Indian Debate, Day 2

A. Students did an excellent job on Day 2 of the Indian Debate. They continued the cross examination of students who didn't get cross examined yesterday and even got in a few extra licks against tribes from yesterday. They then posted several debate items at their blogs:

1. Debate Planning Sheet (the multi-colored one) that was to be color coded by:
• Notes from the Chart-Indians of Texas (info from our textbook)
• Notes from HOTO - your tribe & each opponent
• Notes from Notes from Newcomb (Possibly Interesting Information) - your tribe & one opponent
2. Indian Debate PowerPoint
3. Notes During Indians Debate

B. We also discussed some possible ways to relate Lord of the Flies to various stories and topics we have studied thus far this year: SMERFCAPS, Texas Geography, Indians of Texas, Shipwrecked in Outer Space, "Harrison Bergeron," "The Lottery," and "The Most Dangerous Game." One student began working up a multi-part Venn Diagram as a possible approach, so we'll decide what and how to do this tomorrow.

Assignment for Wednesday: 

1. Be sure to have all three of the above debate-related items posted at your blog by tomorrow.
2. Be thinking of possible approaches to relating LOTF to previous studied stories and topics.

Thinglink Followup - Interesting/Important Time Periods - "The Lottery"

Today students:

• Discussed any problems associated with widgeting their Thinglinks from yesterday
• Wrote a blog post listing and explaining the 3 time periods of Texas history in which they are most interested and what they consider to be the 3 most important time periods of Texas history, with reasons why.
• Did Pre-Viewing activities over Shirley Jackson's short story, "The Lottery"
• Brainstormed what is meant by a lottery, pre-viewing activities we could do, etc.
• Held a lottery involving the disbursement of cash rewards to the winners and condolences to the person who drew the big black dot
• Viewed the 1969 video version of "The Lottery," periodically stopping it to see what students were absorbing as they watched and making hypotheses as to what might lie ahead as it progressed. Part 1 - Part 2 - Here are the Student Comments While Watching "The Lottery."

Assignment for Wednesday

• Watch the video version again and do a VideNot.es as you watch.
• Now that you know what happens, pay particular attention to details that set up and drive the story.