Language Arts 8 (Period 4) Assignments

We are going to watch the second half of a popular theater production of A Midsummer Night's Dream on Thursday. It is optional to attend.

This is for fun and will be beneficial as you go into high school with more exposure to Shakespeare's genius.

The invitation is securely posted on Teams.

We will start promptly at 9:00 as the film is 120 minutes long. 

Details of the assignment are posted on Teams.

Students are to record themselves reciting a passage of A Midsummer Night's Dream and send it to Mrs. Bucklew. The assignment is worth 14 READING POINTS! If students are unable to participate, for any reason, it will not apply to their grade. In other words, this can help students raise their grades significantly, if done well.

See the attached Passage Recital assignment directions and rubric and the passages from which students may choose. 

The Daily Writing Assignment is to be completed and submitted on Teams.

Write for 10 minutes daily, five days a week. You get to choose the topic(s) when you write; however, focus on whatever you find interesting so that you may write for an extended period of time. Write the date above each new daily entry. These will be submitted on alternating Fridays for credit.

• Create a photo essay of one day in your life and write captions for each photo. You can upload this to a digital platform in the form of a slideshow.
• Choose a painting or piece of artwork in your house. Describe this artwork and write a fictional story for it.
• What is the most selfless thing you have ever done. Why did you do it and how did it make you feel?
• How much time do you spend online each day? Is it too much? Why or why not?
• Write about something you once believed in your childhood that turned out to be wrong. How did you find out?
• Write about a time when you or someone you know, showed courage in dealing with a problem in life.
• Write a letter to a friend or relative whom you haven’t seen in a long time.
• What would you do with your time if there was no such thing as television, video games or the internet?
• What is leadership? Define what the word means to you and give an example.
• Do you think leaders are born or become leaders through experience? Why?

Write for 10 minutes daily, five days a week. You get to choose the topic(s) when you write; however, focus on whatever you find interesting so that you may write for an extended period of time. Write the date above each new daily entry. These will be submitted on alternating Fridays on Teams for credit.

Respond to any attached prompts related to our study of A Midsummer Night's Dream. They will be uploaded to your Language Arts Microsoft Team.

More writing "seeds" to consider as you complete your daily writing responses:

• If one person can be a change agent in the world, how can you be the change the world needs?
• What does it mean to be a good neighbor? Are you a good neighbor? If not, what can you do to be a better neighbor?
• How do you deal with people who bother you? Is this effective?
• What brings you joy? Why?
• What are some ways you can reduce your “carbon footprint?” How can you and your family take steps to conserve water, fuel, food, etc?
• Write about a time when you learned a hard truth about yourself. How did you feel afterward?
• What is the most important thing anyone has ever said to you? How did it make you feel?
• Write down a list of the ten most defining people in your life and the ten most defining moments in your life, to this point. Explain why these were “defining” people or moments, either positive or negative. Save this list and in two years see if the list is the same or if the “top ten” have changed.
• What is the difference between a “right” and a “privilege?” Provide examples.
• Describe a specific place in your state that you particularly like. Why do you like it?
• Write a poem about your favorite food, pet, or most prized possession.

Watch A Midsummer Night's Dream from Act 3 (59:41), when Puck says, "What hempen homespuns have we swagg’ring here, so near the cradle of the Fairy Queen?" to Act 3, Scene 2 (1:15:09) when Demetrius says, “Look, where thy love comes; yonder is thy dear” before Hermia enters the scene.

The YouTube production, "Midsummer Night's Dream" by the University of Iowa Department of Theatre Arts, of this section starts at 59:41 and ends at 1:15:09: https://youtu.be/sPNtuxDi_CI

Reading/Viewing Guiding Questions

As you read, look for answers to the following questions: (You do not need to write down the answers. But be prepared to join me on Zoom on Thursday knowing the answers.)

• How does Puck get involved while the mechanicals are practicing their parts for the play? Why?
• What do the mechanicals, or workmen, do in response to his actions? Why?
• What does Nick Bottom believe his co-actors are doing?
• What happens when Titania wakes up?
• What is Oberon’s reaction to what happened?
• When Oberon accuses Puck of making a mistake, does Puck deny it?
• Oberon tells Puck to find Helena and bring her to him. Why?
• What does Helena think is happening at the end of this section of Act 3?

Time spent viewing this portion of the play may be applied toward a day of the Reading Record for the week. Record is on the reading log.

• Do your dreams at night resemble a movie? What does your dream life look like? 
• Write about a movie you have watched - a review, a summary, or a critique with a rating.
• Use the alphabet and make a list of adjectives that describe you with words that start with A, B, C, etc. 
• Choose your favorite photograph from your childhood and write about what is happening that you can remember surrounding the events lead up to, and following what is depicted in that photo.
• Describe a day in your life if you were a butterfly or a bird…