PB questions
Joylyn
As many of you know, I am now teaching in an inner city public school,
middle school, Language Arts.
This week we are testing so the kids are totally worn out by the end of
the day. The school is trying to stress the Power of One (how one
person can change the world, the neighborhood, the classroom, etc.) So
I showed the movie Amazing Grace and Chuck. That was finished so I took
in my favorite--the Princes Bride. Now I've just gotta do something
that my administration will consider "educational" if questioned.
Sadly, these kids are not unschooled at all. Far from it. Most of
them don't even grasp the idea that learning can be fun, let alone that
it might be somethign they want to do. Furthermore as I have to play by
the rules, I need to have some sort of follow up (tangible) for this
movie. Any ideas?
Joylyn
middle school, Language Arts.
This week we are testing so the kids are totally worn out by the end of
the day. The school is trying to stress the Power of One (how one
person can change the world, the neighborhood, the classroom, etc.) So
I showed the movie Amazing Grace and Chuck. That was finished so I took
in my favorite--the Princes Bride. Now I've just gotta do something
that my administration will consider "educational" if questioned.
Sadly, these kids are not unschooled at all. Far from it. Most of
them don't even grasp the idea that learning can be fun, let alone that
it might be somethign they want to do. Furthermore as I have to play by
the rules, I need to have some sort of follow up (tangible) for this
movie. Any ideas?
Joylyn
[email protected]
In a message dated 5/31/03 12:30:09 AM, joylyn@... writes:
<< Furthermore as I have to play by
the rules, I need to have some sort of follow up (tangible) for this
movie. Any ideas? >>
It just so happens that Marty, Holly and I just watched it tonight!
Motifs (princess, lost-at-sea/disguised lover, saved from marriage at the
last minute)
Framing (the grandfather reading is a frame the way the Canterbury Tales are
framed within a larger story)
The wine glasses scene can be compared to other riddling scenes involving
logic or traditional riddles. The Hobbit (if any of them have read that, or if
you wanted to read them the scene where Gollum and Bilbo are exchanging riddles
with a real prize at stake), The Lady and the Tiger, and I know there are
others but I'm not thinking of them.
There are ballad examples of that and of the disguised lover, but I doubt
these kids know many ballads.
Sandra
<< Furthermore as I have to play by
the rules, I need to have some sort of follow up (tangible) for this
movie. Any ideas? >>
It just so happens that Marty, Holly and I just watched it tonight!
Motifs (princess, lost-at-sea/disguised lover, saved from marriage at the
last minute)
Framing (the grandfather reading is a frame the way the Canterbury Tales are
framed within a larger story)
The wine glasses scene can be compared to other riddling scenes involving
logic or traditional riddles. The Hobbit (if any of them have read that, or if
you wanted to read them the scene where Gollum and Bilbo are exchanging riddles
with a real prize at stake), The Lady and the Tiger, and I know there are
others but I'm not thinking of them.
There are ballad examples of that and of the disguised lover, but I doubt
these kids know many ballads.
Sandra
BADOLBILZ
Joylyn, the Princess Bride is one of my favorites, too! Maybe you could
have them outline each characters motives for their actions and which
motives were based on the individual's needs and which encompassed the
whole group involved. Have them discuss which character was the most
altruistic and which was the most selfish. Remind them not to forget
the boy and his grandfather.
Good luck. HeidiC.
Joylyn wrote:
have them outline each characters motives for their actions and which
motives were based on the individual's needs and which encompassed the
whole group involved. Have them discuss which character was the most
altruistic and which was the most selfish. Remind them not to forget
the boy and his grandfather.
Good luck. HeidiC.
Joylyn wrote:
>As many of you know, I am now teaching in an inner city public school,
>middle school, Language Arts.
>
>This week we are testing so the kids are totally worn out by the end of
>the day. The school is trying to stress the Power of One (how one
>person can change the world, the neighborhood, the classroom, etc.) So
>I showed the movie Amazing Grace and Chuck. That was finished so I took
>in my favorite--the Princes Bride. Now I've just gotta do something
>that my administration will consider "educational" if questioned.
> Sadly, these kids are not unschooled at all. Far from it. Most of
>them don't even grasp the idea that learning can be fun, let alone that
>it might be somethign they want to do. Furthermore as I have to play by
>the rules, I need to have some sort of follow up (tangible) for this
>movie. Any ideas?
>
>Joylyn
>
>
>
>
Karen
Joylyn, what about having them write an alternative ending to the movie? You
could then compare it to the ending in the book and ask why they differ. Or
read excerpts from the book and compare to the movie, ask why the difference
or why they kept it the same.
Vocabulary? ("You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you
think it means.")
The Rule of Three: How the Man in Black has to meet and overcome three
assailants, each with different challenges (skill, strength, intellect).
What challenges have they overcome and how? Where do you see the Rule of
Three in other stories?
Have them memorize certain speeches or re-enact a scene from the movie in
class. It's one of the most quotable movies I know. Last year I saw Mandy
Patinkin in concert and at the very end, he struck a fencing pose, said "My
name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die!" and brought
down the house!
If you google Princess Bride, you'll find websites with more trivia than
you'll ever need, if you want to have a trivia contest or just use it as
filler on a worksheet.
Have fun! I wish you'd been one of my teachers!
Karen
could then compare it to the ending in the book and ask why they differ. Or
read excerpts from the book and compare to the movie, ask why the difference
or why they kept it the same.
Vocabulary? ("You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you
think it means.")
The Rule of Three: How the Man in Black has to meet and overcome three
assailants, each with different challenges (skill, strength, intellect).
What challenges have they overcome and how? Where do you see the Rule of
Three in other stories?
Have them memorize certain speeches or re-enact a scene from the movie in
class. It's one of the most quotable movies I know. Last year I saw Mandy
Patinkin in concert and at the very end, he struck a fencing pose, said "My
name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die!" and brought
down the house!
If you google Princess Bride, you'll find websites with more trivia than
you'll ever need, if you want to have a trivia contest or just use it as
filler on a worksheet.
Have fun! I wish you'd been one of my teachers!
Karen
Tia Leschke
>The school is trying to stress the Power of One (how oneSo are the kids going to see the movie Power of One?
> person can change the world, the neighborhood, the classroom, etc.)
Tia
"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety
deserve neither liberty nor safety." Ben Franklin
leschke@...
Sylvia Toyama
I love Princess Bride! While the ideas being shared are good, it's just a shame to be required to find educational value in PB. It has such incredible value -- obvious by the many suggestions -- just as it is. Too bad the school system requires you to make an assignment of it -- some kids will miss it's treasure because for them, it will always be that movie they had to watch in mid-school. Sometimes I'm convinced the purpose of school is to suck the joy out of life entirely...
Maybe it's because I spent most of an hour on the phone with my sis yesterday, trying to help her see why I don't think public school is the great success for everyone that it's been so far for her son. But she's very stuck in that mindset that kids must learn things and early before they get bored. just not worth the fight, I guess, but I love her kids like my own...
Syl
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Maybe it's because I spent most of an hour on the phone with my sis yesterday, trying to help her see why I don't think public school is the great success for everyone that it's been so far for her son. But she's very stuck in that mindset that kids must learn things and early before they get bored. just not worth the fight, I guess, but I love her kids like my own...
Syl
---------------------------------
Do you Yahoo!?
Free online calendar with sync to Outlook(TM).
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Joylyn
Is there a movie called the power of one? Hmmm, I'll have to go see if
blockbuster has it and see it to see if it's appropriate.
joylyn
Tia Leschke wrote:
blockbuster has it and see it to see if it's appropriate.
joylyn
Tia Leschke wrote:
>[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >The school is trying to stress the Power of One (how one
> > person can change the world, the neighborhood, the classroom, etc.)
>
> So are the kids going to see the movie Power of One?
> Tia
>
> "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
> safety
> deserve neither liberty nor safety." Ben Franklin
> leschke@...
>
>
>
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Betsy
<< Furthermore as I have to play by
the rules, I need to have some sort of follow up (tangible) for this
movie. Any ideas? >>
I remember reading that Whoopi Goldberg wanted to play Princess
Buttercup, the most beautiful woman in the world, but some "dominant
culture" ideas about beauty squelched that idea. You could have a
pretty interesting discussion about that.
Oh, the book starts with the author searching for a copy of this book
for his son, because he loved the book so much in his childhood. If you
could conceivably get the kids to talk about how books inspire us, how
stories inspire us, how heroes and role models inspire us, that would be
"academically respectable."
Can you compare some sections of the book, read aloud by you, to the
movie? There's something about the same theme in different media in the
language arts standards for 6th or 7th grade (CA), I think.
Betsy
PS Doesn't the movie have a potentially ambiguous ending, like The Lady
or the Tiger?
the rules, I need to have some sort of follow up (tangible) for this
movie. Any ideas? >>
I remember reading that Whoopi Goldberg wanted to play Princess
Buttercup, the most beautiful woman in the world, but some "dominant
culture" ideas about beauty squelched that idea. You could have a
pretty interesting discussion about that.
Oh, the book starts with the author searching for a copy of this book
for his son, because he loved the book so much in his childhood. If you
could conceivably get the kids to talk about how books inspire us, how
stories inspire us, how heroes and role models inspire us, that would be
"academically respectable."
Can you compare some sections of the book, read aloud by you, to the
movie? There's something about the same theme in different media in the
language arts standards for 6th or 7th grade (CA), I think.
Betsy
PS Doesn't the movie have a potentially ambiguous ending, like The Lady
or the Tiger?
Tia Leschke
> Is there a movie called the power of one? Hmmm, I'll have to go see ifDefinitely watch it first. There are some pretty heavy violence parts, but
> blockbuster has it and see it to see if it's appropriate.
it isn't gratuitous violence. It's about apartheid in South Africa. It's
worth seeing just for the wonderful music, which is how I found out about
it. I heard the sound track. There's a wonderful part where the young
white main character is told to teach a bunch of black men in a prison a
song to perform for some visiting dignitaries. He teaches them a song that
sounds really nice, but the words in their language are a huge insult to the
dignitaries - who don't realize it. It's been a long time since I saw it,
so I hope I'm remembering it correctly. Time to watch it again.
Tia
"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety
deserve neither liberty nor safety." Ben Franklin
leschke@...
Joylyn
Thanks for all the help with PB. We did watch it and I think the kids
liked it. I didn't do much follow up and today I heard one kid say to
the other "as you wish." This was off the cuff, so.... :-)
Joylyn
SandraDodd@... wrote:
liked it. I didn't do much follow up and today I heard one kid say to
the other "as you wish." This was off the cuff, so.... :-)
Joylyn
SandraDodd@... wrote:
>[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> In a message dated 5/31/03 12:30:09 AM, joylyn@... writes:
>
> << Furthermore as I have to play by
> the rules, I need to have some sort of follow up (tangible) for this
> movie. Any ideas? >>
>
> It just so happens that Marty, Holly and I just watched it tonight!
>
> Motifs (princess, lost-at-sea/disguised lover, saved from marriage at the
> last minute)
>
> Framing (the grandfather reading is a frame the way the Canterbury
> Tales are
> framed within a larger story)
>
> The wine glasses scene can be compared to other riddling scenes involving
> logic or traditional riddles. The Hobbit (if any of them have read
> that, or if
> you wanted to read them the scene where Gollum and Bilbo are
> exchanging riddles
> with a real prize at stake), The Lady and the Tiger, and I know there are
> others but I'm not thinking of them.
>
> There are ballad examples of that and of the disguised lover, but I doubt
> these kids know many ballads.
>
> Sandra
>
>
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