAY, TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, BY HARPER LEE.

CHANGES IN UMUOFIA UPON OKONKWO'S RETURN AND THE RISE OF THE EUROPEAN INFLUENCE

CONTINUE WORKING ON ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS TO CHAPTERS 19-22. WE SEE HOW THE MISSIONARIES ARE GETTING MORE CONVERTS TO CHRISTIANITY AND OFFERING SERVICES SUCH AS HOSPITALS AND SCHOOLS FOR THE IGBO PEOPLE. OKONKWO IS DISAPPOINTED THAT THE OTHER VILLAGERS DO NOT REBEL AGAINST THE MISSIONARIES AND WHITE MAN'S JUDICIAL SYSTEM. HIS FRIEND STATES THAT THEIR INFLUENCE IS GROWING BECAUSE THE KINSHIP BOND OF THE PEOPLE IS LOOSENING. OKONKWO WANTS THE PEOPLE TO GATHER THEIR WEAPONS AND DRIVE THE WHITE MEN OUT, BUT THE OTHER VILLAGERS DON'T AGREE WITH HIM. hE SEES THEM AS "FEMININE'.

OVERVIEW OF ONKONKWO'S EXILE AND CHANGES IN UMUOFIA

OKONKWO IS EXILED FOR THE "FEMININE" CRIME OF AN ACCIDENTAL KILLING AND HAS TO MOVE TO HIS MOTHER'S VILLAGE FOR 7 YEARS. IGBO CULTURE SAYS THAT "MOTHER IS SUPREME." OKONKWO LOSES A LOT IN HIS EXILE. MANY CHANGES OCCUR, ESPECIALLY WITH THE ARRIVAL OF THE MISSIONARIES TO MBANTA AND UMUOFIA. MANY OF THE UNTITLED VILLAGERS AND OSU CONVERT TO CHRISTIANITY, BUT WORST OF ALL, OKONKWO'S SON CONVERTS. HE IS READY TO KILL HIM FOR THIS BETRAYAL. HOMEWORK IS TO CONTINUE ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS IN THIS OVERVIEW.

HOW WAS OKONKWO SHOWING SEXISM TOWARD THE WOMEN AROUND HIM?

WRITE A PARAGRAPH ABOUT HOW OKONKWO'S BEHAVIOR AND ATTITUDES SHOWED SEXISM TOWARD THE WOMEN AROUND HIM? WRITE ANOTHER PARAGRAPH ABOUT SEXISM YOU HAVE SEEN OR HEARD IN YOUR LIFE?

CHAPTER 8 OKONKWO MOURNS THE LOSS OF IKEMEFUNA

: Write each vocabulary word in a sentence. Write a paragraph describing how you are different from your parent or guardian.

WHICH SON OF OKONKWO DO YOU RELATE TO MORE: NOWYE OR IKEMEFUNA?

HOW DID ONKONKWO'S LIFE START TO FALL APART WHEN HE BROKE THE TRADITION DURING THE WEEK OF PEACE?

WHAT IS A MAN IN IGBO CULTURE?

HOSPITALITY IN IGBO CULTURE

WRITE ABOUT WHAT HOSPITALITY IS LIKE IN YOUR HOME. GIVE A DESCRIPTION OF WHAT YOUR FAMILY WOULD DO WHEN A GUEST COMES TO YOUR HOME.

HOW OKONKWO MADE A SUCCESS

IN CHAPTER 3, WE LEARNED ABOUT WHAT OKONKWO HAD TO DO TO BECOME A WEALTHY MAN. HE HAD TO BE A SHARECROPPER LIKE THE JOADS IN GRAPES OF WRATH. oN HIS FIRST GROWING SEASON, THE WEATHER WAS VERY BAD AND RESULTED IN A BAD HARVEST. HE HAD TO GIVE HIS BENEFACTOR 2/3 OF HIS HARVEST. HOW DOES SOMEONE IN AMERICAN BUILD HIS WEALTH? WHAT DOES HE HAVE TO DO?

THE ULTIMATUM OF WAR

TODAY WE DISCUSSED THE ULTIMATUM OF WAR TO MBAINO FOR KILLING A WOMAN. THE COMPENSATION IS TO GIVE A VIRGIN AND THE OLDEST SON OF THE MURDERER TO OKONKWO'S VILLAGE. COMPLETE THE HOMEWORK HANDOUT OF ULTIMATUM AND COMPENSATION.

THINGS FALL APART CHAPTER 2

WE ARE ABOUT TO LEARN ABOUT THE SOLUTION TO A CONFLICT WITH ANOTHER VILLAGE AND A CHANGE IN THE FAMILY LIFE OF OKONKWA. WRITE A PARAGRAPH OF WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED SO FAR. YOU CAN DRAW A PICTURE OR CREATE A SONG TO DESCRIBE WHAT HAS HAPPENED SO FAR.

SUPERSTITIONS AND LIFE IN THE VILLAGE OF OKONKWA

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE SUPERSTITIONS OF THE IGBO PEOPLE IN THINGS FALL APART? WHAT ARE SOME SUPERSTITIONS WE HAVE IN OUR CULTURE? WRITE IN COMPLETE SENTENCES SOME OF THE SUPERSTITIONS IN YOUR FAMILY?

FATHERS AND SONS

WHAT MAKES A PERSON SUCCESSFUL IN AMERICA? WHAT QUALITIES DO YOU NEED TO BECOME A SUCCESS? HOW IS THAT THE SAME IN NIGERIA?

OKONKWO AND UNOKA

TODAY WE READ CHAPTER 1 AND MET THE MAIN CHARACTER OKONKWO WHO WAS VERY DIFFERENT FROM HIS FATHER UNOKA. DESCRIBE HOW OKONKWO IS DIFFERENT FROM HIS FATHER.

THINGS FALL APART AND NIGERIAN/IGBO CULTURE

LOOK ONLINE FOR INFORMATION ABOUT TRADITIONS OF IGBO CULTURE. TODAY WE TALKED ABOUT HOW IT IS A MALE DOMINANT SOCIETY WHERE WOMEN SERVE THE MEN. WE WILL READ ABOUT HOW ONKONKWO TREATS HIS WIVES. WHAT ELSE CAN YOU FIND OUT ABOUT THE CULTURE?

THINGS FALL APART

TODAY WE WERE INTRODUCED TO OUR NEW BOOK, THINGS FALL APART. FROM THE TITLE, WHAT DO YOU THINK THE STORY WILL BE? WHAT WILL FALL APART? WHAT THINGS IN LIFE CAN FALL APART?

THE NEW DEAL AND PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT HELPED PEOPLE LIKE THE JOADS

WE ENDED THE GRAPES OF WRATH TODAY. WE LEARNED HOW THE JOAD FAMILY STARTED TO SPLIT UP AFTER ALL THE PROBLEMS THEY HAD AND THEY ENDED IN A DIFFICULT SITUATION. PRESIDENT FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT STARTED PROGRAMS IN THE NEW DEAL TO HELP PEOPLE LIKE THE JOADS WHO WERE AFFECTED BY THE GREAT DEPRESSION. PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT HAD A GREAT IMPACT ON IMPROVING THE LIVES OF POOR PEOPLE. IN NYC, WE HAVE MANY BUILDINGS AND PARKS CREATED BY THE WPA...NAME ROADS, BUILDINGS, BRIDGES, OR ANYTHING ELSE WHICH HAS ROOSEVELT'S NAME.

FARMERS ASSOCIATION AND GROWING AGITATION AMONG THE FARM WORKERS

WHAT IS A UNION? HOW DID THEY GET STARTED? LOOK ONLINE AND WRITE A PARAGRAPH ABOUT HOW AND WHERE DID UNIONS GET STARTED? WHY DO WE NEED UNIONS? WHAT UNIONS DO WE KNOW?

THE JOADS LEARN THAT GOOD JOBS ARE NOT EASY TO FIND

AT THE HOOVERVILLE CAMP,THE JOADS FIND THAT EVEN THOUGH JOBS ARE AVAILABLE, THEY ARE VERY LOW PAID. MANY OF THE FAMILIES AT THE CAMP ARE STARVING AND DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY FOR GAS TO GET TO THE WORK AT FARMS. WRITE A PARAGRAPH ON WHO IS EXPLOITING THESE WORKERS AND HOW THEY ARE DOING IT. WHAT IS A BLACKLIST?

CHAPTER 19-20 THE JOADS REACH CALIFORNIA AND THE HOOVERVILLE CAMP

cOMPARE THE SITUATION WITH THE BIG FARMERS IN CALIFORNIA AND THE OKIE FARMERS. WRITE A PARA ON WHO IS EXPLOITED AND HOW.

THE THEME OF GREED

GREED IS A COMMON THEME IN THE GRAPES OF WRATH. MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN GREEDY TOWARD THE JOADS. WRITE A PARAGRAPH ABOUT HOW SOMEONE WAS GREEDY TOWARD THEM. WHAT MAKES THEM GREEDY? WHY DO THEY DO IT?

THE JOADS LEARN ABOUT THE LIES IN THE HANDBILLS ABOUT WORK IN CALIFORNIA

The camp owners just see the Joads as bums or vagrants who can't pay their way and they only want to make money from them one way or another. Describe a situation where someone treated you like they only wanted to make money from you. We learned of a foreshadowing of things to come from the story of the ragged man who left California because he couldn't find work to support his family.

HOW MAE SHOWS AN ACT OF KINDNESS TOWARD THE JOADS

In Chapter 15, Mae the waitress performs an act of kindness toward the man and his kids. Your homework is to do an act of kindness to someone at home and write about it. How did you feel doing it? How did they respond to your act of kindness? Would you do it again?

ON ROUTE 66 TO CALIFORNIA

The Joads start their journey on Route 66 to California with 12 people on the truck. Their first stop at a gas station gives them an idea of how people see them as having no money. Complete the questions on the passage about their stop at the gas station. Also, complete the T chart on the needs and wants of the Joad family.

Chapter 9

Write a paragraph comparing the feeling expressed by Jim Casey that “men must act for the good of all men” compared to how the bankers treated the Joads and other farmers.

REVIEW OF CHAPTERS 1-9

MAKE A PREDICTION OF WHAT THE JOAD FAMILY WILL FIND IN CALIFORNIA. WILL GRANDPA BE ABLE TO EAT AS MANY GRAPES AND ORANGES THAT HE WANTS? HOW ACCURATE ARE THE HANDBILLS THEY SEE ABOUT WORK IN CALIFORNIA?

INTRODUCTION OF ANOTHER MAIN CHARACTER MA JOAD AND THE REUNION OF TOM WITH THE FAMILY

Today we read passages from Chapter 8 and viewed the corresponding part in the movie of The Grapes of Wrath. Isn't it interesting how the movie is different from the book? We read about Tom's first meeting with Ma and the rest of the family. We identified adjectives that describe mothers. Using the words we listed, write a comparison of your mother to what we described in Ma Joad.

TOM JOAD TALKS TO THE PREACHER ABOUT PRISON

We talked about Tom"s experience in prison and how some people who were released wanted to go back in because the living conditions were better in prison. Research online or elsewhere for alternatives to prison to punish people for their crimes. What is a better way to punish people other than prison? Write your ideas in at least one paragraph.

THE PREACHER REVEALS A THEME OF THE GRAPES OF WRATH

The talk between Tom Joad and the preacher reveals an important theme of The Grapes of Wrath. The preacher talks about how love is what sustains relationships between people. He feels he has been a hypocrite because he was a man of God but was committing sins. Describe someone you know who has been a hypocrite who says one thing and does the opposite. Give details about how they showed they were hypocritical.

WHAT KIND OF FARMERS WERE THE JOAD FAMILY?

TODAY WE TALKED ABOUT THE TYPE OF FARMING OF THOSE IN OKLAHOMA, THE HOME STATE OF THE JOADS....WE DISCUSSED FURTHER THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR TENANT FARMERS OR SHARECROPPERS. IN A PARAGRAPH, TELL WHY WE KNOW THE JOADS ARE TENANT FARMERS.

TENANT FARMERS VS. SHARECROPPERS

COMPLETE THE T CHART COMPARING TENANT FARMERS TO SHARECROPPERS BASED ON THE READING.

PROFITS OF THE MONSTER VS THE PEOPLE

We read from Chapter 5 when the owners came in their cars to tell the tenant farmers they had to go. They talked about how the bank is an impersonal monster. The farmers were very upset; they had fought the Indians, killed the snakes, had been born and died on the land. The question for homework: Should the farmers stay and fight or should they just leave? What rights do they have?

INTRODUCTION OF THE MAIN CHARACTER TOM JOAD

We started on Chapter 2 where Tom hitchhikes a ride from the truck driver and they talk along the way. Tom admits that he killed a man and was in prison for homicide. Jasmine came up with the association of the Trayvon Martin case as similar to Tom Joad's situation where he killed the man. Your homework tonight is to describe the similarities between Tom's fight with the man and the Trayvon Martin case and describe the differences. Good discussion today, everyone.

THE DUSTBOWL ON THE GREAT PLAINS

Read the short paragraph and answer the questions on the Dust Bowl. Jasmine, Miri, and Dominick answer question #1. David, Antoine, Ernest answer questions 1 and 2. The rest of you answer all the questions.

DESCRIBE WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE IN THE DUSTBOWL

DESCRIBE IN YOUR OWN WORDS WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE TO LIVE IN THE DUSTBOWL. TRY TO PORTRAY A PICTURE LIKE JOHN STEINBECK'S WRITING. HAPPY WEEKEND!

THE DUSTBOWL

Today we started reading The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. The first chapter gives us a description of what it was like in the Dust Bowl. Jasmine thought the writing was like poetry. Your homework is to compare the conditions of the Dust Bowl to conditions like another natural disaster we have experienced, the Sandy hurricane. Give details about the similarities and differences.

THE GREAT DEPRESSION AS THE SETTING FOR GRAPES OF WRATH

Today we talked about The Great Depression as the setting for John Steinbeck's novel, The Grapes of Wrath. We saw a video on what life was like in the Great Depression. Jasmine was able to identify what the setting was...time and place of the novel. Homework for tonight is to talk about the impact of unemployment on one of your family members. What happens when you lose your job? How does it affect the family as a whole?

FICTION VS NON FICTION

We are moving from a nonfiction account of the plight of Native Americans in Buried My Heart at Wounded Knee and moving to a fiction story of the Dust Bowl and migration to California of people in The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. List 3 books or movies you know are fiction and 3 books or movies you know that are nonfiction. Tell why each is fiction or nonfiction based on our discussion in class. For Jasmine, there is a special assignment at her request to write a book or short story on a subject of her choice.

WHAT ARE RESERVATIONS LIKE TODAY?

Complete the questions on the conditions at reservations today. Keep in mind the video we saw when Diane Sawyer visited a reservation.

DAWES ACT

HAPPY FRIDAY, EVERYONE! HOMEWORK: WRITE YOUR VIEWS ON LIFE ON THE RESERVATION FOR THE NATIVE AMERICANS. WHAT WOULD YOU DO IN THAT SITUATION?

Reading Stories from the Trail of Tears

How did you like those stories from the people who survived the Trail of Tears? Some of the stories were tragic and some told of bravery and boldness. Finish the questions giving your opinion about what the people did in your story? What would you do?

Today we discussed the Indian Removal Act of 1830. The Cherokees and other tribes were told to leave their homes immediately and had to grab what few possessions they could. What would you take with you if you were told to leave your home immediately? What would members of your family take if they had only 15 minutes?

Why do nations have acts, treaties and agreements?

Finish questions 7-9 for those who did not finish in class. Who got the better deal in the treaty between the US Government and the Native Americans? Explain and give reasons.

If someone wanted to take your food or even worse to make you a slave, how would you feel and what would you do?

Write your views on whether you are sympathetic to the situation of the Native Americans or the whites. Give specific examples.

Homework for tonight is to complete the diagram and write in complete sentences the various uses of all parts of a buffalo. The Plains Native Americans lived almost exclusively on the buffalo and led a nomadic life following the buffalo herds.

Life for the Plains Native Americans

Today we discussed the roles of men and women on the Plains. For homework, write down what the women in your family do and what the men in your family do. We will compare their jobs to what the Native Americans men and women do.

Hello, everybody,
Welcome to the NYU/Aramark. Today we talked about what food Native Americans eat. We learned that recipes on how to cook and prepare food has been passed down from grandma to daughter. Your homework is to bring in a dish or meal that has been in your family for a long time.  Describe what you put in the meal or dish and how you prepare it.

See you tomorrow!

Dorothy