AHS * HUMANITIES 11
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Daily Blog

Wednesday: Peer Critique

3/15/2017

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Starter:  Write down a focusing question you have about your philosophy project for your peer critique group.
It should get to the heart of the biggest challenge you're experiencing or weakness you see in your project thus far.
Examples:
  • I don't have an inter-textual connection. What texts would you recommend I connect to my philosophy?
  • I know WHAT I believe, but I don't know why.  Can you help me articulate the "why"?
  • I ALWAYS do photoshop projects.  Do you have any suggestions for how I could challenge myself or do something more creative for the visual?
  • How can I make my collage more unique? How can I add some different dimension to it to make it both authentic to ME and representative of my philosophy?
  • How can I improve my imagery in my short story/poem?
  • How can I improve the hook to my essay/short story to engage the reader more?

Peer Critique Guidelines
  • We will go over these as a whole class.
  • This will take all of class. If you don't finish, plan on finishing tomorrow.

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Tuesday, March 14th: Project Work Time and Ty Churchwell and Trout Unlimited

3/14/2017

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 3rd Period: Philosophy Project WORK TIME (remember, peer critique is tomorrow!)
  • ​But first let's review the rubric:
1. What does thoughtful mean in the context of our project?
2. What does authentic mean in the context of this project?
3. What does it mean for a piece of writing and a creative visual to "work together cohesively"?
4. What does it mean when a project is "refined to exhibition standards"
5. What does it mean to "exemplify beautiful work"?
6. What are some ways that you be creatively intertextual in this project?

4th Period: Ty Churchwell with Trout Unlimited- GUEST SPEAKER
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Monday, 3/13

3/13/2017

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Starter: Watch this video on the History of Our Public Lands 
  • What are your main takeaways from this video?
  • How might this video be relevant to today's political climate?

Class Biz- there's  a lot of it, so read carefully!
  • Tomorrow we have a guest speaker: Ty Churchwell from Trout Unlimited, who will speak to us about the work his environmental conservation organization does as well as his opinion on public lands.
  • *Ashley is going to Mikayla's TED Talk at 11am
  • A note about TED Talks-- Please don't attend them this week during 3rd period with the exception of Tuesday please don't attend during 4th period as we have a guest speaker tomorrow
  • Honors Into the Wild seminar is Thursday!  Please email me your seminar preps by the beginning of class then.
  • Wednesday is peer critique.  You should have a rough draft of either your visual OR your written piece.
  • Friday, beginning of class,  I will expect some portion of your project turned in, in as final form as possible.  That means you should have a DIALED written piece + sketch of painting OR the script for a video as finalized as possible with notes about video footage or the art piece and the draft of a poem + artist statement or a photoshop project with rough draft of short story, etc.... 
  • I am going to hold off on the Environmental Ethics lecture until we get back from Spring Break.  PLEASE SAVE THOSE NOTE-TAKING PACKETS!

This Week's Schedule
  1. Monday: 3rd period "Bakken Business" discussion, 4th period project work time
  2. Tuesday: 3rd period: Project work time, 4th period, guest speaker from Trout Unlimited
  3. Wednesday: Peer Critiques
  4. Thursday: ALL PROJECT WORK TIME, Honors seminar 4th period
  5. Friday: Turn in  projects, Watch Before the Flood, Leonardo DiCaprio and National Geographic's film about climate change problems and solutions

Agenda
1. Discuss "Bakken Business": Take notes using this discussion guide
2. Project Work Time!

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Friday, 3/10: Environmental Ethics continued

3/10/2017

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STARTER:
Watch this quick video on fracking to provide more context on the "Bakken Business" reading
(Here is a more detailed video on the actual fracking procedure for those interested- 7 minutes long)​

AGENDA
1.
Envt Ethics lecture ​
2. Personal Philosophy Work Time

HOMEWORK

Read "Bakken Business" for Monday's discussion! 
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Thursday, 3/9: Intro to Environmental Ethics Day 2

3/9/2017

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Starter: Turn to a neighbor and try to come up with your own definition for what environmental ethics means. What types of issues/questions would the field of environmental ethics cover?

Intro to Energy and Place project
  • Where is this going? I'm not sure? Given time constraints, I don't think we have enough time to do what I've  done in the past, so I have some ideas, but I also want you guys to think about what could be a cool final product and/or way for us to exhibit these learnings alongside of our Personal Philosophy project at All-School Exhibition on April 27th!
  • Envt Ethics lecture (just a bit for today so that you have enough work time for the personal philosophy project!)
  • Reading assignment due Monday  "Bakken Business" (hardcopy only available)

Personal Philosophy Project Worktime
  • Conference with Ashley!
  • Work!
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Intro to Environmental Ethics and Philosophy Project Work Time

3/8/2017

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Picture
Picture








Today's Driving Question: What do you know about climate change? What do you need to know?

Starter:  Complete page 1 of this document to fill me in on what you know about climate change (10 minutes)

​Agenda
1.  In partners, discuss the graphs above:  Interpret the two images above.  What does the data reveal at the surface level? What global implications does this data have for future energy policy decisions OR what explanations can you come up with for the data? (5 minutes)

2. Now read THIS ARTICLE and  complete page 2 of the document you began for our starter! (15 minutes)

3. Personal Philosophy Work Time! (1 hour and 15 minutes)
  • Proposal is due today! Turn it in!
  • Critique your proposal idea in groups (SEE BELOW)
  • Sign up for a conference with Ashley
  • Work on your project.

CRITIQUE - Find a group of 3-4 students and on the whiteboard, write your critique group members' names.  Then, write which day each person will get their project idea critiqued (either today or tomorrow).  THEN, get to critiquing using these critique guidelines:

CRITIQUE GUIDELINES
1. Get into groups of 3-4 
2. Explain your project to the critiquers
3. As a group, discuss the following four prompts:
  • What is the main idea/message the artist seems to be trying to express in the piece? 
  • How does it connect to class concepts/texts? 
  • What's the best thing about this project?
  • What feedback does your group have for refinement? (How could it be more beautiful? How could it better represent the idea(s) you're trying to express? Does it need to be tied more clearly to one of the texts we read/watched, etc...?  Does it represent this person's authentic self?)


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Tuesday, March 7th: Brainstorming and Project Proposal-ing!

3/7/2017

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Picture
STARTER: Listen to Gabe read his writing for his personal philosophy project last year, in combination with his painting shown to the left and contemplate the beautiful work represented by his ideas and artwork!





TODAY'S GOAL: Hone your Personal Philosophy project idea(s). You must complete the proposal by Wednesday AND have your visual piece IDEA  critiqued by a classmate before you begin implementing it.  Follow these steps today...

Step 1:  Review the project proposal guidelines (last page of this document!)

Step 2:  Continue to brainstorm ideas IF needed (see yesterday's brainstorm free-for-all directions)
  • Once you have a few ideas for your visual piece or your philosophy statement idea crafted, run them by a friend and get feedback on which idea they think is most authentic to you and most inspiring/cool.

Step 3: Begin working on  your project proposal
  • Feel free to emphasize the visual OR written piece but be sure that whatever you do is going to be BEAUTIFUL work that you are proud of and that inspires the audience to think more deeply about their own personal philosophy on life!

Step 4: CRITIQUE- Find a group of 3-4 students and on the whiteboard, write your critique group members' names.  Then, write which day each person will get their project idea critiqued (either today or tomorrow).  THEN, get to critiquing using these critique guidelines:
CRITIQUE GUIDELINES
1. Get into groups of 3-4 
2. Explain your project to the critiquers
3. As a group, discuss the following four prompts:
  • What is the main idea/message the artist seems to be trying to express in the piece? 
  • How does it connect to class concepts/texts? 
  • What's the best thing about this project?
  • What feedback does your group have for refinement? (How could it be more beautiful? How could it better represent the idea(s) you're trying to express? Does it need to be tied more clearly to one of the texts we read/watched, etc...?  Does it represent this person's authentic self?)

Step 5:  Refine your proposal, Submit, Conference with Ashley!
  • On the top of your proposal, write the  main ideas your group suggested for refinement
  • Complete your proposal and EMAIL it to Ashley
  • Sign up for a conference with Ashley once you have submitted your proposal to go through your ideas with her and make sure you're good to go!

Step 6: Begin Creating your BEAUTIFUL project!!

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Happiness and Meaning in the #21st century!

3/6/2017

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Picture
Gabe Garcia's painting to go along with his piece of writing linked below under examples!
Picture
Album cover for Perrin and Eno's philosophy project rap album (2016). See below for the link to one of their raps.
FINAL MINI-LESSON: Technology and Human Existence
Driving Question: How is your personal philosophy on happiness/meaning/purpose shaping up in the #21st century with the role technology plays in our lives?

Watch Sherry Turkle's TED Talk:  Connected But Alone 
During talk, highlight ideas/phrases/words/concepts that stands out to you.  Write down at least one question you would like to ask this researcher, or that this talk sparked for you.

PAIR SHARE an idea/phrase/word/concept that stood out to you
Discuss: What was the thesis of this talk?  What, ultimately, is she trying to say about our use of technology?

Now Watch a different perspective: "Technology Made Us Humans":
1. Do you agree with the narrator in the Shots of Awe video we watched today that, "Technology is the real skin of our species?" Why or why not?
2. Are there fundamental differences between technological tools like an ax to chop wood and technological devices like smartphones? If so what are those differences especially in terms of the ways the two types of tools shape/help/impact us?

FOUR CORNERS
  • Sherry Turkle is right.  Our devices and "connected" habits are robbing us of important pieces of our humanity and we need to intervene intentionally.
  • Our social media-based digital lives are making us happier and more connected to other human beings.

Introduction to the Personal Philosophy Final Project!!!!
1. Review as a whole class the project guidelines for our Personal Philosophy project 


2.  Rubric critique
Dig in to some of the rubric language.  With the people near you, answer the following:
  • What does thoughtful mean in the context of our project?
  • What does authentic mean in the context of this project?
  • What does it mean for a piece of writing and a creative visual to "work together cohesively"?
  • What does it mean when a project is "refined to exhibition standards"
  • What does it mean to "exemplify beautiful work"?

3. EXAMPLES
  • Ashley's Example philosophy statement and project proposal
  •  Watsky's spoken word poem: "Tiny Glowing Screens, Part 2":  This poem tells a depressing story about how the stars make us feel inadequate, about how — amongst seven billion people — each one of us is insignificant. However, upon closer look, Watsky seems to be trying to make meaning or find his purpose in the face of that feeling of inadequacy/insignificance. Think about how he defines meaning/purpose in this poem.
  • Stephen Sellers "I Am" Video
  • Student philosophy statement and project proposal examples from class of 2016
  • Grant Gibson's spoken word poem and video 
  • Serena Bennett’s video ​
  • Mikayla Wright's spoken word poem paired paired with images/video footage
  • “Swim” Perrin and Eno’s rap on the teenage existentialist crisis
    Click here to listen to the entire 4 song EP
  • Gabe's writing (his painting is above next to Perrin and Eno's Album cover)
  • Dana’s project:  “Cuida” (about gratitude!)

4. REVIEW and BRAINSTORM
Step 1: In your starter google doc title this entry "personal philosophy project review" (to start getting the wheels churnin' for your project).  Answer the following prompt: What ideas have stood out to you from this project so far that you think resonate with or are influencing the formation of your own personal philosophy of happiness/meaning?

Here is a list of the resources/philosophies/concepts we've studied thus far:
​Readings (these are all hyperlinked even though they aren't all in orange!!)
  • The Stranger
  • Into the Wild/Tale for Time Being
  • “The Catastrophe of Success”
  • Forest Bathing
  • Sense of Place
  • Jennifer Aaker: Happiness v. Meaning
  • Research on Gratitude from Harvard Health
  • Summary of Aristotle's philosophy of Eudaimonia (ignore page 1)
  • Existentialism powerpoint 

​TED Talks, Podcasts, Media Clips/Films
  • Success Podcast (5 talks)
  • “The Science of Happiness- An Experiment in Gratitude”
  • “The Paradox of Choice”
  • "Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us"  
  • "What Makes a Good Life: Lessons from the Longest Study on Happiness"
  • "The Pale Blue Dot" narrated by Astronomer and astrophysicist, Carl Sagan
  •  Youtube video called, "Existential Bummer"
  • Radiolab podcast on "Bliss"  and the youtube video of Aleksander Gamme's blissful cache discover
  •  I AM by Stephen Sellers
  • Alan Watts' youtube video: "What is it you desire?"  
  • Sherry Turkle's TED Talk:  Connected But Alone
  • "Technology Made Us Humans"
FILMS
  • Stranger Than Fiction
  • Happy (many of you watched in Sara Price's class-- if not, it is available on Netflix for free!)
  • BBC's film on Science and Religion

Step 2: Brainstorm Free-for-All!  Here are some options for brainstorm time....
*Remember: BY Wednesday you must complete the project proposal AND get your idea critiqued in class before moving forward with implementation.
  • Spend the next 15 minutes writing or drawing as many different ideas as you can  OR continuing your starter by reacting to the various resources that we studied (listed above) that stood out to you as particularly inspiring.
  • Spend some time re-reading/re-watching the resources above that stood out to you
  • Talk to a friend about some ideas you have
  • Read through some of the guiding questions and student examples on this document. Journal on them.
  • Go for a walk and think about your ideas and when you come back, write down the INSPIRING thoughts that stood out to you 
  • Sit on a bench outside and journal!
  • Write your personal philosophy statement FIRST as this may help you choose what sort of medium you want to do for your art piece! Stuck on your personal philosophy? See the first three bullet points!!!
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Discuss "Rediscovery of North America" and Standing Rock Guest Speaker

3/2/2017

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Starter:
Read the following quote by the legendary Ed Abbey, then write about a place that holds significance to you and that you find beautiful or find peace within. It could be ANYWHERE! Inside or outside! A corner in your bedroom, or a mountain range.  A city alleyway or a highway corridor.  Describe it in as much detail as you can and explain why you find it beautiful or why it is significant to you. 

​
"This is the most beautiful place on earth.  There are many such places.  Every man, every woman, carries in heart and mind the image of the ideal place, the right place, the one true home, known or unknown, actual or visionary.  A house-boat in Kashmir, a view down Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn, a gray gothic farmhouse two stories high at the end of a red dog road in the Allegheny Mountains, a cabin on the shore of a blue lake in spruce and fir country, a greasy alley near Hoboken waterfront, or even possibly for those of less demanding sensibility, the world to be seen from a comfortable apartment high in the tender, velvety smog of Manhattan, Chicago, Paris, Tokyo, Rio or Rome- there's no limit to the human capacity for homing sentiment" -- Edward Abbey, Desert Solitaire, pages 1-2.

AGENDA
1. Intro to Sense of Place powerpoint (15 minutes) + Share out your starter response
2. Discuss "Rediscovery of North America" (30 minutes)
  • QUIZ! ON the notecard, write your name, the thesis of the essay and your two questions for discussion
  • A note on today's guest speaker, additional resources below, as well as Ashley's commitment to bringing in a diverse array of guest speakers for on final project "Energy and Place".

5th Period: Guest Speaker, Greg Cairns, to share his experience at Standing Rock, protesting the Dakota Access Pipeline

Additional Standing Rock resources recommended by Greg
1. Viceland's Sacred Water documentary. 
2. Unicorn Riot's live feed of the eviction. Greg was filming next to them all day. They were knowledgeable and spoke accurately most of the time. This video is long but shows the eviction in full.

3. Unicorn Riot's video of the post-eviction clean up. Watch 39:00-42:00. 

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Lit Circle Seminars and "The Rediscovery of North America"

3/1/2017

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Starter
1. Turn in your seminar prep
2. Read over these Personal Philosophy Project guidelines + rubric and jot down any questions you have or spend 10 minutes brainstorming ideas! 

Agenda
1. 
 Go over the personal philosophy project guidelines and your questions and beginning ideas-- this is meant to get you all thinking in the back of your minds about the project.  We'll start brainstorming and drafting next Monday. 

2. **While not seminaring, begin reading Rediscovery of North America due for Thursday's class discussion (hardcopies with vocabulary definitions available in class)*****
Homework:
Read "Rediscovery of North America" for Thursday, beginning of class and come to class with the
  1. THESIS statement of the essay (either your own summary of the author's MAIN argument OR a quote from the essay that best captures the thesis) and
  2. 2-3 questions for our class discussion.

3. SEMINARS
1st: Into the Wild Seminar
2nd: Tale for Time Being Seminar


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    Ashley Carruth

    Humanities 11 Teacher at Animas High School

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