- This topic has 107 replies, 9 voices, and was last updated July 25, 2024 by
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Summary for Lesson 1
In today’s class we began our work on Mortal Engines, learning about some of the big ideas under the surface of the story. The class began by sharing their thoughts on the book before completing some work on setting, discussing how the book plays with both futuristic and Victorian time periods. We learned about colonialism and how it links to the book thinking about what the author is trying to say about topics such as power and inequality. Finally we discussed what we’d like to ask the author and did some hot-seating. Really great work today everyone, very well done and I’ll see you next week 🙂
Interview video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8d7xkftUMc&t=11s
Colonialism video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzHbL0ByeLY&t=137s
Homework
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Hi Beth,
Thanks for the engaging lesson! Here’s my HM
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1UNFMdZckNVMLDfE-7eC33KcR0_p9FPv0mWXKaL27kTw/edit?usp=sharing
Julia
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Dear Beth,
Thank you for this lesson! Here is my homework, have a great day!
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lpGj9-WxYiUxCzWW9FgRw33ANRHHM3ggUW5UcWAdc2M/edit
Best regards,
Cherise
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Summary for Lesson 2
In today’s class we continued our study of Mortal Engines, focusing on genre, philosophy and big ideas in the book. We began by thinking about genre and how the book fits (or doesn’t fit) into the science fiction genre. The class then learned about municipal Darwinism in the book and we analysed an extract that showed that process in action, discussing what was wrong with the concept. The class wrote some great diary entries off the back of this before finally thinking about what traction cities can teach us about how we should not live in the world. Incredible work everyone, well done. It was great to see you all today and hear your amazing ideas- keep up the fantastic dedication and see you next time 🙂
Article link for homework: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/dec/12/mortal-engines-what-philip-reeves-predator-cities-tell-us-about-our-world
Homework
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Summary for Lesson 3
In our final lesson on Mortal Engines we thought about the characters in the story and evaluated our final feelings on the book. We began by thinking about the homework article discussing the idea of history repeating itself in the story and how this reflects the real world. We then looked at character descriptions, making inferences about author intent. The class completed some group work where they had to choose quotations that proved particular points in the author’s toolkit and finally, they created their own characters and learned about book review writing. Well done today everyone, lovely thoughts on the character descriptions in particular. See you next week for Holes and have a great evening!
Book review writing guide: https://reedsy.com/discovery/blog/how-to-write-a-book-review
Homework
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Hi Beth,
Thanks for the great lesson
Here’s my HM
Julia
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1H1gnbRoxWjwbkL01o08lQWhwQdi84lHzUQFI7jKs6yM/edit?usp=sharing
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Hi Beth here is my homework
Mortal engines is written by a British man called Philip Reeve . In mortal engines big cities eat other small cities London is one of the big cities and other small cities are his prey it’s pretty not fair because if you are big you get to eat other cities but if you are small you need to be chased by the cities bigger than you and the and the people inside the story the people I didn’t like was Valentine because he killed the parents of Hester and Hester escaped ,then it shrike who took care of Hester for most of her child hood . At last what the lesson teaches us is to appreciate what you have
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Dear Beth,
Thank you for this lesson, and sorry for the late homework.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FiJsGEW5IVxBt4yDwpPqxY4XhjHFv0G9leJD6t4GtgQ/edit
Best,
Cherise
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Summary for Lesson 4
In today’s class we began our work on Holes, learning about the history behind the book and working through some key ideas on themes. We began with a discussion of how the students found the book before thinking about its semantic field and the weird imagery the book draws on. The class then researched the 100 years of US history the book spans over before learning about key historical themes in the novel, from immigration to racism in the South to the US justice system. Lastly we touched on magical realism, linking the strange moments in the book to this wider genre. Wonderful work everyone, good luck with your homework research and see you next week 🙂
Homework
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Hi Beth,
Thank you for a interesting lesson and a great start to the book
Here is my homework.
Emily
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Hi Beth,
Thanks so much for all your hard work! Here’s my HM
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1v5m11ju4gbZonHz1G4-xcjIMAnJBfW5Chc8PNFGm3uI/edit?usp=sharing
Julia
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Hi Beth,
Thank you for the lesson! Here is my hw for this week. Have a great day/night!
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1z7EuQh76G8db8fYfjp17fY9rBJHdweB3f7QnwuvM7P8/edit
Cherise
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Summary for Lesson 5
In today’s class we continued our work on Holes, discussing genre, the narrative and the role of folktale in the story. We began by watching a clip of the film before discussing the genres we could see in the story before fixing in on fairytales and folktales. We read an extract and thought about how to interpret it as a modern fairytale in ways, before looking at the way the book is narrated and how the omniscience of the narrator is significant. Lastly we debated the importance of names in the novel, linking this to stories such as Rumpelstiltskin and Snow White. Wonderful work today everyone- I loved how in-depth your analyses of the genres of this story were and thought you engaged beautifully with the idea of how history and folktales weave through the plot of Holes. See you soon 🙂
Homework
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Dear Beth,
Thank you for the lesson! Here’s my hw.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NKqe53Ny4l9uc4NrskU351Ku9XJ9p1kgZOxgyu-kILE/edit
Best regards,
Cherise
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Hi Beth,
Thank you for a great lesson. Here is my homework.
Emily.
The Importance of the environmental temperature lies in the the base of the story. Digging holes in Camp Green lake is a punishment for a crime they committed. They were exhausted to death because of the scorching hot weather. This makes endlessly digging holes more tiresome due to the rush of finishing before the afternoon, practically always afraid of heat. This builds and supports a few themes like adventure. Towards the final main part of the story, Zero and Stanley already had a lot of their minds, let alone a increased worry of water due to the blazing heat.
This links to the setting names of the places. A main one would be Camp Green lake. It seems ‘Green’ with plants, trees and all that, and you would rather (more obviously) expect this place to plainly have a lake. But it’s the opposite – meaning it doesn’t actually have plants and a lake. Maybe this name would make the reader feel shocked at the unexpected reality of Camp Green lake and triggered. This might cause the reader to take the heat as hotter, more seriously and emphasis the hotness of the barren wasteland.
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Hi Beth,
I really enjoyed the lesson! Here’s my HM
Julia
https://docs.google.com/document/d/14Qj242w26mWlpetT9awD_WJ-MHbSAcSIpemalj56hlg/edit?usp=sharing
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Hi Beth
Sally’s homework
Can you name any fairy tales or folktales ?
Cinderella .its a girl that had a stepmother and two stepsisters that treated her badly and a fairy god mother came and made Cinderella beautiful at the concert then her shoe fell and the prince found it and found out that
in what ways is holes described as a fairy tale or folk tale ?
Because the genre of holes is more likely adventure and mystery and adventure and mystery is like a fairy tale and also we find out that holes is not a true story so it’s fairy tale
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Summary for Lesson 6
In today’s class we completed work on Holes, working creatively with ideas from the novel so the class could come up with their own fantastic versions of moments in the book. We began by discussing fate vs free will, linking this to the story’s ideas on social inequality, before looking at the ‘If Only’ song from the book. The class wrote their own verses to this (really wonderful work everyone) and finally we discussed essay tips and looked at some analyses of literary techniques used in the book. Well done for all your fab ideas and concentration today everyone- keep up the amazing work and see you next week 🙂
Homework
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Hi Beth,
Thank you for an amazing lesson on Holes. Here is my homework.
Emily
‘Never judge a book by its cover’ is a fitting moral for this story and probably one of the secondary foundations to the story. In the time which Holes was set. America had become very racist to ‘coloured’ people and African-Americans. In the children’s juvenile detention centre (or Camp Green Lake) most of the children there were actually ‘black people’. This illustrates how unfair the American society was back then, the racist ideas. Most of the people actually turned out nice and friendly kids.
Zero is discarded and considered useless the the other children at Camp Green Lake because he is smaller and quieter than the other kids there (doesn’t speak much.) They all think he doesn’t know how to talk, read, or even have a name so they regard him as stupid, but he is secretly very smart as it shows though the middle to the end of the book.
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Hi Beth,
Thank you so much for the amazing lesson, here my HM🙂
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1G1I61v0ttJRQk_Or-kzrVwjZqrw2TUHGII_jSZsX0NY/edit?usp=sharing
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Dear Beth,
Sorry for the late hw, I have been traveling and forgot to submit it.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QkQNlFgBEfxTfwjxrjItsZxj7yJA00A_0fuAm7OkJws/edit
Cherise
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Summary for Lesson 7
In today’s class we began work on Sherlock Holmes, learning about the history behind the creation of the fictional detective and the author. We began by thinking about how we felt about the book before learning and discussing why Sherlock is such a famous character even one hundred years after Conan Doyle first wrote about him. We looked at the reasons behind his creation and the class came up with amazing points about why these books are still so popular. We then discussed Victorian London and the context behind the story and finally the students came up with modern versions of Sherlock Holmes, thinking about how technology and the modern world would change the stories. Really great work today everyone, well done for your really creative ideas. See you next week and well done for today 🙂
Homework article: https://www.novelsuspects.com/articles/the-appeal-of-sherlock-holmes/#:~:text=While%20Sherlock%20Holmes%20is%20a,fictional%20detectives%20for%20these%20reasons.
Ted-ed video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8992A5oAWM
Background info video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7toqzP16H4c
Summary of the book: https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/study-in-scarlet/summary/
Homework
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Summary for Lesson 8
In today’s class we continued work on A Study in Scarlet, thinking about genre and character. We began by discussing the homework article, thinking about the points it makes on Sherlock as a character and the way readers react to him, before moving on to learning about detective fiction and how Arthur Conan Doyle broke from tradition in the way he wrote this story. We dug into Sherlock’s theories of deduction and the class discussed some questions in groups, looking at narrative, perspective and the theme of friendship beautifully. Finally we did some work on character, using our creative skills to dissect characters in the book and create our work. Incredible and passionate work everyone- very well done and see you next week 🙂
Detective fiction video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nS3ylzuhqZQ&t=296s
Homework
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Hi Beth,
I really enjoyed the lesson! Here’s my Hm, sorry it’s late .
Julia
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1zef1Hh2f4WYxDPUVXkNXM170F_SH4hIlo1iT1H7JZrk/edit?usp=sharing
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Summary for Lesson 9
In today’s class we completed work on A Study in Scarlet, doing some creative work and thinking about how this story fits together. We discussed what makes the case in the story interesting to Sherlock and thought about the way the clues all fit together. The class then wrote a great step-by-step guide on being a detective before thinking about the way the novel was split into two halves and why. Finally the students came up with their own Sherlock Holmes-inspired mysteries in groups, coming up with brilliant stories full of intrigue and twists & turns. Amazing work everyone- keep it up and see you next week 🙂
Homework
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Hi Beth,
I thought the crime scene sketch you showed us was really interesting😀Here’s my HM
Julia
https://docs.google.com/document/d/10HCcMyIVR1T0NVO9_5QOdk6aP_zkZ0jGKICG7OOKy3k/edit
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Summary for Lesson 10
In today’s class we began Treasure Island, thinking about the life of a pirate and the world in the 1700s. We discussed the novel, thought about the Golden Age of Piracy and learned some facts about what life was like back then. We looked at aspects such as why people became pirates, myths around piracy and thought about where the pirate hot spots were. The class then considered Jim Hawkins’ life at the start of the book, touching on why he might want to go to sea, before we summed up these ideas by reading a fact-file on the novel. Amazing work everyone, I can’t wait to see the creative pirate flags you come up with which I am sure will be excellent. Keep up the brilliant work and well done 🙂
Homework
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Gorgeous work Helen, well done! I absolutely love the idea of using a fish skeleton as the crossbones and think your image of a pirate cat is so creative and eye-catching. Beautiful illustration and a fantastic imagining of what a pirate flag could look like with a strong theme and an amazing eye for detail. Incredible drawing, well done 🙂
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Hi Beth,
Thanks for the lesson! Here’s my flag:)
Julia
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rJbULM703begb1U9ZZCklP39iNNb5qxX_ejga-xywHs/edit?usp=sharing
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Brilliant work Julia, well done! You have used colour so powerfully here to create contrast and to give your flag an ominous sense of danger. The use of the phrase ‘all’s fair in love and war’ is excellent, such a foreboding statement for a pirate to use and it makes the flag jump off the page. This is a wonderful re-imagining of the skull as dripping down as if bleeding and overall a really fantastic design. Beautiful work, well done 🙂
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Hi Beth,
Here is my HW. I decided to do an experiment, and see what Canva A.I, and ChatGPT would do if they made a “Modern Pirate Flag”, and they seem to have very different ideas. BTW, I don’t have ChatGPT, but my mum let me use it for the experiment
Jasmine
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Wow Jasmine, I love the idea of using AI to experiment with modern designs and then contrasting it with your own. I love the range of imagery being used and how they all have a fantastic modern spin on them. Wonderful use of foreboding symbols in your pirate flag, with the skull, sword and bone combination being very fitting and put together creatively. Fantastic use of colour to make it pop too; superb work, well done 🙂
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I am so glad you enjoyed! Exquisite work Emily, well done! I absolutely love your take on a pirate flag, and the way you have drawn the skull almost as if it is melting into itself. You have used colour to pop off the page beautifully and I really like the details that link to piracy i.e., the cutlass through the head, the bandana. Very cool structure and design – very creative work, well done 🙂
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Lovely work Cherise, well done! You have used the skull and crossbones motif excellently, putting it in the centre in a bold expression of the Pirate’s identity. I love the way you have used colour here, with the red and black of the logo representing danger and the pale blue contrasting this nicely and linking to the ocean too. Really eye-catching work showcasing a modern pirate flag- well done 🙂
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Summary for Lesson 11
In today’s class we thought about the world of Treasure Island, thinking about the pirate code in the book and the way the characters interact. We began by thinking about the Black Spot with the class designing their own before moving on to talking about the violence and abruptness with which the pirates in the novel speak. We looked at the dangers of the high seas in the 1700s and the class debated with one another coming up with some excellent ideas of objects to take back in time to help them on their journeys. Finally we thought about how the author had obscured the geographical location of Treasure Island and why, drawing on some ideas of what the mythology behind the island communicates. Fabulous work today everyone, particularly when thinking creatively. Well done and see you next week 🙂
Homework
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Hi Beth,
I enjoyed writing the Hm! Thanks for the lesson 🙂
Julia
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mHDp7mlOg9Zr9rn_6EZp3B_4A2B93W89AJt2vaSBQp0/edit?usp=sharing
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Dear Beth,
Thank you for the lesson!
Cherise
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Rs6dO4AJPwFMhD2MR6-D0jmJLXejqOQ7SG4UZ7z4am4/edit
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Summary for Lesson 12
In today’s class we completed work on Treasure Island thinking about the character of Long John Silver and the complex morality of the novel. We began by discussing the role of greed in the story, thinking about how it serves none of the characters well, before moving on to thinking about Silver and his attributes. We discussed why Stevenson made him so likeable and the class then conducted a fantastic mock trial, with half of them arguing for the prosecution, the other half for the defence. Finally we discussed the ending of the book, evaluating why it ends the way it does. Really wonderful work from all of you class, you should be very proud of all your ideas and your dedicated hard work throughout our course. I have been so impressed and exhilarated by all your amazing interpretations of literature and think you are all fantastic thinkers and speakers. Keep up the great work and see you next course 🙂
Homework
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Hello Beth,
Here is my homework for this lesson. I have really enjoyed these 12 lessons. The books you choose have never fail to make me excited for what will happen next.
See you soon,
Jasmine -
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