University of Chicago Lab School

The Salem Witch Trials Newspapers: What Can You Learn From Your Classmates?

2011-11-29T10:32:00.005-06:00

Students in Mr. Nekrosius's humanities project groups recently researched, wrote, and designed online newspapers about the Salem Witch Trials. To learn more, there is a link to the newspapers below.

For Ms. Doyle's humanities classes, here is your blog post assignment:

Choose ONE of the online newspapers created by Mr. Nekrosius's project groups and spend twenty minutes browsing through the various pages (you can find links to the two newspapers here). When have finished reading the newspaper, post a comment in which you write the following:

1.Three things you learned about the trials and/or the people of Salem--be specific, and be thorough.
2. A detailed connection between the events of Salem and the events you studied for your project.
3. One question for an author or one of the designers of the newspapers.

Remember:

You should include ONLY your first name and your class period (NO LAST NAMES) at the end of your blog post.

Also, remember to be positive, constructive, and detailed in your responses! Your posts are due Friday, December 2nd.

American Born Chinese Themes: Shame, Identity and Boxes

2011-09-22T14:48:00.003-05:00

Now that you have read over half of American Born Chinese, you should be able to see themes emerging in all three different story lines within the graphic novel. Your assignment is to name one of those emerging themes and explain, using specific examples from the text, how you see each of the three story lines developing and extending that theme. Your post should be at least six sentences long. If you are unsure of the definition of "theme," consult your literary term glossary at the back of Social Justice.

Remember--read the post, and then click on the word "comments" just below that post. After you have written your post, add your first name, then "Doyle," then your period (so, Zeus Doyle 1-2). Then, select "Anonymous" for your identity and click "publish your comment."

You may comment upon your classmates responses, but be sure to do so respectfully. Remember to write your answer in complete sentence and avoid "IM"-speak.

Escape the Box 2011

2011-09-08T13:21:00.004-05:00

We have spent the past two weeks discussing questions surrounding identity. As part of those discussions, we you have read several stories, listened to music, performed poetry, written in journals, and created identity collages to express your own unique cultural identifiers. We have also discussed various examples of "the box," which is a metaphor for any obstacles or barriers that might isolate, frustrate, enclose, or sometimes protect someone from a larger world.

Think back over everything we have read so far for this unit ("Theme for English B," "High Yellow White Trash," "Sylvia's Story" from National Public Radio, "Phone Booth at the Corner"). Your task now is to write and post a comment in this forum in which you describe a connection between at least TWO of these works, focusing on the role of "the box." Think about how different characters face similar or different challenges. Think about similarities or differences in the kinds of disguises characters wear. Do you think these characters will escape from their boxes? What kinds of factors put characters and/or people in boxes? Are the "boxes" constructed by society (for example, by stereotypes), or do families and individuals create their own boxes?

When you have made a connection between at least two works, write a post describing that connection. Make sure to mention specific characters/narrators, and to be clear about how the "boxes" they experience are similar. Your post should be in the form of a well-developed paragraph with a topic sentence and evidence, examples, and text references. You should feel free to respond to your classmates' posts, as well as to ask your classmates questions.

*** Remember to use your first name and "Doyle period ___" when you sign your post. Also, if you choose to respond to what another classmate wrote, please do so in a respectful manner.

Colonial Projects: Learn from your classmates

2010-11-18T14:41:00.002-06:00

Now that you have completed your Colonial Project, you have a chance to see what your fellow classmates worked on for the last two weeks before winter break. Spend at least fifteen minutes, and read ONE of the newspapers created by students in Mr. Nekrosius's class. After reading one newspaper, on Ms. Doyle's blog, post at least three things, in sentence format, that you learned from the newspaper. In addition, write one question for the projects you viewed. Your question may be about the creative process or about the actual content of the project.

Be sure to note which class period's projects you are writing about in your blog post

Include your first name only in your post. Your post is due on Thursday!

Look here for the Salem Newspapers.

Escape the Box

2010-09-10T11:15:00.003-05:00

We have spent the past three weeks discussing questions surrounding identity. As part of those discussions, we you have read several stories, listened to music, performed poetry, written in journals, and created identity collages to express your own unique cultural identifiers. We have also discussed various examples of "the box," which is a metaphor for any obstacles or barriers that might isolate, frustrate, enclose, or sometimes protect someone from a larger world.

Think back over everything we have read so far for this unit ("Theme for English B," "High Yellow White Trash," "Sylvia's Story" from National Public Radio), American Born Chinese, "Black, White and Jewish" and "Being Poor in a Land of Plenty." Your task now is to write and post a comment in this forum in which you describe a connection between at least TWO of these works, focusing on the role of "the box." Think about how different characters face similar or different challenges. Think about similarities or differences in the kinds of disguises characters wear. Do you think these characters will escape from their boxes? What kinds of factors put characters and/or people in boxes? Are the "boxes" constructed by society (for example, by stereotypes), or do families and individuals create their own boxes?

When you have made a connection between at least two works, write a post describing that connection. Make sure to mention specific characters/narrators, and to be clear about how the "boxes" they experience are similar. Your post should be in the form of a well-developed paragraph with a topic sentence and evidence, examples, and text references. You should feel free to respond to your classmates' posts, as well as to ask your classmates questions.

*** Remember to use your first name and "Doyle period ___" when you sign your post. Also, if you choose to respond to what another classmate wrote, please do so in a respectful manner.

The Language of Gender: From Seeing Pink to Getting it Straight

2010-04-14T12:39:00.007-05:00

Is Kotex's parody of itself evident of an authentic shift in attitudes about gender? How do these ads reveal changing (and not) changing attitudes about menstruation?

U by Kotex: Reality Check

U by Kotex: TVC

U by Kotex: So Obnoxious

How do these ads attempt to address the misconceptions and outright lies about menstruation? What gender stereotypes are evident and/or addressed in these ads? Do you think that the attempt at humor makes the ads more or less effective?

How do the new ads compare to the old ones?

Kotex: New Freedom Pads

How does Photoshop change our images of real women/girls?

The Perfect Lie -- Photoshop Transformation

Escape The Box

2009-09-13T14:06:00.003-05:00

We have spent the past week and a half discussing questions surrounding identity. As part of those discussions, we you have read several stories, listened to music, performed poetry, written in journals, and created identity collages to express your own unique cultural identifiers. We have also discussed various examples of "the box," which is a metaphor for any obstacles or barriers that might isolate, frustrate, enclose, or sometimes protect someone from a larger world.

Think back over everything we have read so far for this unit ("Theme for English B," "High Yellow White Trash," "Black, White, and Jewish," "Those Who Don't," "Sylvia's Story" from National Public Radio, "Alone and All Together," and "Two Kinds"). your task now is to write and post a comment in this forum in which you describe a connection between TWO of these works, focusing on the role of "the box." Think about how different characters face similar or different challenges. Think about similarities or differences in the kinds of disguises characters wear. Do you think these characters will escape from their boxes?

When you have made a connection between two works, write a post describing that connection. Make sure to mention specific characters/narrators, and to be clear about how the "boxes" they experience are similar. Your post does not have to be long; three or four sentences is plenty. You should feel free to respond to your classmates' posts, as well as to ask your classmates questions.

*** Remember to use your first name and "Doyle period ___" when you sign your post. Also, if you choose to respond to what another classmate wrote, please do so in a respectful manner.

The Taste of Chicago Summer 2009

2009-07-06T09:45:00.003-05:00

When your two year old likes it, you know its good. Eating gazpacho and mango Italian ice at the Taste of Chicago made it feel like summer, finally, and the warm sunshine only added to the feeling that the long-awaited summer ritual had arrived. Our Taste experience began with gazpacho, cool, tasty cold tomato soup from The Alley, sweet salty corn on the cob from the Abbey, and mango Italian ice from Mazzanos. We rounded out the real Chicago experience with a ride on the Merry-Go-Round and a walk to Buckingham Fountain.

Luc and Maisie loved the Metra Train ride to the Taste the best, however, and why not when the train had an American Flag on each car? They exclaimed, "Flag train is my favorite!"

They also enjoyed the speed of the express train, and equally the slowness of the regular train so they could examine the stops along the way.

The true Chicagoan visits the Taste on public transit, and searches out the unique along with the standard favorites of summer.

What Happened to LeAlan and Lloyd?

2009-03-03T09:38:00.003-06:00

We've listened to and read LeAlan's and Lloyd's stories about growing up on Chicago's South Side. LeAlan and Lloyd continued their individual struggles to break the boundaries and boxes that attempted to encircle them in lives devoid of hope.

To learn more about what they are doing now, read and listen to The Changing World's recent post.

You may comment on what you have learned about where each of them are now.

Please include your first name and class period.

Changing Boundaries: The South Side of Chicago

2009-02-27T21:37:00.003-06:00

Read the essay and view the attached photo essay in Mother Jones Magazine. Then write a paragraph response in which you connect issues discussed in this article to many of the issues of racial boundaries that we read about and discussed in class in the past few weeks.

You many want to write about A Raisin in the Sun, Our America, or any of the articles and poems we read. You might also consider the images we discussed such as The Great Migration series from Jacob Lawrence or the photographs in 12 Million Black Voices.

Please sign your post with your first name and class period.

Colonial Projects: Learn From Your Classmates

2009-01-05T09:38:00.004-06:00

Now that you have completed your Colonial Project, you have a chance to see what your fellow classmates worked on for the last two weeks before winter break. Spend at least fifteen minutes, and read ONE of the newspapers created by students in Mr. Nekrosius's class. Then, below, view ONE of the documentary videos created by Ms. Doyle's class. After viewing one video and reading one newspaper, on Ms. Doyle's blog, post at least three things, in sentence format, that you learned from the newspaper and three things you learned from the video. In addition, write one question for each of the two projects you viewed. Your question may be about the creative process or about the actual content of the project.

Be sure to note which class period's projects you are writing about in your blog post

Include your first name only in your post. Your post is due on Thursday!

Look here for the Salem Newspapers and see the videos on Ms. Doyle's blog.

Colonial Projects: The Trial of Anne Hutchinson

2008-12-19T15:04:00.013-06:00

From December 8th through the 18th, 7th grade students researched, wrote and acted in video documentaries of the historical importance of the Trial of Anne Hutchinson, Puritan, in 1637.

Period 3-4 Documentary of The Trial of Anne Hutchinson:

Period 8-9 Documentary of the Trial of Anne Hutchinson:

A House With No Walls

2008-12-02T10:55:00.003-06:00

About A House With No Walls at the Timeline Theater, running from November 1-December 21:

"Philadelphia wants to build its new American Museum of Liberty on the grounds of George Washington's Philadelphia home and slave quarters. Soon a conservative academic star and a liberal political activist are confronting each other with polarizing questions of African-American identity and legacy. Elegantly juxaposed with this contemporary conflict is the true story of one of Washington's slaves as she contemplates escape. The result is a thought-provoking drama that asks vital questions about race in America, both where we've been and where we go next."

Plan to see A House With No Walls with your family. Then write at least a page response to the play (double spaced, 12 point font) for EXTRA CREDIT. For details about tickets see Timeline Theater. You can turn in your response via email to Ms. Doyle, to Ms. Doyle's drop box, or you can attach your response to the blog. Write in word first, then copy and paste into the blog. If you post publicly, be sure to use your first name only!

A Thanksgiving Story: Unitentional Destruction

2008-11-26T07:44:00.002-06:00

Listen to Sarah Vowell's story from This American Life:Turkeys in Pilgrim's Clothing (and share it with your parents if you really want to get the old TV jokes). Then comment!

The Chief is Resurrected

2008-11-13T11:02:00.005-06:00

The Chicago Tribune reports that Chief Illiniwek, the former University of Illinois mascot, has been resurrected by a group of students who have elected a new mascot to perform for students and the University community this year.

Please read the story and respond. Write your first name and class period in your post.

What do you think of this new manifestation of Native American mascots? Should the students be allowed to do this? Is the University responsible? Are they condoning the practice and how does this fit with the NCAA ruling that no teams that host tournament play are allowed to have Native American mascots?

Your post will count as extra credit!

American Indian Web Quests

2008-11-06T11:29:00.008-06:00

Each 7th grade humanities class now has a set of web pages answering specific questions about the American Indian culture they studied. You will need to read/explore at least one web page from each class (one from Mr. Nekrosius's class and one from Ms. Jacobs' class). Post a response to the webpages on my blog, including information about the following:

1. Write three things you discovered about the cultures explained in BOTH of the web pages.

2. Note at least one similarity or difference from the culture you studied for BOTH web pages.

3. Ask at least one question that you think should be answered about the TWO cultures you read about.

4. Make one comment about the design and layout of the TWO web pages you visited. Be sure your comments are constructive/helpful. Be polite but truthful.

In Whose Honor?

2008-10-09T14:48:00.004-05:00

Write a paragraph response to the movie In Whose Honor? Respond to the following statement: Native American mascots are always a sign of disrespect toward native groups of people. If you agree, give supporting statements from the movie to illustrate your point. If you disagree, use specific examples to show your point. Be sure to follow the "hamburger" method of paragraph writing. Think carefully about your topic sentence and your conclusion. You may also reply to other students, but be careful to be respectful even if you disagree. REMINDER: SIGN YOUR POST WITH YOUR FIRST NAME ONLY, NO LAST NAMES. WRITE YOUR CLASS PERIOD ON YOUR POST AS WELL.

Escape the Box

2008-09-10T12:39:00.002-05:00

Colonial Projects: Please Comment

2007-01-13T08:37:00.000-06:00

Please go to Student Work 2006 and review the Newspapers and Colonial Life Murals. Choose one mural and one newspaper article, and write thoughtful comments and questions about each. You should write about content and format. Please be considerate of the work invested in each of the projects, and make your comments constructive. You may also ask questions of the authors/artists.

Remember to use your first name (and last initial if necessary).

Animal Farm: Pigs, Protest and Persuasion

2007-01-11T21:43:00.000-06:00

If you would like to have an opportunity to ask questions or to post ideas that come to you as you read Animal Farm, please post those ideas here. Be sure to give page numbers with your text if you would like us to consider a specific passage in the text.

Keep in mind the issues that have come up about rebellion, equality, power, and the anger and hope aspects of protest. Are humans doomed to repeat the failures of the past?

Be sure to post using your first name!

The Mayflower: Bradford and Snoopy

2006-11-28T11:05:00.000-06:00

Evaluate Charles Schulz's version of the Mayflower crossing. What is the perspective he takes when describing the events of 1620? Did you learn anything new from "The Mayflower Voyagers"? How does it compare to the story told in your readings?

Will the real Pocahontas please stand up?

2006-11-14T22:48:00.000-06:00

After watching the Disney version of colonization, you'll write a review of Disney's version of the story of Jamestown, John Smith and Pocahontas.

Here is your chance to work out your ideas, ask questions, and consider the issue of historical accuracy in film.

Is is okay for artists and film makers to embellish, change, and even distor history? What is the message of Disney's version of Pocahontas?

News on American Indian Mascots in College Athletics

2006-11-13T22:05:00.000-06:00

The NCAA has taken a stand on Native American mascots. The story is from August of 2006.

Read and listen to the NPR story that explains the latest news about mascots and NCAA tournament play.

Post a reaction here after you listen to and read the story.

NCAA Moves to Curb Indian Mascots in Sports

NCAA Backs Off Threat on 'Seminoles'

Cortes and the Aztecs: Conquest, Resistance, and Interpreters

2006-11-08T19:26:00.000-06:00

After your group has discussed the film and the various primary sources, make a post to the blog that responds to the following questions:

How did Cortes conquer such a thriving civilization (in other words, was Spanish/European civilization superior, or were other factors inolved)?

Why was Aztec resistance not successful?

What do you think of the role played by Dona Marina?

Controversy: Chief Illiniwek

2006-11-06T20:00:00.000-06:00

In class we watched "In Whose Honor?" about the use of American Indians as mascots, and about Chief Illiniwek in particular. Our around table discussion was excellent, but if you have other ideas you'd like to post, please write them here. Include your name so others can respond to you.

As always, remember that if you disagree, you still need to be polite.

Assignment for American Indian Research

2006-10-26T08:43:00.000-05:00

When you have finished this project, each 7th grade class will have a set of web pages answering specific question about the American Indian culture they studied. You will need to read at least one web page from each class. Post a response to the blog, including information about the following:

1. Write three things you discovered about the cultures explained in the web sites.
2. Note at least one similarity or difference from the culture you studied.
3. Ask at least one question that you think should be answered about the cultures you read about.
4. Make one comment about the design and layout of the web page you visited. Be sure your comment is constructive/helpful. Be polite but truthful.

Respond to Native American Stereotypes

2006-10-19T13:28:00.000-05:00

Write three comments about the pictures we viewed in class today (Thursday, 10/19).

Responding to Native American Unit

2006-10-18T20:19:00.000-05:00

During the next weeks of class, we will be investigating Cahokians while students in Ms. Anderson's class and Ms. Jacobs' class investigate about Pacific Northwest Native Americans and Wampanoags, respectively.

We'll provide questions for consideration and you should respond with questions, comments, or other issues you'd like us to address in class.