A Year in F7 – Week 24

On By aolimpiIn Uncategorized

Monday, February 11th, Day 105

1.) Card Talk/Picturae Verae et Falsae: Quid egisti biduo? (what did you do on the weekend?)

We had a long weekend, and students seemed eager to talk about it; therefore, I had the students draw two pictures: one depicts

Prep Time: 0 minutes

2.) Picture Talk: Pictura Vera/Pictura Falsa

After projecting various students’ pairs of pictures with the document camera, we discussed both briefly, with the intent of figuring out which one was true.  This allowed me to interview some of the students on the stop if their pictures caused controversy among the students.

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3.) Write and Discuss (Pictura Falsa)

We described and wrote about the most interesting “picturae falsae,” in some cases creating a brief story around the fiction.

Prep Time: 0 minutes

Total Prep Time: 0 minutes (!)

 

Tuesday, February 12th, Day 106

1.) Draw and Discuss: Arbor Familiae: Review of Romulus et Remus

I prepared a slide with the names of the various characters from “Romulus et Remus: Pars Prima” (Romulus, Numitor, etc.) and well as a list of relationship words (pater, amicus, soror, etc), and had the students work with a partner to quickly diagram the family tree, showing how all the characters were related.

Afterwards, we talked the relationships out, and I had the students correct their diagrams as they went.  I’m glad I did this, as some students (who had missed part of the story last week) were confused by the character names, and I was able to clear up the details and summarize the action in a novel way—keeping it in Latin the entire time.

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Brain Break

2.) “Superhero” Task introduction

First (1) I asked the students to write down the name of a superhero and then answer these questions:

  1. quid est nomen verum tibi?
  2. quid es? homo vel alienus vel monstrum vel animal
  3. ubi habitas?
  4. quo uteris? (responsa: utor potentia magica/instrumentis/machinis/vehiculis)

Second (2) I asked the students to draw the superhero in action (using their powers, fighting the bad guy, doing their distinctive stuff).

I plan to use these pictures on Thursday as a Picture Talk to review the Superhero survey tomorrow and to introduce the Watch and Discuss activity, centered around the short film “Laundry Quandary.”

Prep Time: 0 minutes

Total Prep Time: 5 minutes

 

Wednesday, February 13th, Day 107

1.) Discipulus Illustris/Student Interview: Superhero Interviews

Students answer questions (based on the superhero survey below) as the superhero of their choice.  I sometimes nominate an expert to help if the student isn’t able to answer the question.  There was a lot of student interest in this activity.  I ended up conducting three short interviews in each class.

Prep Time: 10 minutes

2.) Quick Quiz: verum an falsum?

Prep Time: 0 minutes

3.) Communicative Task: Superhero Survey

Students worked with partners and filled out this survey with a certain superhero in mind.

Prep Time: 20 minutes

4.) Guided Writing: (based on the superhero story)

Student use their superhero survey and write up a short biography of their superhero using the most relevant details and by filling in specific names and places.

Reflection: This short task was a big hit with students.  I hope to try another one this semester, if possible (perhaps about plans for spring break next month).

Prep Time: 0 minutes

 

Thursday, February 14th, Day 108

  1. Picture Talk: superhero pictures

Prep Time: 10 minutes

I used the vocabulary from the superhero surveys as I discussed the pictures with the students.  I was a bit amazed at how much the students seemed to have retained for yesterday’s task (at least in their short-term memory), because the subject was so compelling for them.  Again, it was a great reminder of the power of student interest.

  1. Movie Talk: “Laundry Quandary”

Prep Time: 10 minutes

  1. Write and Draw: – Students create an alternate ending

Reflection: Student endings are always more interesting that the ending to this movie (which I have always felt was a little lame and underdeveloped.  The most popular alternative ending was to have the woman in the movie also be a superhero with a secret identity, and the two fight the robot together.

Prep Time: 0 minutes

  1. Quick Quiz: verum an falsum

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Total Prep Time: 20 minutes

 

 

Friday, February 15th, Day 109

1.) Reading Activities: Laundry Quandary + student alternate endings

options:

  1. read and discuss
  2. reader’s theater
  3. picture talk
  4. write and discuss (favorite ending)

NOTA: Whether I decided to do a Picture Talk, Reader’s Theater activity, or a Read and Discuss (for a class that is not feeling particularly creative), the follow-up to the activity was a Write and Discuss.

Prep Time: 10 minutes

  1. Movie Talk: Pars II: The end of the movie

I chose to have the students create alternate ending BEFORE watching the movie because the ending always generates lots of groans.  The students were all very proud of the creativity of their alternate endings.

Prep Time: 0 minutes

  1. Timed Write (5 minutes)

Prep Time: 0 minutes

Total Prep Time: 10 minutes

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