Homeschooling Poetry and Shakespeare

This year, we started off with poetry and continue to move headlong into it.  From King Arthur and the Idylls of the King (depicting 5th/6th centuries) to Shakespeare's (16th century), A Midsummer Night's Dream, we are working our way through the complexities of old English. We are using the following resources and teaching sources:
History/Backround Life in 17th Century (mature)
Teaching Unit
Writing Style

Once again, I find it interesting how a collage of learning will come together when homeschooling.  For example, we started on the path of poetry studies for ELA and found detours opening up like investigating history when looking at King Arthur's legendary existence in the 5th and 6th centuries.  From there, questions came up asking, What is a century?  What does BC,AD,BCE, CE mean?  Questions like these take us briefly off the path which can feel frustrating until you realize, these are very valid points of interest and represent things we need to know.  We, as adults, take much of our acquired knowledge for granted but as teachers, we need to step back and allow for these detours and know that it counts.  But weren't we studying ELA? Yes, but then history and life present.  

Another example of 'homeschool magic' occurred when someone in our FB support group posted an opportunity for 7-12th grades to attend a 10 week Shakespearian actors workshop where students will study and perform, A Midsummer Night's Dream.  How perfect!  I quickly claimed a space for Niah and promptly made adjustments to our ELA path so that we could start understanding this play.  We weren't finished with Idylls of the King, but for the greater good, we put it on the back burner for now.  Niah is happy about that as she really doesn't like it.  I don't think she cares for Shakespeare at this moment either but hopefully, this course will open her mind.  After all, a very experienced USC Professor is teaching and is sure to light Niah up.  

Shakespeare at The Mermaid Tavern

  

Fairies were very popular in this time period.    

"Elves of hills, brooks, standing lakes and groves;

And ye, that on the sands with printless foot,
Do chase the ebbing Neptune, and do fly him
When he comes back; you demy-puppets that
By moonshine do the green-sour ringlets make
Whereof the ewe not bites," &c.,

Edwin Landseer 1802-1873

Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind,
And therefore is winged Cupid painted blind.
Nor hath Love's mind of any judgment taste;
Wings and no eyes figure unheedy haste.”

BC, AD, CE, & BCE

Notes to self:

BC=before Christ AD=Anno Domini (Latin) for, in the year of the Lord.
There is no zero year-1 BC is the year before AD 1.
Now days, because of political correctness, CE, Common Era, is used for AD and
BCE means, Before Common Era and is used instead of BC, Before Christ. 

King Arthur - Idylls of the King by Alfred Lord Tennyson (1859-1892)

King Arthur is a legendary British leader of the 5th and 6th centuries which is (401 to 599 years AD). Some people who study history, believe he never lived. People believe he never lived because, the only way we know about him is from folktales and legends. 

Idylls of the King is a very long narrative poem written in blank verse and each line contains ten syllables, and is a non-rhyming poem. 

Notes to self:

BC=before Christ AD=Anno Domini (latin) for, in the year of the Lord. 

There is no zero year-1 BC is the year before AD 1. 

Now days, CE, Common Era, is used for AD 

BCE means Before Common Era is used instead of BC Before Christ

   Settings


 

History

Geography 

Characters

King Arthur, Sir Lancelot, & Guinevere 

Guinevere & Sir Lancelot

Merlin

         

Update Record

DAY6-17:
Khan Math, mostly review, reducing fractions, adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing decimals,
Khan Science- cardio vascular system, You Tube videos on system showing how red blood cells move throughout the body, life cycle of red blood cells, crossword and QA worksheets on cells- Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic.
Observed and discussed ocean tides, storms and waves, ocean temp variables, drought
Writing-started Sleeping Beauty as myth assignment
Social Studies- Watched The Butler (civil rights movement)
Life Studies- travel across US on airplane, mapping, mph, travel systems, navigation, how to work with TSA, getting around airports ie Atlanta, GA with its concourses, arrival/departure listings, subway system, baggage weights and dimensions, time schedules, tail and head winds, and lots of  people watching!

DAY18:
ELA Read part of Idylls of the King by Alfred Tennyson
Spelling (25 words for the week)
Khan Science - cell path video
Khan math- decimals, fractions; Saxon Math review; Circles

DAY 19:
ELA - Idylls of the King reading cont'd, discussed setting, characters
Math- Saxon, two-step equations, order of operations,
Life Studies - discussed Laws of Supply and Demand as we compared the products offered in California vs S. Carolina.  Demand for organic products is greater in CA therefore more products offered for sale in the market.  Also discussed water supply, water rationing, drought, and its effect on potential water cost, rationing, etc.
WHA- timeline studies, perspective for studying World History
Social Studies- King Arthur
Writing- edit and update blog profile to reflect higher academic standard
Music: Guitar practice and lessons

APPLE (Free Verse Poem)

                                                                 Apple                                                                                                                                                                                                            

                                                                                                                                                  Niah
                                                                                                                                                  8-21-2014
This assignment began as a creative writing exercise to get the mind moving.  We had read a couple of poems to start and then she wrote her first draft.  From that draft, we worked to develop the poem, expanding and fine tuning.  We did not apply too many rules, making a choice to flow with ideas and playful word expression. FREE VERSE

1.  Apple
2.  The sweet, sweet flavor,
3.  The crunchy texture
4.  And the bright red skin

5.  Oh the things it see's!
6.  He started as a little flower,
7.  Bloomed into a wee green fruit 
8.  That changed into the most beautiful red beauty. 

9.   He became who he was!
10.  Little Old Man came and picked him off his tree.
11.  Little Proud Apple was carried in a little round basket, off to Little Old Man's Little Sweet Wife. 
12.  She lovingly makes snacks for her little sweet grandchildren. 

13. The day came and she plucked that little proud apple from the basket,
14.  Sliced him in to little pieces, 
15.  Divided him up for her little sweet grandchildren. 
16.  Filled with joy, " This is the best apple ever!" the children squeeled.  Oh the things they did say!

17.  Oh, what a life that little apple had!
18.  He saw the seasons change, the birds, the trees, the big bright moon, the nice hot sun, and so much more!
19. The little proud apple knew his adventure wasn't over just yet! 
20. He left his 7 little seeds with the world! Oh, the things they will see!
                                                            The End