I really like most of Shakespeare’s plays so shows like this always catch my attention.
MUCH ADO ABOUT SOMETHING
Was the work of William Shakespeare the biggest and most successful fraud ever practised? Could a man who had trouble signing his own name, who left no books, and whose daughters were illiterate, be the greatest writer of all time?
Sunday 1 October 2006 3pm
ABC Rating: (G, Rpt)
Duration: 85 mins
The First Thursday Book Club is discussing a book by Bill Bryson this week so I figure that’s reason enough to watch. I really like Bill Bryson’s writing but am waiting for this book to hit paperback before I buy it.
The other book is by a fellow called Martin Amis who is much acclaimed. The one time I tried to read one of his books it made my head hurt.
FIRST TUESDAY BOOK CLUB
This month on First Tuesday Book Club discusses The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid by Bill Bryson and Martin Amis’ first novel, The Rachel Papers.
Tuesday 3 October 2006 10pm
ABC
Duration: 30 mins
I saw this quite interesting map which shows which empires have controlled parts of the Middle East throughout recorded history all in 90 seconds.
What I found really interesting was the spread and sequence of empires over time. I think it’s well worth your ninety seconds to watch.
Today I was lucky enough to see an activity done with a fellow called Professor Bunsen and forty primary school students.
It was all science related activities but really interesting, practical and entertaining. The kids made small rockets out of film cannisters and tractors powers by rubber bands that could climb over almost anything. We also launched a rocket something like 200 metres in the air and watched it float back to earth.
This stuff is probably intended for primary aged children but I reckon it would be interesting and fun for all ages students and especially if you find science interesting.
Well my time with student at Hoppers Crossing Secondary has come to a finish. Working with lots of you characters has been fun and, of course, sometimes it has just been work.
In the time I have been at the school I have really warmed to the place and found the vast majority of people to be really friendly, helpful and fun.
Anyhow that for the time and I hope you all go well next term.
For now I return to a few assignments of my own for university studies.
Bye.
Some of you will have been in classes with me where I have been doing an activity with your interests and stick notes. I just finished typing up the notes and here they are. There are three hundred items here and heaps of multiples which is good news on both counts.
The multiples are good because they show how much you all have in common and the diversity is good because it shows you’re a bit different to the person next to you. Both are, in my book, well worth remembering.
I read last night that there is a new film version of Macbeth about the be released which is set and shot in Melbourne. The official site has a trailer which looks spectacular although I have also read that some of the acting is a bit uneven.
Like the recent Romeo and Juliet this seems to be set in the modern day with with mostly Shakespearean dialogue. It strikes me this film is sure to be interested even if it doesn’t turn out to be a classic.
It will be released on September 21.
One of the things I am interested in is how we make communities with people and what makes us feel like we belong someplace (and especially at school).
I have some ideas about things that might help so I was interested to see this show coming up.
BEING ME: BELONGING
This program looks at the benefits of belonging, whether it’s in our family, a team, with friends, with a pet or through a connection with a special place. It looks at ways we can make connections with others, at our roles and responsibilities as members of different groups and explores ways to help other people feel included.
Thursday 14 September 2006 10.20am
ABC Rating: (G, Rpt)
Duration: 20 mins
This is probably more a link that interests me but all the same it’s handy. The site is puzzlemaker and it is particularly handy for making word find puzzles which are not a bad way to fill a few minutes if you have them.
Here are links to a few images of peacekeepers which might be useful for the Year Eight SOSE assignment.
Some good photos of UN peacekeepers.
Peacekeepers walking with kids
Australian with paracutes behind him
Soldiers keeping guard
Lots of good photos from East Timor
And once you’ve got some images it would be worth reading the Wikipedia entry about peacekeeping for some information to go on your poster.
Individually create a poster encouraging people to become Australian peacekeepers in East Timor.
Your poster will need to have both text and images. You can create the images yourself or else cut and paste images from other sources. You will have time to work on this assignment during class but will need to do your internet and other research in your own time.
Your poster should have the following information;
What peacekeepers do in East Timor.
What is happening in East Timor.
Why people should consider becoming a peacekeeper.
This work is due in class on Tuesday 12th September.
Choose a topic relating to Australian sport or music.
You can choose a specific events such as the an AFL Grand Final, the 2000 Olympics in Sydney or a musical event such as the Big Day out.
You could also choose a specific musical or sporting person or group. For example you might choose a band, a singer, a sporting club,a particular player or even a significant game or record.
If you would like to do your presentation on another topic please talk to us and negotiate a topic.
Use a range of resources to research your topic. You will need to refer at least three resources in your presentation and report. I have put some resources on my weblog, http://omeara.wordpress.com to get you going.
You can work either alone or in a group of two or three.
Create an oral presentation to deliver in class from Tuesday 12th September.
An individual presentation should go for three to five minutes, for two people five to eight minutes and if you are working in a group your presentation will need to go for between eight and ten minutes. All group members need to take part in presenting.
You can use either just talk for your presentation or add visual materials as well.
Your presentation needs to address the history of your subject and put your subject in context. For context I mean that if you choose a sporting personality be sure to explain the wider culture or achievement of the team or sport and its history. If you choose a musician then be sure to talk about who they are similar to, who they have worked with and which styles of music they make.
Write a short report about this topic. Due Tuesday 12th September.
Your written report will include the same information as your oral presentation and will be handed on on Tuesday 12th September. You can hand this is either written, typed or as a PowerPoint presentation.
The presentation should be at least 300 words long and contain a clear introduction that explains what your chosen topic is.
Here are some places you might start finding information about Australian sport and music.
All Music
Wikipedia, especially Sport In Australian and Music of Australia
AFL site
National Sport Information Archive
Australian Institute of Sport
Anyhow these should help get people started. If you find any good reasources please share them by leaving a link in a comment for this post.
I managed to grab the documentary Long Way To The Top from the local library. This is a really good series about Australian popular music over the decades and I hope at least one episode will be worth showing in Year 10 History for our Sport and Music assignment.
While I think of it the site for this doco has a list of quick histories about people and bands mentioned. If you liked the look of any of these from the episode we watch this would be a good place to start your research,
Also well worth a look is their timeline which stretches from 1955 to 1996.
