Gary Coyle’s Grade 8 Humanities

Significant Items Covered:

• Feedback -  When does one become an adult? What does it mean to be an adult?
• Socratic Seminar – Prep
• Socratic Seminar Discussion 1-  In Jonas’s community, every person and his or her experiences are precisely the same. The climate is controlled and competition has been eliminated in favour of a community in which everyone works only for the common good. What advantages might “sameness” yield for modern communities? Is the loss of diversity worthwhile?  
• Socratic Seminar Discussion 2 – Should people’s emotions be controlled?
• Touchstones Discussion – The Life of Lycurgus (Utopia)
• Grammar – Transitions
• Partner Jigsaw – How Technology Stuff Works – Paraphrase your technology and then share with class.
• Continuum Discussion – Where do I stand on Technology?
• SS Discussion 1 –  Should people ever break the rules in order to achieve a higher purpose?
• Attend SAISA Track

Reflection – Post your response to your BLOG.

Precise use of language is an important theme in The Giver. Why does Lois Lowry purposefully use the word ‘sameness’ instead of ‘equality’? Explain what the difference is in the meaning of the words. Then using the Giver and Animal Farm cite examples of how we have seen each word used. Which author uses language more precisely?

Major Points From Last Week

Population Project Work-time

Reflection

Please respond to the following in your BLOG.

The Giver in many ways is a “coming of age” story, in which we witness Jonas’ growing up. To begin our discussion of The Giver please address the following three questions in your blog using “good” paragraphs.

1. When does one become an adult?
2. What does it mean to be an adult?
3. At what age are people no longer useful to society?

image from: classiclit.about.com

Major Points From Last Week:

Spring Break

Reflection

Please post your response to the following in your BLOG.

This week is your week to work on your Population Project  in Humanities Class. What I would like you to do for this week’s feedback is to create a work plan for using your classtime most effectively. Take a few minutes to figure out what you have left to do and then lay out your plan day by day for this week.