Mr. Holbrook’s Hillcrest Blog

Today’s Humanities class (it was basically the same for Divs 17 and 19) had three parts:

PART 1: City Life in the Middle Ages

After thinking about our favourite cities (mmmm… Santa Barbara), we considered the sights, sounds and smells (yukkkkk… raw sewage) of Great Wexly, the walled city that Crispin and Bear visit.   Finally, we watched a video clip to put a picture to some of the images we discussed.  Division 17 watched the first 12 or so minutes of Kingdom of Heaven and Division 19 watched the tax stealing scene from Robin Hood (the 1991 John Irvin directed version).

Here’s the trailer for Kingdom of Heaven:

I couldn’t find the trailer for Robin Hood online.

PART 2: Character Examination

As a way of processing the information in the character trees completed for this lesson, I asked you to choose a symbol – from among a collection that included a firecracker, a briefcase, a bell, a book, and a spider – that fit yourself and then a symbol that fit Bear and one that fit Crispin. Some thoughtful metaphorical thinking was demonstrated. The character trees were handed in at the end of the lesson.

PART 3: Reading Crispin: The Cross of Lead

Homework for Friday, 24 April 2009 (we don’t have class for the next two weeks) is to read chapters 43 to 51 of Crispin. As you read, please place sticky notes on at least three things Crispin learns about himself or the world.  While his physical journey ends in Great Wexly, Cripsin’s spiritual, intellectual and emotional journey continues in these exciting chapters.

That’s all for this week.  Enjoy your Easter Break (Friday, 10 April) and your day off for the PRO D Day (Friday, 17 April) and I’ll see you in three weeks.

- Mister Holbrook