A Look at Hero's Journey for the year

For those considering it still or on the waiting list, please check out our fun overview of the semester!  As you can see, I have created it using a variety of learning styles.

OVERVIEW

We are going to immerse ourselves in so many iconic classics with this updated reading list.  Most books are available at the library or I've provided an audio/video option for the students.

(quick sample)

AUG 27

Intro to Hero’s Journey: Hero's Journey Intro video

Find it in the movies!  (Group projects)

BOOKS & OUTLINE

SEPT 3, 10, 24 & OCT 1 Weeks 1-4: Mythology

Week 1: Fairy Tales: 

Week 2: Greek/Norse Mythology

Week 3: Odysseus/Ulysses and Aeneas

Week 4: “Epic of Gilgamesh”

OCT 8, 15, 22, 29 Weeks 5-8 “Beowulf” and “Inferno”

Week 5 & 6: “Beowulf”--watch video and read/listen to while listening

Week 7: “Inferno”--watch video and read 15 min/day (1 hour total)

Week 8: Compare and contrast epic poems/heroes

OCT 29, NOV 5 & 12 Weeks 9-11 “Hiawatha”

Weeks 11-13: Hiawatha

Listen to while coloring “Woodland Indians” coloring book pages (provided by Mary)

NOV 19: (evening class)

Week 14: watch “Hamlet” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oq5HKX1vicM and discuss

Dress in Shakespearean garb and eat feast while watching on projected sheet

DEC 3 & 4- watch/perform  “Les Miserables” and identify the hero's journey inherent in that story

DEC 3 & 10

Week 15 & 16: “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens (watch George C Scott version or read)

JAN: King Arthur & The Hobbit

Week 17...

FEB: Pride and Prejudice

MAR: Student vote! "A Sound of Thunder" short story by Ray Bradbury, "Lord of the Flies" or  "To Kill a Mockingbird" 

APR: Student pick!  “Hunger Games,” “Harry Potter” or “The Alchemist”

History Outline...super stoked!!

 Here's a link to the overview of our semester for history!!!

The weeks where there is "someone" to "someone" or "battle" through "battle" refers to the books we will be using.  The youth will get to skim through and pick the battles, documents and speeches that stand out to them to review and find a creative way to present or teach to the rest of the class.

As you can see, there are a lot of gaps, but the reviewing and reading of the actual base documents/info shouldn't take long...then they can research, create projects and come together for group learning!

I will have a few "crust" skills (like map reading and drawing, document analysis, T-chart comparisons, geographical points, etc.) but most of it will be projects and "core" topics (why, how, impact, etc).

(And just FYI, being a tom-boy personally and loving my brothers and sons so much, I love to cater the learning to make it meaningful and engaging for both genders.)

Here are the books:

Official YES!!

 I just had to post that I got official clearance this morning to use "Les Miserables" this fall!!!

SUPER EXCITED!!!

Volunteer positions for LAT

*secretary/treasurer-make list of registrants and organize for director; keep track of funds and expenses

*fundraising

*publicity and ticketing: coordinates the ticketing and publicity for the event

*backstage manager: getting people on an off when they need to, prop organization, arrange for cue-ers if necessary

*assistant director: there at rehearsals, help run multiple scene run-throughs

*sound/lighting specialist(s): sets up, arranges for and runs the sound for performance when necessary

*scenery: helps design, set-up and coordinate the scenery

*costuming: helps design, arrange for, coordinate and keep track of costumes

*recording and photography

Please comment below with questions.  Enter interested positions on the "other" line under the volunteer section of the registration form.

LIGHTSIDE CHOIR: Fall 2021

Lightside Youth Choir

The vision of Lightside Choir is to build youth by:
-increasing their confidence in themselves by giving them opportunities to perform solos and in a group;
-helping them strengthen friendship by creating a respectful and inspiring environment to meet in;
-exposing them to music that will stay with them and bring light into their life and the life of others;
-giving them service opportunities to use their talents to perform for family, friends and others in the community.

Depending upon our numbers, the Lightside Choir may be divided into an older (Dynamics) and a younger group (Trebles), with many combined numbers to be performed in the fall and the spring.  
Ages are approximately 8-18.  

We will meet from 1:15-2:15 pm on Thursdays at my house south of Guysville until a facility opens for rental or use.   Cost will be $20/participant plus attire this semester.  Payment is due the first day of class. 

Participants will be expected to 

--provide their own concert apparel (details forthcoming)

--review music regularly on their own to learn their parts (we will provide the links or music for this)

--participate in all rehearsals, since rehearsals are when we bring everything and learn accompanying actions, dances, and signs. 

Registration is here for Fall Semester.  Please sign up once per child involved.  We are excited to have you a part of our organization!

LIGHTSIDE ACTING TROUPE: Fall 2021

Lightside Acting Troupe

The purpose of Lightside Acting Troupe shares much with its sister organization, "Lightside Choir."  We seek to:

-increasing their confidence in themselves by giving them opportunities to memorize and perform in a play;

-help them strengthen friendship by creating a respectful and inspiring environment to meet in;

-strengthening their "crust" skills of elocution, memorization, stage presence and clarity;

-teach them the value of working in a group to achieve a successful performance, making sacrifices and demonstrating dedication.

Cost for the troupe will entirely not for profit, with a fee covering the expenses of facility rental, equipment and script/copyright purchase.  This will be determined on the needs of that season's play.  Information for this semester is on the registration form.

Click here for registration for the Fall 2021 show.
Auditions are Monday, Aug 2 from 11-11:45 am.
A parent meeting is at noon (at the conclusion of auditions).
You need to be registered in order to audition.  You will be able to sign up for a time slot for auditions on the registration. Tuition is due at the parent meeting. 

LAT will be meeting mostly from 2:30-4:30 pm on Thursdays (with some exceptions as noted in the registration) at Mary's house in Guysville.  We will hopefully be performing a non-musical script of "Les Miserables,"* contracted from a script agency.

Once part of the Troupe, you will receive an invitation to the Lightside Acting Troupe Facebook group and be put on the email mailing list for more information. You will also receive an email with an overview of the semester, costuming instructions, volunteer opportunities, props, music links etc.

********

Here is a segment (see 1 min in approx) showcasing a segment of another production: 

 and here is the page I requested the script from

 https://theaterscript.com/product/les-miserables-sample-script/

I loved this quote from the site:  

As we witness the life journey of Hugo’s heroic Jean Valjean, may we ask ourselves some questions the author poses: “Am I my brother’s keeper? Might I be an instrument of care and grace? And if not — why not?”

Please remind your kids that if they had a bigger part than someone else last time, they will probably have a smaller role this time.  Also, like the last production, I will have people cast in multiple parts if they have smaller roles.  I will have the official sign-up out on July 10th.  Auditions will just be for those who did not perform last time with me and will be held July 29-August 1.  Roles will be assigned and divvied out the first full week of August, with rehearsals starting September 2.  We will perform the first full week in December.  So excited!

(*The option is "The Princess and the Pigs" a musical comedy. I am waiting for confirmation from the producer of the plays to use them.)

LIGHTSIDE SIGN-LANGUAGE CHOIR: Fall 2021

                  Lightside Sign Language Choir

We are excited to announce the start of a sign language choir in the southern Ohio community!  Members will learn signs to songs and then present them at a concert with the Lightside Choir.  They will have numbers of their own as well as numbers in conjunction with the Vocal Choir.  Singing is not expected.

This kind of performance is very visual and lyrical...almost like a singing dance.  Here are some samples, although ours are not going to be as complicated as the first one; more like the second.

We will meet from 12:30-1 pm on Thursdays at my house south of Guysville until a facility opens for rental or use.   Cost will be $5/participant plus attire this semester.  Payment is due the first day of class, Sept. 2, 2021.

REGISTER HERE.

History 2021-22: Influential Moments in History

Class full and closed! 

HISTORY-Fridays 11-noon

Influential Moments in History
We will study documents, battles, people and events that changed history from classical Greece to the modern era.  While not intended to be comprehensive in scope, this course will give the students exposure and experience to major events that have impacted the world.  Not only will we examine the content and impact of the subjects, but we will also learn skills to help with historical analysis and interpretation.
We will have a four week rotation:
Week 1: Chapter of "7 Tipping Points"
Week 2: Document analysis* from 100 Documents that Changed the World: from the Magna Carta to Wikileaks
Week 3: Battles from Battles that Changed History*
Week 4: People that changed History (examples)* (online references)
Cost: Price of books and $15/student for Fall and $20 for Spring.
First week content will be more specific.  The other three weeks will have options for them to choose from, within a context of time or place.
We will learn document analysis, strategy, T-chart comparisons, historical essay writing, etc.
And we will have fun with games and immersion experiences.  Super excited!
 

Literature Class 2021-22: "Exploring the Hero's Journey in Literature through the Ages"

Class full and closed! 

 LITERATURE-Fridays 9:30-10:30

Exploring the Hero's Journey in Literature through the Ages

Students will be reading, studying, analyzing, writing about, and doing group projects on one piece of literature per month. We will do the first month as notated, but the class will vote* on the upcoming books for certain months after that.

Sept: myths from different cultures and Padraic Colum version of "The Odyssey"

Oct*: "The Inferno" by Dante or "Epic of Gilgamesh" or "Treasure Island"

November:  "Hiawatha" poem by Longfellow (listen to youtube reading while coloring book option)

January: "The Hobbit" by Tolkien

February: "Pride and Prejudice" by Austen

March*:  "A Sound of Thunder" short story by Ray Bradbury, "Lord of the Flies" or "To Kill a Mockingbird"

April: student's choice: "The Alchemist," "The Hunger Games," or "Harry Potter"

Cost: price of books, coloring book and notepads required

Hero's Journey Video

Some are longer than others.  I will include activities and immersion experiences with the different books, dividing up the reading into four over the course of the months, though some are shorter and longer than others and readings can be staggered accordingly.

 

I will give the youth the option of being graded (for credit) or not. I have youth that will do both.

August and First Month Overview for C4!

AUGUST

"Kick-off class!"

August 31: 1-4  (more info)

MARY'S HOUSE (location of all classes)

Come enjoy getting to know your fellow geniuses as we get our brains and hearts warmed up to start this part of our Heroes Journey together. We will be loading up our tool belt with concepts, terms, tools and activities that we will be using through the semester. Check out the link above for the THREE things you need to do to get prepped for this awesome first day of class!

 "SEPTEMBER"

Month One: “Be a Builder”

September 7: 1-4 pm

WEEK 1: Leadership Lens

Core:       Word Study- “Build/builder” (20 minutes)

                Read Chapter 2 of “7 Habits of Highly Effective Habits for Teens” or watch <5 minute video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwP6BYo9miA

                Brief Bios: Frank Lloyd Wright and Ghandi

Crust:      Develop analysis skills--Venn Diagrams

                Organizational skills—Building a plan for yourself and your week

Context:          Discussion and Activity combining all the above

Connection: “What do Frank Lloyd Wright, Ghandi and you have in common?”

                Team building/leadership games

September 14: 1-4 pm

WEEK 2: Math and Science Lenses

Core:      History of Math

                Look at famous engineers & concepts

Crust:     Fractals

                Elements of Engineering

Context: Fun with Mind-bending Math Concepts

                Impact of Basic Additive Math and Engineering

Connection: “How can learning about principles of mathematics and engineering help me build up

myself and others around me?

Math and Engineering group activities and challenges (building and games)

September 21: no class!  

Feel free to use this week to get ahead in reading "Charlie's Monument"...less than 100 pages!

September 28: 1-4 pm

WEEK 3: History and Geography Lens

Core:         Builders through history—of economics, societies, nations, families

                   Famous buildings

Crust:     Geographic review of a continent

                Timeline awareness

Robert's Rules of Order

Context: Cultural project and immersion activity (student or mentor-led)

                Presentations

Connections: “How does my learning about buildings and builders help me become both a better world                 citizen?”

                Model UN Introduction and Simulation

October 5: 1-4 pm

WEEK 4: Imaginative Arts Lens

Core:     Read “Charlie's Monument” by Blaine Yorgason (95 medium print pages)

            “Good Timber” poem

            What is art? Picasso quote and video study

            Rock Art and Rock Stacking (rockstellstories.com and                                                                

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mdXaiL9AXA

Crust:  3D art and perspective drawing lesson

            Penmanship

Context: Create rock art-gather rocks the week before or that week

            Discuss “Charlie's Monument”

Connections: “How does everything I have learned this month inspire me to be more proactive in                     building up myself and those around me in positive ways?”

           Group Game/Simulation

August 31 C4 Kick-Off Class

 

Kick-off class!

Please do THESE THINGS before the first class--

Read Chapter 1 of “7 Habits of Highly Effective Habits for Teens” or watch 5 minute                             video and discuss:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWa9twK1Cno

Read "Core and Crust of Leadership" short article by Timothy Clarke 

https://www.deseret.com/2011/3/14/20370210/timothy-r-clark-the-core-and-the-crust-of-leadership

Consider the following two questions:

Am I a hero?

Do I really think I can find a calling and change the world?

What is the difference between debate, discuss and dialogue?

Class outline: 

 Introduction of basic concepts, organization, tools, structure

concept of "core and crust"

overview of lenses

power of symbolism and connections

use of reflection notebook

expectations of preparation and participation

“Get To Know You” activities

Games and application of what was studied before class

Start ongoing project

Begin Reflection Notebook

Overview of Fall Semester C4

 

FALL SEMESTER SCHEDULE

ONGOING PROJECT-Design and Build COPE Course Stations

August 31-Kick-off class

SEPTEMBER 7-OCTOBER 5

Month One: “Be a Builder”

Tuesdays in September (note: we will not have class on September 21 due to previous engagement)

WEEK 1: Leadership Lens

WEEK 2: Math and Science Lenses

WEEK 3: History and Geography Lens

WEEK 4: Imaginative Arts Lens

OCTOBER 12-NOVEMBER 2

Month 2: A Genius to Create

Tuesdays

WEEK 1: Leadership Lens

WEEK 2: Math and Science Lenses

WEEK 3: History and Geography Lens

WEEK 4: Imaginative Arts Lens

NOVEMBER 9-30

Month 3: The Power of Reflection

Tuesdays

WEEK 1: Leadership Lens

WEEK 2: Math and Science Lenses

WEEK 3: History and Geography Lens

WEEK 4: Imaginative Arts Lens

December 3, 2021-Wrap up for Fall Semester

                    Friday evening event for youth and families

Basic Outline of C4 Class

 

BASIC CLASS OUTLINE

Opening Exercises-

Pledge

Inspirational thought from students (ideally theme related)

Moment of silence

Core N' Crust Connection Time!

Kick off to concept of week activity or short message

Sharing of Projects or research student-taught

Context discussion or activity mentor-led

Connection discussion or activity group application

Work on ongoing project-design Hands on project*

Reflection Time: Journalling of “Ah-hahs!” while listening to classical music

Sharing of thoughts

Closing/Take-home messages

Review of next week's expectations

Dismissal

*requires permission from parents