March 31

We'll begin by defining five themes: courage pity revenge loyalty hospitality Then I have six questions for you to answer after reading pages 694-696. 1. Who recognizes Odysseus when he gets back to the Palace? 2. Eumaeus is the guy who takes care of the pigs for Odysseus family. When Odysseus asks him about the dog what does Eumaeus say? 3. In showing us how the old dog is treated what is Homer telling us about conditions in Ithaca? 4. "You know how students are: without a master they have no will to labor or excel." What does this mean? 5. What happens to the dog in lines 1079-1081? 6. Eurycleia is Odysseus' nurse. She recognizes him even though he is still looking like a beggar. How does she recognize him?

March 30

Start with 20 minutes SSR. Then Ms. Legakis is going to talk to you about how the Greeks fought their wars. Then we will show you parts of the movie Troy to give you some idea what these warriors looked like and how they fought.

March 29

We are beginning the second part of The Odyssey today. First I'd like to show you two short films about the last thing we read: Helios and his cattle. Then I'd like you to read page 690 in the textbook and answer these questions: 1. Odysseus' home is filled with men who want to kill him and take his wife. How does Odysseus get back into his home? 2. Why did Odysseus son, Telemachus, take off for Sparta? 3. Why did Telemachus need to sneak back to Ithaca? 4. Odysseus has been away for 20 years. In your opinion was it wrong for other men in Ithaca to try to marry Odysseus' wife (Penelope)? Explain why you think it was OK or NOT OK for the men to try to marry Penelope. Now try reading page 691 and answer these questions: 5. "Wolfish troup of watchdogs" means a bunch of guys who are hanging around Odysseus' house, eating his food and trying to marry his wife while Odysseus is at war. Why is Telemachus angry at these men? 6. A 'swineherd' is someone who takes care of pigs. Why does the Swineherd kiss Telemachus on the head when he first sees him? Turn the page: 8. Why does Telemachus call the Swineherd 'Uncle'? 9. Why doesn't Telemachus recognize his father? 10. What does the goddess Athena do to Odysseus while he's sitting in the big hall in his house?

March 25

Twenty minutes SSR.
Then we'll do a writing exercise designed to prep you for STAR testing.

March 24

We'll begin with questions about Helios and his cattle. Please read pages 684-686 and answser the questions I've given you.

Then we have a writing assignment meant to begin Part II of The Odyssey.

"Imagine that someone has been absent from home for many years. What might that person think or feel upon returning home? Make a list of possible reactions, and save your notes.

Now write a short story about what happened when this person first returned. Half page or more. Put your name on your paper.

March 23

Twenty minutes SSR.

Then some writing: we'd like you to (at least) fill one side of one piece of paper on this subject...

Remember (or imagine) a time when you were told NOT to do something (or eat something) but you did it anyway. Tell us what it was that you were not supposed to do or eat. Then relate the story of what happened. Did it work out OK? Did something bad happen?

And let us know WHY you did this despite instructions NOT to do it.
Who told you not to do this?
Where did this happen?
When did this happen?

If we have time we'll ask you to read pages 684-686 and answer a few questions.

March 22

5th period we have two films for you to see. Then we'll ask you to write up a summary of Circe's prophecies (predictions). You will be asked to write about The Sirens, Scylla and Charybdis. Half page minimum. If we have time we have a little writing assignment for you.

6th period you will finish the summaries that you started yesterday, then we have one film to show you. And then Ms. Legakis will do her PowerPoint presentation. You will be expected to take notes and hand in these notes before you leave today.

{Ms. Dodd, the summary is done on pages 678-680 in the Blue Book, lines 660-716. They should be sure to talk about the Sirens, Scylla and Charybdis.}

March 21

Twenty minutes SSR.
Then 5th period will finish the assessment from Friday.
Both 5th and 6th periods will watch a film about the Sirens and answer a writing prompt. If time you may also see a PowerPoint presentation about Scylla and Charybdis.

March 17

We'll begin with a review assignment on The Oddysey. It's called a Cloze Passage.

Then Ms. Legakis will show you a PowerPoint presentation while you take notes on a worksheet.

March 16

Begin with 20 minutes silent reading.

Then we will ask you to do a fill-in-the-blank exercise about Physical Education.

Then we have a fill-in-the-blank worksheet meant to help you review The Odyssey. There will be a test on The Odyssey on Friday and the things on this worksheet will be a big part of the test.

March 15

First thing is to clean up what you didn't finish Friday and yesterday. Ms. Legakis will return to you your papers from yesterday for you to finish. Remember you must have a paragraph on the back for credit.

After Odysseus escapes Circe she sends him to the land of the Dead. We won't be reading this chapter. We'll watch some film and do some writing but we won't expect you to remember anything about this chapter except what you see in the films.

For today's writing I ask you to answer the following questions: Each answer must be a minimum of 40 words and I'd like more:
1. Where do dead people go? Is there more than one place? What do these places look like? Describe them.
2. Imagine you could visit with one dead person. He or she could be famous or could be someone in your family. Who would you visit? List three questions that you would ask this dead person.
3. Odysseus meets a blind person in the land of the Dead. Greeks believed that blind people could see the future. Do you agree or disagree? Why?

March 14

Twenty minutes SSR.
Then we'll resume the Circe work from Friday.

March 11

Begin with 20 minutes SSR.
Then Ms. Legakis will talk to you briefly about hospitality.
Then we'll go to the lab. This time we want you to do some internet research about a goddess-CIRCE, and answer 7 questions. You probably won't finish the questions today. We'll go back to this Monday after SSR so you can complete them.

March 10

We'll begin by showing you another film. This one shows the full story of the Cyclops.
Then we'd like you to read pages 664-667 in the book and answer these questions on a piece of paper:

1. What's a flock? {307}
2. What's a lugger? {314}
3. Why did Odysseus and his men chop out a six foot section of wood? {317}
4. "The men I would have chosen won the toss." {328} This was an important job. Why did Odysseus let his men draw lots to see who would do it? Why not just pick the best guys?
5. On line 332-334 it says the ewes all came into the cave almost as if god told them to come in. This is a kind of foreshadowing (prediction) of what was to happen. Why was it important that the lambs came in?
6. What happened on line 338?
7. On line 360 Odysseus says his name is Nohbdy. Why do you think he lied about his name?
8. What kind of wood did they use for the pole? {372}
9. What did they do with the pole? {374-385}
10. Why did Polyphemus yell for his buddies to come running? {394}
11. On line 403 we see that Odysseus has tricked Polyphemus. How exactly did he trick him?
12. On line 408 we find out that Polyphemus has a powerful dad. Who is Polyphemus dad?
13. What's a great doorstone? {412}
14. What's a heavy fleece? {422}
15. And, finally, draw a picture on the back of your paper showing what is happening on lines 440} Put a caption at the bottom showing me you really know what's happening here.

March 9

We'll start with 20 minutes SSR.

Then I want to show you a little movie that previews what we are going to read.

And finally I'm going to ask you to read pages 660-663 in the blue book and answer these questions:

Put your name on a piece of paper and answer these questions as your group does the reading.
1. Who was Polyphemus?
2. What does Polyphemus do to Odysseus' men?
3. Why didn't Odysseus and his men just walk out of the cave?
4. Why didn't Odysseus and his men kill Polyphemus when they had the chance?
5. Finally draw me a scene from this chapter. Use the rest of your paper to do the drawing so that the whole one side of your paper is filled.

Odyssey "Cyclops"

Odysseus and The Cyclops

March 8

We'll start in groups. I will ask you to read the selection I've given you. As you are reading list bullet points or arrows telling what you read, in sequence. Minimum 8 bullet points. ONE PAPER PER GROUP. I'll check this paper after about 25 minutes and you will receive credit if the paper shows you made a good faith EFFORT. Make sure every group member's name is prominently shown on your paper.

Then we will use this paper to fill in the PLOT SUMMARY worksheet that I also have given you.

And finally you will be asked to reply to a prompt about this part of the story. Everyone will do their own work on this last part.

March 7

Begin with 20 minutes SSR.

Then we will read part of The Odyssey and fill in a worksheet. You will need a piece of paper and a pen or pencil. We'll begin with ten questions here:

1. Who exactly is Odysseus?
2. Who exactly is Calypso?
3. Who exactly is Poseidon?
4. Where in the world is this story happening?
5. When is it happening?
6. Why is Odysseus stuck on this island?
7. Is this a poem or a story?
8. Who is Athene?
9. What's an Ogygia?
10. Who is Hermes and why is he going to Ogygia?

and I'll add ten more before we finish.

March 4

Two things today:

1. SSR for 20 minutes

2. Write your God or Goddess stories. They need to be 300+ words. And I have two requirements:
-use some dialogue (My mom said: "Get out of here you ugly monster!"
-use some description (sounds, smells, tastes, feels, sights) (Apollo was dressed like a gangster with a purple tophat and long sequined coat.)

The story is about how a god or goddess messed with you or your family. Be sure to put your name on your paper.

Due at end of period but you can hand it to me on Monday if you are desperate.

March 3

We'll begin by watching two short films. These movies are an introduction to several of the Greek gods. Your part is to take notes on each god. I'll collect your notes at the end of class. We will be going to the lab so that you can do some of your own investigating and add some details to your notes.

On the front side of your paper you will take notes on each god featured in the movies.
On the back side you will write notes on one god. Tomorrow you will tell a story about how this god tormented you or your family. So pick a god whose powers can be used to torment you.

March 2

First I'll introduce my new student teacher, Ms. Legakis.

Then we'll start with SSR, and finally, get back to The Odyssey.

I want to show you a short film clip that is about Calypso, the goddess who is holding Odysseus when we enter the story.

After showing the film I have a problem for you all to work on in groups. I'd like you to think about a situation in your own family or one you read about or saw on TV or in the movies. This situation involves a man who is married but struggling to remain faithful to his wife. The other woman wants to hang onto the man.
On paper I'd like you to tell me about such a situation and how it was resolved. Did the husband stay with his wife or cheat? Was there a divorce? How to did the husband handle things. I'd like this to be 100 or more words. Put your name at the top. Discuss it with your group but write your own story. Make up a story if you must but I'm hoping most of you will write about a real situation or one from TV or movies.

March 1

First thing I'll collect your voyage stories from yesterday. The deadline for this work is 4pm today. After that you may not hand it in.

We'll begin by reading in the text, pages 640-642 about the Trojan War.
Then I want you to go to the internet and find Troy on a map. Now look at the map on page 650. Find Troy on that map. Now let's go to to the lab and look at maps.

Let's plan a trip. Go to Google Maps. Ask for directions for trip from Athens, Greece to Rome, Italy, to Valetta, Malta. See if you can go by boat. Otherwise you might have to fly. Open a Google Docs file and copy and paste the directions on that file. Now we will begin reading the story. Turn to page 651. On your WORD document tell me what the first five lines of the story are about. SAVE this (your trip to Rome and your summary of the first five lines) as LastNameODYSSEY1.