Hey, graduates! You guys didn't get to sign our purple cloth just outside the door of the theatre! If you are around the school at all next week, pop in and sign your (soon to be famous) autograph on the cloth -- I don't want to miss you! Ms. Ng said you could just see her and she'll let you in.
Please know that I send you all my heartiest wishes for your wonderful futures! And pass this message on to people who amazingly are not reading my blog.
Friday 26 June 2020
Thursday 25 June 2020
Little Isabel
Question of the Day: Imagine you are old, and your dear little grandchild (let's call the child Jamie) crawls onto your lap and asks if you were alive during the pandemic. You say you were. "What was it like?" Jamie asks. And you say . . .
My mother lived through the Spanish flu in 1918 (she was only four so she didn't remember it). We had a photograph in our house of a very pretty little girl with a flowered dress and a big bow in her hair and her chubby little hands clasped next to her face. (That was a popular pose in those days.) Her name was Isabel. My mother's uncle Dave was in the war and he was coming home, but of course, there were no passenger planes, so he had a long trip on a ship and a train. He also had to stay in England after the war for a bit because he had been gassed and had developed difficulties breathing and pains and discomfort in his stomach. He was very anxious to see his family and little Isabel was his daughter. But before he could get home, poor little Isabel had contracted the flu and died. Of course, he was devastated. A number of years later, the little town decided that they had to move the cemetery where little Isabel had been buried. So the citizens of the town went to help. My mother's uncle Dave was there and they dug up little Isabel's grave and he said to the other men, "I have to see her". They were concerned but they did open the casket and apparently, she was there almost as if she had just fallen asleep. She looked as sweet as she ever had. But a breeze blew by and she shuddered and collapsed -- she was just ashes. That was a family story my mother told about the Spanish flu. I don't know if I have told it properly or if I have made mistakes, but this is how I remember it. That is why it's important to write down your family stories or they get lost or changed somehow.
I was at school today. We had a socially distanced retirement picnic for Mr. Akselrod and Ms. Shigeno who are both retiring. It was very nice and we Fine Arts department teachers (me, Mr. Mikulin, Ms. Leung, and Mr. Thompson) acted out a scene based on "All the world's a stage" which was lots of fun. I adapted it so it was more about Mr. Akselrod.
Tomorrow we have our last staff meeting and say goodbye to teachers who are leaving for other jobs, so that is not as sad as saying goodbye to people who are retiring. The pandemic lockdown made me sure that I don't want to retire any time soon, because I really missed school!
This will be my last regular post of the school year of the pandemic! I will continue to post over the summer, but probably not every day like I have while we were in school.
I look forward to seeing you all back in class in September, except those of you who have graduated. (You can be sure we will miss you terribly and that we hope you are doing well, no matter what you choose to do!) We are not sure if it will be normal or what it will look like, but we will all do our best, won't we? Have a wonderful summer, everyone! May you enjoy many sunny days, a little rain, lots of birds singing, and flowers blooming. Read a good book. Listen to some music (and dance maybe!) Learn to make a couple of nice meals. Go swimming and for long walks in pretty places. Write a letter to someone. Paint a landscape. Watch a play ("Hamilton" is going to be shown on the Disney Channel they say.) Make lists of things you want to do! Try the Pomodoro technique when you want to accomplish a task.
Wash your hands. Wear a mask when you can't physically distance yourself. Treat other people with kindness and patience. See you in September!
My mother lived through the Spanish flu in 1918 (she was only four so she didn't remember it). We had a photograph in our house of a very pretty little girl with a flowered dress and a big bow in her hair and her chubby little hands clasped next to her face. (That was a popular pose in those days.) Her name was Isabel. My mother's uncle Dave was in the war and he was coming home, but of course, there were no passenger planes, so he had a long trip on a ship and a train. He also had to stay in England after the war for a bit because he had been gassed and had developed difficulties breathing and pains and discomfort in his stomach. He was very anxious to see his family and little Isabel was his daughter. But before he could get home, poor little Isabel had contracted the flu and died. Of course, he was devastated. A number of years later, the little town decided that they had to move the cemetery where little Isabel had been buried. So the citizens of the town went to help. My mother's uncle Dave was there and they dug up little Isabel's grave and he said to the other men, "I have to see her". They were concerned but they did open the casket and apparently, she was there almost as if she had just fallen asleep. She looked as sweet as she ever had. But a breeze blew by and she shuddered and collapsed -- she was just ashes. That was a family story my mother told about the Spanish flu. I don't know if I have told it properly or if I have made mistakes, but this is how I remember it. That is why it's important to write down your family stories or they get lost or changed somehow.
I was at school today. We had a socially distanced retirement picnic for Mr. Akselrod and Ms. Shigeno who are both retiring. It was very nice and we Fine Arts department teachers (me, Mr. Mikulin, Ms. Leung, and Mr. Thompson) acted out a scene based on "All the world's a stage" which was lots of fun. I adapted it so it was more about Mr. Akselrod.
Tomorrow we have our last staff meeting and say goodbye to teachers who are leaving for other jobs, so that is not as sad as saying goodbye to people who are retiring. The pandemic lockdown made me sure that I don't want to retire any time soon, because I really missed school!
This will be my last regular post of the school year of the pandemic! I will continue to post over the summer, but probably not every day like I have while we were in school.
I look forward to seeing you all back in class in September, except those of you who have graduated. (You can be sure we will miss you terribly and that we hope you are doing well, no matter what you choose to do!) We are not sure if it will be normal or what it will look like, but we will all do our best, won't we? Have a wonderful summer, everyone! May you enjoy many sunny days, a little rain, lots of birds singing, and flowers blooming. Read a good book. Listen to some music (and dance maybe!) Learn to make a couple of nice meals. Go swimming and for long walks in pretty places. Write a letter to someone. Paint a landscape. Watch a play ("Hamilton" is going to be shown on the Disney Channel they say.) Make lists of things you want to do! Try the Pomodoro technique when you want to accomplish a task.
Wash your hands. Wear a mask when you can't physically distance yourself. Treat other people with kindness and patience. See you in September!
Wednesday 24 June 2020
Puzzles and games
Question of the Day: Do you like crossword puzzles? (I do.) Do you like any other sorts of puzzles? (I like word puzzles, but not sudoku or Rubics cube type puzzles -- my mind just seizes up when I think of them! I do two crossword puzzles every day -- one in the Guardian and one in the New York Times (the speedy one, not the big one!) Some people say they're good for your brain, but I just like them and I'm always proud when I get them done.
Activity 1: There are lots of fun puzzles and games on the website I mentioned before -- Shakespeare's Globe. Just google the name "Shakespeare's Globe" and then click "Play and Learn" and that will lead you to games, puzzles, videos and even recipes you can make!
Activity 2: Have you heard about the Pomodoro method? It's a time management tool developed by a man named Francesco Cirillo. (It's named after a kitchen timer that Cirillo had when he was in university -- it looked like a tomato!) It works something like this: you decide on a task you want to accomplish. You set a timer for 25 minutes and work on the task for that time. When the timer rings, you stop working and give yourself a check mark. You take a five minute break. Each work period is called a pomodoro. After four pomodoros, you can take a longer break (15 minutes). It's supposed to be a method to prevent procrastination, which lots of you say is a problem for you. Give it a try! (You can google this, too, and get more detailed instructions.)
Tomorrow, I will be at the school and I will post our last blog of the school year! It has been a crazy time! Think of what you will tell your grandchildren!
Activity 1: There are lots of fun puzzles and games on the website I mentioned before -- Shakespeare's Globe. Just google the name "Shakespeare's Globe" and then click "Play and Learn" and that will lead you to games, puzzles, videos and even recipes you can make!
Activity 2: Have you heard about the Pomodoro method? It's a time management tool developed by a man named Francesco Cirillo. (It's named after a kitchen timer that Cirillo had when he was in university -- it looked like a tomato!) It works something like this: you decide on a task you want to accomplish. You set a timer for 25 minutes and work on the task for that time. When the timer rings, you stop working and give yourself a check mark. You take a five minute break. Each work period is called a pomodoro. After four pomodoros, you can take a longer break (15 minutes). It's supposed to be a method to prevent procrastination, which lots of you say is a problem for you. Give it a try! (You can google this, too, and get more detailed instructions.)
Tomorrow, I will be at the school and I will post our last blog of the school year! It has been a crazy time! Think of what you will tell your grandchildren!
Tuesday 23 June 2020
Look into the future!
Question of the Day: Your friends tell you about a fortune-teller who really seems to know the future. You go to her with your friends and the fortune teller looks at you and says, "you may ask me one question." What do you do? I don't think I'd ask the question, because I don't want to know and even though I don't really believe that someone could look into the future, I would be affected by it. If she said that I'd get sick from the coronavirus, then I'd probably develop the symptoms through the power of suggestion.
Today in the New York Times, there was an article about children suffering from "nature deficit disorder". Because we are staying at home more, some kids are showing signs of anxiety or moodiness or stress. We already are spending less time in nature than people from the past and now, with the pandemic, it's worse. But we need time outside -- even if it's just a walk or some time to sit outside on a park bench with that book I suggested you pick out a couple of days ago. Here's an idea -- if you don't have access to any green space, why not get yourself a nice houseplant? I'm quite fond of my house plants. They all have a story.
Want to see a cool short video about how they make wigs and do make-up at the Stratford Festival? There is a minute and a half video that shows one of the witches from Macbeth getting ready for the show. It's really fun to see. Here's the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=Xqi9Mki8Gfs
Today in the New York Times, there was an article about children suffering from "nature deficit disorder". Because we are staying at home more, some kids are showing signs of anxiety or moodiness or stress. We already are spending less time in nature than people from the past and now, with the pandemic, it's worse. But we need time outside -- even if it's just a walk or some time to sit outside on a park bench with that book I suggested you pick out a couple of days ago. Here's an idea -- if you don't have access to any green space, why not get yourself a nice houseplant? I'm quite fond of my house plants. They all have a story.
Want to see a cool short video about how they make wigs and do make-up at the Stratford Festival? There is a minute and a half video that shows one of the witches from Macbeth getting ready for the show. It's really fun to see. Here's the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=Xqi9Mki8Gfs
Monday 22 June 2020
Tick, tock, tick, tock
Question of the Day: When was the last time you had a fight or a disagreement with a friend? How did you resolve it (if you did) or what could you do to resolve it? I had a big disagreement with my friend, because I didn't think she understood how important theatre was to me (that was demonstrated to me, and I was very upset). I told her how upset I was and then we let it sit for a long time and then she reached out to me and we talked about it at length and we managed to save the friendship. I do think it's important to say that you are hurt or upset and then hear the person out. Usually you can find some way forward.
Activity: I have to make a speech on Thursday for our staff social. I usually have to think about things like this for a while before I start writing, but now, I have a plan and I am going to use "All the world's a stage" as a kick off. What if you had to make an inspiring speech at the end of a difficult time? What do you think you would talk about? If you keep a journal, this might be something you could write about. I have kept a journal most of my life. I don't know where they all are. It is the writing part that is important -- if I feel angry or worried, if I write about it, I can often find a solution to the problem, or discover that it isn't as terrible as I thought.
Tomorrow morning is the last time I can change your marks, so if you have been stalling on sending stuff in, the time has come. Tick, tock, tick, tock. The seconds are ticking away!
Activity: I have to make a speech on Thursday for our staff social. I usually have to think about things like this for a while before I start writing, but now, I have a plan and I am going to use "All the world's a stage" as a kick off. What if you had to make an inspiring speech at the end of a difficult time? What do you think you would talk about? If you keep a journal, this might be something you could write about. I have kept a journal most of my life. I don't know where they all are. It is the writing part that is important -- if I feel angry or worried, if I write about it, I can often find a solution to the problem, or discover that it isn't as terrible as I thought.
Tomorrow morning is the last time I can change your marks, so if you have been stalling on sending stuff in, the time has come. Tick, tock, tick, tock. The seconds are ticking away!
Sunday 21 June 2020
Welcome to Summer!
Question of the Day: This is the longest day of the year! The sun rose the earliest and will set the latest of all the year. Which time of day is your favourite? Mine (one of my many favourite times) is after I walk Daisy in the evening. We come home and I get her to bed (she has a low bed in my room and I get her up on it, and then she usually has to jump off and walk around in circle several times before she settles down) and then I lie down and get to read until I get sleepy. I am reading American Wife right now, which is a fictional biography of a woman based on Laura Bush, George W. Bush's wife. It is not the type of book I usually want to read, but I heard a review that said it was good so I got it at the curbside pick-up at the library (very exciting for a book lover that the library is back!) and I am really enjoying it. I just finished a book about bird behaviour which was very interesting -- The Thing With Feathers (Emily Dickinson, the poet, called hope "the thing with feathers").
Report cards are being checked over by administration and on Tuesday morning, I will be able to "fix" them, if I've made mistakes, so make sure you get all your work in to me by tomorrow. I am available by email officially until June 25.
Art Installation:
I heard Carey Newman talking about this art installation which is presently on display at the Canadian Museum of Human Rights in Winnipeg. It presents all sorts of items related to the aboriginal residential schools, which is such an important and troubling part of Canadian history. There is a great film about it (I haven't seen it, but Mr. Newman made it sound great and it is on my "to do" list now). It's called "Picking up the Pieces: The Making of the Witness Blanket". Here is the link: https://humanrights.ca/story/picking-up-the-pieces-the-making-of-the-witness-blanket .
Have you made a list of things you want to do over the summer? (I'm a big list maker as you know.) I have a number of things on my list (one is to see the film I mentioned above). I want to paint my office and finish my coronavirus play. I usually resolve to pack up old clothes and things we don't use anymore and give them away -- that benefits me and whoever might want the stuff.
One thing you might put on your list (since many of you don't seem to read at all) is to find a book you want to read! You can access all sorts of lists depending on what you like -- mysteries, self-help, books about birds or politics or cars or books that tell you how to make something or books about historical events or biographies. There's a book for everyone. I don't know how I would have survived all these years without books!
Report cards are being checked over by administration and on Tuesday morning, I will be able to "fix" them, if I've made mistakes, so make sure you get all your work in to me by tomorrow. I am available by email officially until June 25.
Art Installation:
I heard Carey Newman talking about this art installation which is presently on display at the Canadian Museum of Human Rights in Winnipeg. It presents all sorts of items related to the aboriginal residential schools, which is such an important and troubling part of Canadian history. There is a great film about it (I haven't seen it, but Mr. Newman made it sound great and it is on my "to do" list now). It's called "Picking up the Pieces: The Making of the Witness Blanket". Here is the link: https://humanrights.ca/story/picking-up-the-pieces-the-making-of-the-witness-blanket .
Have you made a list of things you want to do over the summer? (I'm a big list maker as you know.) I have a number of things on my list (one is to see the film I mentioned above). I want to paint my office and finish my coronavirus play. I usually resolve to pack up old clothes and things we don't use anymore and give them away -- that benefits me and whoever might want the stuff.
One thing you might put on your list (since many of you don't seem to read at all) is to find a book you want to read! You can access all sorts of lists depending on what you like -- mysteries, self-help, books about birds or politics or cars or books that tell you how to make something or books about historical events or biographies. There's a book for everyone. I don't know how I would have survived all these years without books!
Friday 19 June 2020
This is (nearly) the end, my friend.
Welcome to the last weekend of the school year! Next week, we will be finishing things up. Remember I have that brief window of opportunity on Tuesday morning to change your marks or comments one last time before I am not allowed in to the report card files! So, if you have work to finish, get it done this weekend, and send it in and I will do my best to fix things so they reflect what you have done in this really challenging time.
Check the blog one last time to make sure you've ticked all the boxes.
I will post next week, since some of you said you would miss the blog (that made me feel good, because I do like writing the blog). And I will blog intermittently over the summer if I see some theatre (I hope) or some art installation that I think you'd like, or if something occurs to me.
Here are a few things to check out!
Drama-wise:
On Stratfest@home (the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Ontario) "Hamlet" is on until July 2.
The National Theatre of Great Britain (nationaltheatre.org.uk) is showing "A Midsummer Night's Dream" from June 25 to July 2 and then "Amadeus" (about Mozart and his rival, Salieri) from July 16 to 23.
You can check out Shakespearesglobe.com which is showing a special Macbeth for young people and also has lots of online content including a tour of the replica of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre.
Art-wise:
The New York Times had a great craft idea yesterday -- "Irene Neuwirth Makes a Flower Necklace out of Paper". Here's the link: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/17/style/paper-flower-necklace-DIY.html
The National Gallery of Canada, the McMichael Collection, the Uffizi Gallery and the Prado Museum have online content -- you probably aren't going to visit Florence or Madrid or Ottawa (or Kleinberg, Ontario) this summer, so it is nice to visit a great gallery and see some amazing works of art from your own house! (Just google the name.)
The Tate Modern has art projects and ideas and quizzes and things that are lots of fun!
Books:
Audition by Michael Shurtleff is a fun book full of tips and tricks for actors.
Payment in Blood by Elizabeth George is a mystery novel about a playwright, a crime and the detectives who try to solve it. (I haven't read it, but I have it on hold at the library!)
Lust for Life by Irving Stone is a novel about Vincent Van Gogh.
How to be an Explorer of the World by Keri Smith has lots of good little exercises and projects to make you see the world in a different way!
Old Movies:
"All About Eve" is one of the best movies about theatre ever!
"Tootsie" is also a great movie about actors and theatre.
"Maudie", "Girl with a Pearl Earring" and "Lust for Life" are movies about artists that you might like.
Enjoy your weekend!
Check the blog one last time to make sure you've ticked all the boxes.
I will post next week, since some of you said you would miss the blog (that made me feel good, because I do like writing the blog). And I will blog intermittently over the summer if I see some theatre (I hope) or some art installation that I think you'd like, or if something occurs to me.
Here are a few things to check out!
Drama-wise:
On Stratfest@home (the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Ontario) "Hamlet" is on until July 2.
The National Theatre of Great Britain (nationaltheatre.org.uk) is showing "A Midsummer Night's Dream" from June 25 to July 2 and then "Amadeus" (about Mozart and his rival, Salieri) from July 16 to 23.
You can check out Shakespearesglobe.com which is showing a special Macbeth for young people and also has lots of online content including a tour of the replica of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre.
Art-wise:
The New York Times had a great craft idea yesterday -- "Irene Neuwirth Makes a Flower Necklace out of Paper". Here's the link: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/17/style/paper-flower-necklace-DIY.html
The National Gallery of Canada, the McMichael Collection, the Uffizi Gallery and the Prado Museum have online content -- you probably aren't going to visit Florence or Madrid or Ottawa (or Kleinberg, Ontario) this summer, so it is nice to visit a great gallery and see some amazing works of art from your own house! (Just google the name.)
The Tate Modern has art projects and ideas and quizzes and things that are lots of fun!
Books:
Audition by Michael Shurtleff is a fun book full of tips and tricks for actors.
Payment in Blood by Elizabeth George is a mystery novel about a playwright, a crime and the detectives who try to solve it. (I haven't read it, but I have it on hold at the library!)
Lust for Life by Irving Stone is a novel about Vincent Van Gogh.
How to be an Explorer of the World by Keri Smith has lots of good little exercises and projects to make you see the world in a different way!
Old Movies:
"All About Eve" is one of the best movies about theatre ever!
"Tootsie" is also a great movie about actors and theatre.
"Maudie", "Girl with a Pearl Earring" and "Lust for Life" are movies about artists that you might like.
Enjoy your weekend!
Thursday 18 June 2020
Our revels are nearly ended!
"Crepuscular landscape" by Charley N. Wow!
Question of the Day: What is the most recent accident you've experienced? Today (Thursday) I was working at school and Ms. Ng had given me my printed copy of report cards to work on (I'm still working on them and will be until the end of Friday.) I was looking over my shoulder as I walked and talking and joking with her and I turned and smashed my face into one of the big wooden pillars in the Williams lounge! I was stunned for a few seconds and then realized my nose was bleeding (I have NEVER had a nose bleed before) and my lip was bleeding and swelling up! They got me an ice pack and luckily my nose isn't broken, but my lip is swollen and sore and my nose will likely be bruised.
Warm-up:
Everyone: Think of doing something nice for someone today. Maybe offer to wash the dishes after dinner, if you usually don't. Maybe ask your younger sibling if they want to play a board game with you. Offer to mow the neighbour's grass. Say thank you sincerely to your parents. Send a positive message to a friend. Apologize to someone if you've hurt their feelings. Call up somebody you think might be lonesome. It doesn't have to be a big thing. It can be as simple as taking your dog for a walk. (I do that twice a day and I know Daisy appreciates it.)
Lesson:
B Block Drama 9/10: You will perform your Shakespeare scenes tomorrow. You need to memorize the scene! You need to know what it's about and be able to act it. Obviously, you won't be able to have a sword fight or dark battlements to patrol, but use your facial expressions and try to set a mood! I will give you one run through rehearsal and then you will perform the scene. You owe it to your partner to be ready and do a good job!
Theatre Production: I am waiting for your finished theatre history projects. Be ready to tell the class the time period you chose, the name of the playwright and at least two "fun facts".
Our Zoom might take a bit longer with the scenes, so be prepared to stay for an hour!
Art 8: Your art installations are due!
Drama 9/10 A and B Blocks! Make sure you've handed in everything! Your role play questions, your monologue, etc.! (Even your silent film, ahem, you know who you are!)
Last blog (of this crazy school year) tomorrow!
Wednesday 17 June 2020
Make up your mind, Nurse!
Question of the Day: What is your favourite word or saying? The title of the blog today is a line my sister and I always say to each other when we can't make a decision. It is the title of a romance novel that my mom read (not to us) when we were kids. We just thought the title was so silly.
Warm-up:
Theatre Production and Drama: Do you know what the following words or phrases mean? I had to look up three of them. They appeared in a novel I'm reading. The others are words that either don't sound like what they are or words I like to use:
crepuscular
pulchritude
febrile
inchoate
obstreperous
loquacious
ingenuous
taciturn
avuncular
elles sont partout
If you don't know what they mean, look them up! Try and use them in a sentence.
Art 8:
Create a crepuscular (see above) scene in your sketch book! Bring it to our Zoom meeting at 12:30 on Thursday. Everyone should attend! It is the last one.
Lesson:
Drama 9/10 (A Block): Send me a plot idea for a play you could present entirely on Zoom. It's a pitch -- make it one sentence.
Drama 9/10 (B Block): Memorize your Shakespeare scene! You want to use good diction and lots of expression when you present it.
Art 8: Work on your art installation.
Theatre Production 11: Present your theatre history project (you can record it or we can set up a Zoom.)
I have posted marks for report cards, but they are subject to change. I have to be in the school tomorrow morning and will work on the marks then. I have to have them submitted by Friday at 3.
Warm-up:
Theatre Production and Drama: Do you know what the following words or phrases mean? I had to look up three of them. They appeared in a novel I'm reading. The others are words that either don't sound like what they are or words I like to use:
crepuscular
pulchritude
febrile
inchoate
obstreperous
loquacious
ingenuous
taciturn
avuncular
elles sont partout
If you don't know what they mean, look them up! Try and use them in a sentence.
Art 8:
Create a crepuscular (see above) scene in your sketch book! Bring it to our Zoom meeting at 12:30 on Thursday. Everyone should attend! It is the last one.
Lesson:
Drama 9/10 (A Block): Send me a plot idea for a play you could present entirely on Zoom. It's a pitch -- make it one sentence.
Drama 9/10 (B Block): Memorize your Shakespeare scene! You want to use good diction and lots of expression when you present it.
Art 8: Work on your art installation.
Theatre Production 11: Present your theatre history project (you can record it or we can set up a Zoom.)
I have posted marks for report cards, but they are subject to change. I have to be in the school tomorrow morning and will work on the marks then. I have to have them submitted by Friday at 3.
Tuesday 16 June 2020
It's Showtime!
Question of the Day: What activity is lots of fun for you? I like dancing and of course, I love performing. I enjoy putting music on and dancing or exercising to the music. The warm-up (for Drama 9/10, but anyone can use it) gives you a chance to try that.
Warm-up:
Drama 9/10: Learn the dance for "All That Jazz" (which is a great movie about Bob Fosse who was an amazing dancer and director on Broadway) with dancer Greg Butler. Here is the link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_7oxKShjLY
Theatre Production 11: Watch the opening to the movie "All That Jazz" which was a great film about theatre. Here's the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2e9acreKmQ
What do you think?
Art 8: There are some interesting pieces of public art in Richmond. Have you ever noticed "Together" by David Jacob Harder? It stands in front of the Minoru Centre (on the east side, I think). There is an art installation in Steveston called "Crossover" by Carlyn Yandie. Do you know where it is? See if you can find out.
Lesson:
Theatre Production 11: Your theatre history project is due!
Drama 9/10: We will perform the Shakespeare scenes today (if you are in A Block -- I sent you an invitation to the Zoom with a list of who is partnering with whom) or Friday (if you are in B Block, I have sent you an invitation and also some of the partners. If you haven't told me your scene, you need to do so and I will assign you a partner). These are big dramatic scenes. The first one is about a murder. The second one is about guards who have seen a ghost in that place before and they are scared. The last one is about a couple of guys who want to fight and want the other person to start the fight.
For the grade 10 scenes, the scene between Hamlet and Ophelia shows us Ophelia returning gifts that Hamlet has given her. They were boyfriend and girlfriend, but now he isn't interested in her any more. In the Othello scene, Iago is trying to make Othello think that his wife (and his friend, Michael Cassio) are being unfaithful to him.
Art 8: Work on your art installation. It's due on Friday.
I am working on your report cards. You need to make sure you've done the work you are assigned! We'll keep working until we're done and we'll feel good about what we have accomplished.
Warm-up:
Drama 9/10: Learn the dance for "All That Jazz" (which is a great movie about Bob Fosse who was an amazing dancer and director on Broadway) with dancer Greg Butler. Here is the link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_7oxKShjLY
Theatre Production 11: Watch the opening to the movie "All That Jazz" which was a great film about theatre. Here's the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2e9acreKmQ
What do you think?
Art 8: There are some interesting pieces of public art in Richmond. Have you ever noticed "Together" by David Jacob Harder? It stands in front of the Minoru Centre (on the east side, I think). There is an art installation in Steveston called "Crossover" by Carlyn Yandie. Do you know where it is? See if you can find out.
Lesson:
Theatre Production 11: Your theatre history project is due!
Drama 9/10: We will perform the Shakespeare scenes today (if you are in A Block -- I sent you an invitation to the Zoom with a list of who is partnering with whom) or Friday (if you are in B Block, I have sent you an invitation and also some of the partners. If you haven't told me your scene, you need to do so and I will assign you a partner). These are big dramatic scenes. The first one is about a murder. The second one is about guards who have seen a ghost in that place before and they are scared. The last one is about a couple of guys who want to fight and want the other person to start the fight.
For the grade 10 scenes, the scene between Hamlet and Ophelia shows us Ophelia returning gifts that Hamlet has given her. They were boyfriend and girlfriend, but now he isn't interested in her any more. In the Othello scene, Iago is trying to make Othello think that his wife (and his friend, Michael Cassio) are being unfaithful to him.
Art 8: Work on your art installation. It's due on Friday.
I am working on your report cards. You need to make sure you've done the work you are assigned! We'll keep working until we're done and we'll feel good about what we have accomplished.
Monday 15 June 2020
Words, words, words (Hamlet says this when mocking Polonius)
Question of the Day: Are you beginning to relax about COVID19? Were you worried at first? Have you been to any gatherings or done something you haven't done for a long time? Are you wondering what school will be like in September? I am kind of more relaxed about COVID19. I know that if we stay two metres apart and wear masks, we are much less likely to infect each other and I also know that most cases are not too serious. I wasn't worried at first, and then I got quite worried when everything started being shut down and people were talking about the Spanish flu (which killed my mother's cousin, Little Isabel). I went to help with our graduation ceremony and was a bit worried because people weren't all wearing masks and got quite close, but it was hard in such a happy atmosphere to be too strict. I hope in September, we will be back to complete Normal, but I will be prepared if we have to start slowly and GET back to normal!
Warm-up: Art 8: Here is another example of an art installation. This one was originally by Felix Gonzalez-Torres, but people have started it again in his honour: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/12/arts/design/fortune-cookies-sculptures.html?searchResultPosition=1
Drama 9/10: Watch these two versions of the scene between Hamlet and Polonius!
This one has a terrific David Tennant (Dr. Who and lots of other things) and Oliver Ford Davies: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clmdzPZNA28
This one is older and stars the magnificent Richard Burton (as Hamlet) and Hume Cronyn (as Polonius): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l93LR6Sw75Q
Which one do you like the best?
Theatre Production 11: Look at this design for "Hamlet" by Edward Gordon Craig (one of the most famous set designers of the last century). https://images.app.goo.gl/mbrH39tCo7kWruJF7
Write me a response. What do you think of it? Would it work as a set? How would the actors use it?
Lesson:
Art 8: Work on your art installation.
Drama 9/10: Learn your Shakespeare scene. If you haven't already, let me know which one you're doing. Look at the email I sent today to see who I assigned as your partner.
Theatre Production: Work on your theatre history project. Make sure you send me a couple of options for a time when you can present it.
Warm-up: Art 8: Here is another example of an art installation. This one was originally by Felix Gonzalez-Torres, but people have started it again in his honour: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/12/arts/design/fortune-cookies-sculptures.html?searchResultPosition=1
Drama 9/10: Watch these two versions of the scene between Hamlet and Polonius!
This one has a terrific David Tennant (Dr. Who and lots of other things) and Oliver Ford Davies: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clmdzPZNA28
This one is older and stars the magnificent Richard Burton (as Hamlet) and Hume Cronyn (as Polonius): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l93LR6Sw75Q
Which one do you like the best?
Theatre Production 11: Look at this design for "Hamlet" by Edward Gordon Craig (one of the most famous set designers of the last century). https://images.app.goo.gl/mbrH39tCo7kWruJF7
Write me a response. What do you think of it? Would it work as a set? How would the actors use it?
Lesson:
Art 8: Work on your art installation.
Drama 9/10: Learn your Shakespeare scene. If you haven't already, let me know which one you're doing. Look at the email I sent today to see who I assigned as your partner.
Theatre Production: Work on your theatre history project. Make sure you send me a couple of options for a time when you can present it.
Sunday 14 June 2020
Memories may be beautiful . . . and yet . . .
Question of the Day: What is the most memorable moment of this school year? I suppose we will all remember when we heard that we were not going back to school. That is a hard one. I guess I will remember "As You Like It" because it is such a wonderful play and I was very pleased with it even though it was very hard to put together. In the end, it was as beautiful as I had imagined.
Warm-up (everyone): Put on Satie's Gymnopedie #1 and do all the yoga positions we did in the lockdown -- child's pose, downward dog and the tree pose. Remember to keep breathing the whole time and go slowly. This is good for relaxation and it's physical, too.
Lesson:
Theatre Production 11: Finish up your theatre history project. Plan what you will say when you present it. I'd like to post your ten fun facts and a picture of your model and costume on the blog. Do you think we could meet on Thursday at 1 just to finish this up?
Drama 9/10: Practice your Shakespeare scenes. I will send the class an email saying who will be partners.
Art 8: Work on your art installation. I gave you a few examples on the blog, but here is another one. Someone in my neighbourhood (and maybe yours, too) has left painted rocks all over -- at the mailbox, on the corner, at the dog park, etc. -- and they have slogans painted on them -- like "use this time wisely" or "social distancing rocks". That's an art installation.
It is time to catch up for those of you who have fallen behind! I have sent out academic alerts, so you can check there to see what you might be missing. Check the blog, too. Drama 9/10 -- some of you have not done the monologue or the questions about your role play character. Art students, make sure you've done both the landscape and the still life and the plant you mounted on a background.
This is my week to do report cards, so you want to catch up fast! Check the blog before you ask me for a list!
Warm-up (everyone): Put on Satie's Gymnopedie #1 and do all the yoga positions we did in the lockdown -- child's pose, downward dog and the tree pose. Remember to keep breathing the whole time and go slowly. This is good for relaxation and it's physical, too.
Lesson:
Theatre Production 11: Finish up your theatre history project. Plan what you will say when you present it. I'd like to post your ten fun facts and a picture of your model and costume on the blog. Do you think we could meet on Thursday at 1 just to finish this up?
Drama 9/10: Practice your Shakespeare scenes. I will send the class an email saying who will be partners.
Art 8: Work on your art installation. I gave you a few examples on the blog, but here is another one. Someone in my neighbourhood (and maybe yours, too) has left painted rocks all over -- at the mailbox, on the corner, at the dog park, etc. -- and they have slogans painted on them -- like "use this time wisely" or "social distancing rocks". That's an art installation.
It is time to catch up for those of you who have fallen behind! I have sent out academic alerts, so you can check there to see what you might be missing. Check the blog, too. Drama 9/10 -- some of you have not done the monologue or the questions about your role play character. Art students, make sure you've done both the landscape and the still life and the plant you mounted on a background.
This is my week to do report cards, so you want to catch up fast! Check the blog before you ask me for a list!
Friday 12 June 2020
Friday's child is loving and giving!
I don't usually post on Friday, because I know you guys want to have the weekend off. When I worked in offices (a very long time ago now), Friday at 3 used to be the best time of the week, because it was the very beginning of the weekend of freedom!
But just a couple of bits of info --
Some of you were interested in the Steveston Historical Society vignettes, which unfortunately were cancelled for this summer. They hope to be able to revive them next summer with a new script, but the lady who coordinates things was wondering if any of you drama students might be interested in a theatre workshop presented by local artists in the theatre. (They are not able to perform these days, so workshops and Zoom lessons are how they are earning a living!) The Historical Society would pay for the workshop, so if enough people are interested, I will let her know. Just send me an email if you think you might want to take part. They would likely be about the artistic process and acting, directing, writing, stage management (theatre production). Unfortunately, the workshop would probably be presented on Zoom and I know that is not the best venue, but that is what we have to work with these days.
For my Art 8 students, I thought of an idea for my art installation! I have decided to call it "Mother Nature" and the idea is that I clear an area in our back yard and I gather a large heap of sticks of different sorts and make a huge nest large enough for a person to sit in it. If people were to visit my installation (they won't because my yard is rather inaccessible), I would invite them to help build the nest (with the sticks I've provided or with their own contributions) and then they could have a chance to sit in it and feel the breeze blowing and look into the trees and listen to the sounds of the forest (my backyard sits right outside of the forest). There is a nest of red breasted sapsuckers just outside of my yard in a tall stump that you can see from where "Mother Nature" would be and we hear them cheeping all day from dawn to dusk. Their parents are so busy going back and forth to find food and then bring it to the nest. It's inspiring.
Now, everyone have a great weekend. We have got to keep plugging away until the end of June!
But just a couple of bits of info --
Some of you were interested in the Steveston Historical Society vignettes, which unfortunately were cancelled for this summer. They hope to be able to revive them next summer with a new script, but the lady who coordinates things was wondering if any of you drama students might be interested in a theatre workshop presented by local artists in the theatre. (They are not able to perform these days, so workshops and Zoom lessons are how they are earning a living!) The Historical Society would pay for the workshop, so if enough people are interested, I will let her know. Just send me an email if you think you might want to take part. They would likely be about the artistic process and acting, directing, writing, stage management (theatre production). Unfortunately, the workshop would probably be presented on Zoom and I know that is not the best venue, but that is what we have to work with these days.
For my Art 8 students, I thought of an idea for my art installation! I have decided to call it "Mother Nature" and the idea is that I clear an area in our back yard and I gather a large heap of sticks of different sorts and make a huge nest large enough for a person to sit in it. If people were to visit my installation (they won't because my yard is rather inaccessible), I would invite them to help build the nest (with the sticks I've provided or with their own contributions) and then they could have a chance to sit in it and feel the breeze blowing and look into the trees and listen to the sounds of the forest (my backyard sits right outside of the forest). There is a nest of red breasted sapsuckers just outside of my yard in a tall stump that you can see from where "Mother Nature" would be and we hear them cheeping all day from dawn to dusk. Their parents are so busy going back and forth to find food and then bring it to the nest. It's inspiring.
Now, everyone have a great weekend. We have got to keep plugging away until the end of June!
Thursday 11 June 2020
Laughter is the best medicine!
Question of the Day:
What makes you angry? What can you do about it? (B Block - what would your character say to this question?) I get angry when people are mean and I usually say something about it. I feel angry when I see homeless people sleeping on the street because I think we should be helping them. During the pandemic, they found places for people to stay, so why can't those people have someplace to stay all the time? I give to Covenant House in Vancouver, which is a charity that helps homeless youth and I give to the Kettle Friendship Society which helps homeless people in general.
Warm-up:
Drama 9/10, Theatre Production 11: Prepare and practice a joke as your role play character.
(Look on the blog and remind yourself of your character's personality).
Art 8: In your sketch book, make a picture that says, "I'm angry!"
Lesson:
Drama 9/10: Practice one Shakespeare scene out loud -- know both parts. Make it dramatic!
Theatre Production 11: You should be getting close to finishing your theatre history project (due on June 17). Plan what you will say when you present your project.
Art 8: Lots of you haven't looked at the "Dismaland" videos that show an art installation organized by the mysterious British artist, Banksy. You should take a look -- it is very strange and rather disturbing and provocative. This is called an art installation. (Other examples of art installations are: "The Dining Room" by Judy Chicago, "The Weather Report" by Olafur Eliasson or "Sunflower Seeds" by Ai Wei Wei.) What do you think that Banksy wanted to say with "Dismaland"? It is clearly not the "happiest place on earth". What is it then? Do you know what "bemusement" means? Why would Banksy use that word?
Your last assignment in Art 8 is to imagine an art installation (a three dimensional structure with which your viewer can interact) of your own. You can make a 3d model of it, you can draw a detailed map or picture of it, or if you have room, you can actually construct it! You need to give it a name and write about what you are trying to do (one paragraph). This will be due on June 19.
What makes you angry? What can you do about it? (B Block - what would your character say to this question?) I get angry when people are mean and I usually say something about it. I feel angry when I see homeless people sleeping on the street because I think we should be helping them. During the pandemic, they found places for people to stay, so why can't those people have someplace to stay all the time? I give to Covenant House in Vancouver, which is a charity that helps homeless youth and I give to the Kettle Friendship Society which helps homeless people in general.
Warm-up:
Drama 9/10, Theatre Production 11: Prepare and practice a joke as your role play character.
(Look on the blog and remind yourself of your character's personality).
Art 8: In your sketch book, make a picture that says, "I'm angry!"
Lesson:
Drama 9/10: Practice one Shakespeare scene out loud -- know both parts. Make it dramatic!
Theatre Production 11: You should be getting close to finishing your theatre history project (due on June 17). Plan what you will say when you present your project.
Art 8: Lots of you haven't looked at the "Dismaland" videos that show an art installation organized by the mysterious British artist, Banksy. You should take a look -- it is very strange and rather disturbing and provocative. This is called an art installation. (Other examples of art installations are: "The Dining Room" by Judy Chicago, "The Weather Report" by Olafur Eliasson or "Sunflower Seeds" by Ai Wei Wei.) What do you think that Banksy wanted to say with "Dismaland"? It is clearly not the "happiest place on earth". What is it then? Do you know what "bemusement" means? Why would Banksy use that word?
Your last assignment in Art 8 is to imagine an art installation (a three dimensional structure with which your viewer can interact) of your own. You can make a 3d model of it, you can draw a detailed map or picture of it, or if you have room, you can actually construct it! You need to give it a name and write about what you are trying to do (one paragraph). This will be due on June 19.
Wednesday 10 June 2020
When you grow up!
Question of the Day: What will you be like when you are thirty? (Not your job, but your personality.) When I was thirty, I was still hopeful that I would make it as an actor and was working toward that goal. I had met my husband but we were "just friends" at that point. I was quite shy and not super confident, but I was also very opinionated (I had learned to say what I think at my parents' knees). I wasn't interested in becoming rich, but I did want to read everything and be really smart and live in Toronto and have lots of intellectual friends. I was pretty optimistic. I have always enjoyed my own company.
Warm-up:
Everyone: Play some music (your choice). Try to move with the music, making different shapes with your body. This is physical and gets you to think of three-dimensional pictures.
Lesson:
Drama 9/10: The Shakespeare scenes are posted on the blog on June 3. Memorize one scene and be ready to perform at the next Zoom. Be sure you know what is happening in the scene. Make it dramatic.
Art 8: Have your picture exploring form and space to show at the Zoom meeting at 12:30.
Theatre Production 11:
Find out about an important actor from your period in theatre history -- what do we know about the person? (at least three things)
Example: Richard Burbage was one of the greatest of Shakespeare's actors. He played Hamlet, Othello, Richard III and many other iconic characters at the Globe Theatre where many of Shakespeare's plays were first performed. He was best in tragic roles. He was also a painter and may have painted the famous Chandos portrait of Shakespeare. His gravestone said "exit Burbage".
Zoom meeting today (Thursday): 12:30 p.m. -- C Block
Zoom meeting tomorrow (Friday): 12:30 p.m. -- B Block
Warm-up:
Everyone: Play some music (your choice). Try to move with the music, making different shapes with your body. This is physical and gets you to think of three-dimensional pictures.
Lesson:
Drama 9/10: The Shakespeare scenes are posted on the blog on June 3. Memorize one scene and be ready to perform at the next Zoom. Be sure you know what is happening in the scene. Make it dramatic.
Art 8: Have your picture exploring form and space to show at the Zoom meeting at 12:30.
Theatre Production 11:
Find out about an important actor from your period in theatre history -- what do we know about the person? (at least three things)
Example: Richard Burbage was one of the greatest of Shakespeare's actors. He played Hamlet, Othello, Richard III and many other iconic characters at the Globe Theatre where many of Shakespeare's plays were first performed. He was best in tragic roles. He was also a painter and may have painted the famous Chandos portrait of Shakespeare. His gravestone said "exit Burbage".
Zoom meeting today (Thursday): 12:30 p.m. -- C Block
Zoom meeting tomorrow (Friday): 12:30 p.m. -- B Block
Tuesday 9 June 2020
Space is the breath of art. (Frank Lloyd Wright)
Frank Lloyd Wright is one of the most famous architects ever. He designed a house over a waterfall (the house was called "Fallingwater") and he started a movement called "organic architecture" in which buildings are designed in harmony with their surroundings.
Question of the Day: Would you rather be in a city or in the countryside? When I was young, I wanted to live in the middle of a big, bustling city like New York City, but now that I am old, I really love the peace and quiet of the small town I live in and I think I would prefer the countryside. Daisy likes to walk on grass now that she's old and the pavement and rocky paths bother her feet, so nothing too rugged.
Warm-up:
Drama 9/10: Read your Shakespeare scene out loud as if you were your role play character.
Art 8: Experiment with space. Try to fill the space in the room with yourself. Then try to let the space take over.
https://images.app.goo.gl/8jXAy4SL7dbdJdWa7
The above picture shows the difference between positive space (the object) and negative space (the empty spaces around the object).
Theatre Production:
Think, when we talk of horses, that you see them,
Printing their proud hoofs i' th' receiving earth;
For 'tis your thoughts that now must deck our kings.
What does this mean? Why is it important for someone involved in theatre production to understand this passage?
Lesson:
Art 8: Find a picture that deals with the concept of form and space (or take a picture of it). Be ready to share it at the Zoom meeting on Thursday.
Drama 9/10: Practice your Shakespeare scene (both parts). Do it out loud. Move around as if you were the character.
Theatre Production: Keep working on your theatre history project.
Zoom meetings:
Wednesday, 1:30 p.m. -- A Block (I am at school helping with graduation, so if I am a bit late, be patient). Remember to be your character and not yourself for the whole meeting.
Thursday, 12:30 p.m. -- C Block -- be ready to show your form and space picture (I am at graduation again, so wait if I'm not there right at the dot).
Friday, 12:30 p.m. -- B Block (Play your role play character!)
Question of the Day: Would you rather be in a city or in the countryside? When I was young, I wanted to live in the middle of a big, bustling city like New York City, but now that I am old, I really love the peace and quiet of the small town I live in and I think I would prefer the countryside. Daisy likes to walk on grass now that she's old and the pavement and rocky paths bother her feet, so nothing too rugged.
Warm-up:
Drama 9/10: Read your Shakespeare scene out loud as if you were your role play character.
Art 8: Experiment with space. Try to fill the space in the room with yourself. Then try to let the space take over.
https://images.app.goo.gl/8jXAy4SL7dbdJdWa7
The above picture shows the difference between positive space (the object) and negative space (the empty spaces around the object).
Theatre Production:
Think, when we talk of horses, that you see them,
Printing their proud hoofs i' th' receiving earth;
For 'tis your thoughts that now must deck our kings.
What does this mean? Why is it important for someone involved in theatre production to understand this passage?
Lesson:
Art 8: Find a picture that deals with the concept of form and space (or take a picture of it). Be ready to share it at the Zoom meeting on Thursday.
Remember to send me your pressed plant mounted on the background wash you prepared.
Theatre Production: Keep working on your theatre history project.
Zoom meetings:
Wednesday, 1:30 p.m. -- A Block (I am at school helping with graduation, so if I am a bit late, be patient). Remember to be your character and not yourself for the whole meeting.
Thursday, 12:30 p.m. -- C Block -- be ready to show your form and space picture (I am at graduation again, so wait if I'm not there right at the dot).
Friday, 12:30 p.m. -- B Block (Play your role play character!)
Monday 8 June 2020
Let life happen to you. Believe me, life is in the right, always. (Rainer Maria Rilke)
Question of the Day: Do you like amusement parks? If you don't, where would you go to have fun? If you do, what's your favourite part of an amusement park? I am not particularly fond of amusement parks, but my family went to Disneyland and I did enjoy it. I don't like rides very much, but I liked all the sights and sounds and the pirate island and the different streets and the parade and there was a play in the old west saloon (I don't know the names of any of the things, I'm afraid.) I would actually prefer to go to a real place like New Orleans or Paris than a place that tries to recreate it. ( Drama students: Think about how your character would answer this question.)
Warm-up:
(Everyone)
I wonder how many of you have heard of the British artist, Banksy. He is a mysterious person -- almost no one knows who he actually is and much of his art just appears on walls -- like graffiti. He is provocative and makes social commentary and gets people thinking and makes them angry.
He created this alternative theme park called "Dismaland" and got other artists to create art installations in Somerset, in England. Some of it looks a bit like Disneyland, but with a "sinister twist" and Banksy called it a "bemusement park". (It was an art installation, so it's not there any more.)
There is a lot of information online about the art installation if you google it. There are several videos. Banksy and the other artists are trying to make viewers think with displays of oil soaked birds and refugees crammed into small boats and the violence of a Punch and Judy show and a city empty of everyone except police.
What do you think?
Lesson:
Art 8: The last two elements of art (do you remember the other five?) are form and space. Form refers to three dimensional shapes. We made use of form and space when we created tableaus.
Today, I want you to pull out the plant or leaf or flower that you pressed and mount it on the wash you prepared for it. Take a picture of it and send it to me.
Warm-up:
(Everyone)
I wonder how many of you have heard of the British artist, Banksy. He is a mysterious person -- almost no one knows who he actually is and much of his art just appears on walls -- like graffiti. He is provocative and makes social commentary and gets people thinking and makes them angry.
He created this alternative theme park called "Dismaland" and got other artists to create art installations in Somerset, in England. Some of it looks a bit like Disneyland, but with a "sinister twist" and Banksy called it a "bemusement park". (It was an art installation, so it's not there any more.)
There is a lot of information online about the art installation if you google it. There are several videos. Banksy and the other artists are trying to make viewers think with displays of oil soaked birds and refugees crammed into small boats and the violence of a Punch and Judy show and a city empty of everyone except police.
What do you think?
Lesson:
Art 8: The last two elements of art (do you remember the other five?) are form and space. Form refers to three dimensional shapes. We made use of form and space when we created tableaus.
Today, I want you to pull out the plant or leaf or flower that you pressed and mount it on the wash you prepared for it. Take a picture of it and send it to me.
Drama 9/10:
Read your Shakespeare scene out loud five times. Do both parts. Does anyone have a suggestion for how we can perform these? Make sure you let me know which one you want to perform.
Theatre Production 11: You will share your theatre history project with the class. You might want to think about what you could talk about for two or three minutes.
Sunday 7 June 2020
Lesson for June 8, 2020
Question of the Day: This is Water Safety Week. Can you swim? If not, does it worry you? If yes, how did you learn? Do you like boats? Describe a time you went on a boat. I can swim but not well. I took swimming lessons and failed but a couple of weeks after the failure, I figured it out but I am not a strong swimmer at all. Once when I was in Greece, we went on a boat tour of Santorini (a beautiful place) and at one spot, they stopped outside a hot spring and said we had to swim in -- the boat was too big to maneuver into the narrow channel. I jumped into the water, but then realized I couldn't swim all the way and got back in the boat. I was a bit cheesed at myself for not being able to go.
Warm-up:
Art 8: Make a picture that explores a metaphor. It can be realistic or abstract (many of you noticed that the Rothko painting I showed you when we started Art was expressing an emotion). It can be a watercolour painting or can use other colours or can be a pencil drawing or a collage with pictures cut out of magazines or copied from websites or different colours of paper glued on a page. Or it can be a photograph of something! (Tell me the metaphor.) Send me the picture by Wednesday.
Here is mine. I found a photo in a magazine and tried to copy it. I'm calling it "Aspirations".
Warm-up:
Art 8: Make a picture that explores a metaphor. It can be realistic or abstract (many of you noticed that the Rothko painting I showed you when we started Art was expressing an emotion). It can be a watercolour painting or can use other colours or can be a pencil drawing or a collage with pictures cut out of magazines or copied from websites or different colours of paper glued on a page. Or it can be a photograph of something! (Tell me the metaphor.) Send me the picture by Wednesday.
Here is mine. I found a photo in a magazine and tried to copy it. I'm calling it "Aspirations".
Drama 9/10, Theatre Production 11:
Make sure you are figuring out your character (the list is posted on the blog on June 1 -- your character's name is with your class and starts with the same letter as your first name. There are questions to answer about the character on the blog the next day.)
Answer the question of the day AS YOUR CHARACTER. Send me your answer.
If I answered as my character, I would say, "uh, well, who wants to know if I can swim? Uh, okay, I can swim very well. Very quickly, so don't try to get away if I have to chase you. Ha ha. I'm just kidding! No reason I'd have to chase you, right? Haha! But of course, I can swim. I've been on lots of boats. I did some training-- uh, well, I was in cadets, of course. Uh, sea cadets. Nothing strange about that, is there?"
Lesson:
Art 8: Your landscape and still life are due.
Drama 9/10: Let me know which scene you've chosen. Start learning the lines by saying them out loud. Learn both parts.
Theatre Production 11: You should have finished the ten fun facts and be nearly finished your recreation of the theatre. You need to start working on the costume part.
Thursday 4 June 2020
Truth or consequences!
Question of the Day: When was the last time you were in trouble? What was the consequence? I don't get in "trouble", really, because no one is the boss of me! (Ha ha.) But I had a big disagreement with a friend of mine, and they said, "surprisingly, we disagree" (this was over email -- but I could still tell they were being ironic) and now, they're not talking to me! That's okay. I was right, anyway!
Warm-up:
Drama 9/10, Theatre Production 11: (Theatre production, you're doing the role play, too, so make sure you look at your character!) What does your character do in his/her spare time? What music does she/he listen to? What is her/his favourite food? What is his/her favourite game? Try to act like your character for a little bit over the weekend. You can tell people what you're doing, just so they don't think you're crazy.
Art 8: Go on working on your still life. Do some experimenting. I showed you today the one I did that I didn't like (with the blue cloth, which didn't work at all). I don't love the pepper and onions, either, so I might do another one this weekend.
Lesson:
Drama 9/10: Read the scenes out loud. Think about which one you would like to perform. There are three for grade 9's and 2 for grade 10's. Pick only one.
Theatre Production 11: Send me the text from yesterday (as an email, not a text) from your character that explains that you have to stay late after school. Then, work on the theatre history project. You should probably be working on the theatre reconstruction by now.
Art 8: Work on your landscape.
Can you name the five elements of art that we have looked at already? (We will finish with three-dimensional art and talk about the last two elements, which are form and space.)
Warm-up:
Drama 9/10, Theatre Production 11: (Theatre production, you're doing the role play, too, so make sure you look at your character!) What does your character do in his/her spare time? What music does she/he listen to? What is her/his favourite food? What is his/her favourite game? Try to act like your character for a little bit over the weekend. You can tell people what you're doing, just so they don't think you're crazy.
Art 8: Go on working on your still life. Do some experimenting. I showed you today the one I did that I didn't like (with the blue cloth, which didn't work at all). I don't love the pepper and onions, either, so I might do another one this weekend.
Lesson:
Drama 9/10: Read the scenes out loud. Think about which one you would like to perform. There are three for grade 9's and 2 for grade 10's. Pick only one.
Theatre Production 11: Send me the text from yesterday (as an email, not a text) from your character that explains that you have to stay late after school. Then, work on the theatre history project. You should probably be working on the theatre reconstruction by now.
Art 8: Work on your landscape.
Can you name the five elements of art that we have looked at already? (We will finish with three-dimensional art and talk about the last two elements, which are form and space.)
Wednesday 3 June 2020
Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul. (Emily Dickinson)
Question of the day: What are you hopeful about?
Warm-up:
Drama 9/10; Theatre Production 11:
Keep trying to internalize your character. Throughout the day, imagine what your character would do? If she was looking through Netflix to choose a show which one would she watch (not you, your character).
Imagine a text your character would send to their parents to tell them you have to stay late at school. Send the text to me (not as a text, as an email). Actually do this.
Warm-up:
Art 8: Still Life
Still Life means you have something to paint that isn't moving around or changing. Find something that doesn't move (some fruit, flowers, a plant, some cloth). Arrange it nicely and make a painting out of it.
Examples:
https://images.app.goo.gl/DwkJ7pSNaiSYd6Zm9
https://images.app.goo.gl/VzkFFBaQbTvnJvL67
Paul Cezanne and A.Y. Jackson
Lesson:
Art 8: Work on your landscape or your still life. (Remember, you shouldn't be doing more than 3 hours of school work TOTAL in the day, so give yourself time.)
Theatre Production 11: Theatre History Project
Drama 9/10:
Read the following scenes. What's happening?
Warm-up:
Drama 9/10; Theatre Production 11:
Keep trying to internalize your character. Throughout the day, imagine what your character would do? If she was looking through Netflix to choose a show which one would she watch (not you, your character).
Imagine a text your character would send to their parents to tell them you have to stay late at school. Send the text to me (not as a text, as an email). Actually do this.
Warm-up:
Art 8: Still Life
Still Life means you have something to paint that isn't moving around or changing. Find something that doesn't move (some fruit, flowers, a plant, some cloth). Arrange it nicely and make a painting out of it.
Examples:
https://images.app.goo.gl/DwkJ7pSNaiSYd6Zm9
https://images.app.goo.gl/VzkFFBaQbTvnJvL67
Paul Cezanne and A.Y. Jackson
Lesson:
Art 8: Work on your landscape or your still life. (Remember, you shouldn't be doing more than 3 hours of school work TOTAL in the day, so give yourself time.)
Theatre Production 11: Theatre History Project
Drama 9/10:
Read the following scenes. What's happening?
Shakespeare Scenes – Grade 9
Macbeth
M: I
have done the deed.
Didst
thou not hear a noise?
LM:
I heard the owl scream and the cricket cry.
Did
not you speak?
M:
When?
LM:
Now.
M:
As I descended?
LM:
Aye.
M:
Hark! Who lies in the second
chamber?
LM: Donalbain.
M:
This is a sorry sight.
LM:
A foolish thought to say a sorry sight.
Hamlet
B:
Who’s there?
F:
Nay, answer me. Stand and unfold
yourself.
B:
Long live the king!
F:
Bernardo?
B:
He.
F:
You come most carefully on your hour.
B:
‘Tis now struck twelve; get thee
to bed, Francisco.
F:
For this relief, much thanks.
‘Tis bitter cold and I am sick at heart.
B:
Have you had quiet guard?
F:
Not a mouse stirring.
Romeo
and Juliet
S:
Do you bite your thumb at us, Sir?
A: I
do bite my thumb, sir.
S:
Do you bite your thumb at us, Sir?
A:
No, Sir. I do not bite my thumb
at you, Sir, but I bite my thumb, Sir.
S:
Do you quarrel, Sir?
A:
Quarrel, Sir. No, Sir.
S:
If you do, Sir, I am for you. I
serve as good a man as you.
A:
No better.
S:
Yes, better, Sir.
A:
You lie.
S: Draw
if you be a man.
Shakespeare Scenes – Grade 10
Hamlet
Ophelia: My lord, I have remembrances of yours,
That
I have long long’d to redeliver;
I
pray you now, receive them.
Hamlet: No, no.
I never gave you aught.
Ophelia: My honour’d lord, you know right well
you did;
And,
with them, words of so sweet breath compos’d
As
made the things more rich: their perfume
lost,
Take
these again; for to the noble mind
Rich
gifts wax poor when givers prove unkind.
(she
gives him the gifts he gave her) There,
my lord.
Hamlet: Ha, ha!
Are you honest?
Ophelia: My
lord?
Hamlet: Are
you fair?
Ophelia: What
means your lordship?
Hamlet: That if you be honest and fair, your
honesty should admit no discourse to your beauty. (He looks at her with suspicion.) . . . I did
love you once.
Ophelia: Indeed, my lord, you made me believe
so.
Hamlet: You should not have believed me . . .
I lov’d you not.
Othello:
Iago: My noble lord—
Othello: What dost thou say, Iago?
Iago: Did Michael Cassio, when you
woo’d my lady,
Know of your love?
Othello: He did, from first to last: why does thou ask?
Iago: But for a satisfaction of my
thought;
No further harm.
Othello: Why
of thy thought, Iago?
Iago: I did not think he had been
acquainted with her.
Othello: Oh yes, and went between us very oft.
Iago: Indeed!
Othello: Indeed! Ay, indeed; -- discerns’t thou aught in that?
Is he not honest?
Iago: Honest, my lord?
Othello: Honest! Ay, honest!
Iago: My lord, for aught I know.
Othello: What dost thou think?
Iago: Think, my lord?
Othello: Think, my lord. By heaven he echoes me. . . . If thou dost love me,
Show me thy thought.
Iago: My lord, you know I love you.
Othello: I think thou dost.
Iago: For Michael Cassio,
I dare be sworn I think
that he is honest.
Othello: I think so too.
Iago: Men should be what they seem.
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