Mr. Holbrook’s Hillcrest Blog

The end is near for the Crispin novel study.  Today, you received the instruction sheet for the task, What’s On Crispin’s iPod. You can find a copy of the directions here:

What\’s On Crispin\’s iPod Task

Here’s what we did in class to work toward the completion of that task:

1. Lyrics People Search

I asked the students to move around the room and find other people who had chosen songs on similar themes, songs by the same artists, or songs they liked but didn’t choose.  The goal was to see the variety of songs that could fit with the ideas in the novel.

2. Modeling the Task

I wrote out an example of what the lyrics analysis might look like.  With Division 17, I analyzed “I’m Free” by the Soup Dragons.  With Division 19, I examined “40″ by U2.  In essence, we followed each step on the task description sheet to create an example of how to do the task.

3. In-class Work Time

Students had the rest of class to work on analyzing their own 3 songs and ask me questions if need be.

4. Homework

On Friday, 29 May this task is due.  On that day we will set up a series of listening stations – using iPods or CD players – so students can listen to the songs and read each student’s analysis of the lyrics.

Here’s what you need to bring to class on Friday:

• The lyrics for all 3 songs
• The analysis of the lyrics for all 3 songs
• Your iPod (or any other mP3 player) with the songs in a playlist OR a CD with the songs burned on it
• Your headphones
• A headphones splitter (if  you have one)

That’s all for this week.  I’ll see you on Friday.

PS:  Division 19 will need their digital cameras for Friday, 29 May as well.  We will continue working with Kari in HCE class on our Learning Through the Arts project involving still photography.

Take care,

- Mister Holbrook