Extra Credit for the "Movie on the Lawn" Attendees

Thanks to my little honeybees who sacrificed their Friday night to see The Secret Life of Bees on the school lawn. I hope you all enjoyed it.

Now, here is your extra credit (do all three sections):

Tell me one scene in the movie that was not in the book. Did you like that it was added? Why did it make the plot better or help you understand an event or character better?

Tell me one scene in the book that was not in the movie that you wished the director had included. Tell me why you feel it should have been included.

Now that you have read two novels and have seen the movie versions of both, compare and contrast the two genres? After you compare and contrast them, do you prefer one over the other, and why?

I will post pictures soon. I have to work on my FCAT Camp lesson right now! haha!

Research Paper Topics

UPDATED (I removed all of the choices that had been selected)

Below are some topics you can use for your research paper on The Secret Life of Bees. The topic you choose will have to be supported through the events in the novel. It will have to be 3-5 pages typed, so be sure you pick a topic you are comfortable with and passionate about. (For those of you who did not read the novel, now might be a good time). No one can pick the same topic.

Leave a comment under this post that states which topic you choose. If it is one that says you can pick one of the chapter heading quotes, tell me which chapter heading you are choosing. If you are picking a symbol, which one? Be specific. Don't tell me you are going to relate a message of MLK to the novel without telling me which message. If you need to reselect, or I need clarification from you, I will leave you another comment under this post. You will need to look at this post again to make sure I approve your choice. Your research paper will be due right after Spring Break, but be advised that each week, we will cover a skill then you will be required to submit that particular piece. You cannot submit the next skill until the last one is turned in. If you get behind, or fail to do any of the skills or the paper itself, your nine-week grade will greatly suffer.

Trust me, we are going to take this slow, and I will work with you one-on-one if need be. I am NOT going to let you drown. I may let you flounder around for a bit, but I will be there to help you get to shore. NICE METAPHOR! haha!!

All I can tell you is YOU CAN DO IT IF YOU'VE READ, IF YOU TRY and IF YOU LISTEN TO ME :o)

Below is a primary list of topics for you to consider. You can propose one of your own if you think of it.

Any or a combination of the symbols in the novel (specify, please)

Messages or quotes from any of the following (you need to tell me the SPECIFIC message, literary piece, or song you are selecting):

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK's message, "A lie cannot live," "I have a dream," "A man who won't die..." "toughness of a serpent; softness of a dove," "A true neighbor" are already selected. He has many messages, essays and speeches, so research and select one)

Malcolm X ("They bring about change" and "I'm for truth," and his speech about freedom are already selected. He has many messages, essays and speeches, so research and select one)

Eleanor Roosevelt ("You have to accept" and "I could not..." already taken. She has many messages, essays and speeches; do research and select one.)
Shakespeare

Thoreau

Charlotte Bronte

William Blake (His poem in the novel is taken.)

The Beatles ("Let it Be," "Yesterday," "She's Going Home," "Hey, Jude," "Here Comes the Sun," "Long and Winding Road," "Blackbird," "Not a Second Time," "All You Need is Love," "Imagine" are all selected. Again, they have many songs. Research and choose one.)

Simon and Garfunkel

Any of the 1960’s poets or musicians

Robert Frost "The Road Not Taken" is already selected, but there are many more out there.)

Archetypal feminine images (specify, please)

Any of the opening quotes about bees from the fourteen chapters. (Chapters 5, 6, 7 & 10 are left).

You can find your own quote that relates to one of the themes. The possibilities are endless.

Chapters 11-14 Extra Credit

Now that the novel has come to an end, compare and contrast your perception of (or feelings about) one character.  How did it change from the beginning of the novel to the end?  Remember, if it is a compare and contrast question, you must address both the similarities (comparison) and the differences (contrasts).  You must use ONE quote to support each.

Deadline: February 24th by 11 p.m. (Be mindful of the date and time, as some of you are posting past the deadline, which cannot be awarded points).

Secret Life of Bees Project Clarification

All projects have to be typed 12-point font. It can be any type of font, but it cannot be larger than 12 points, and it CANNOT be bold-faced or italicized. In addition, you are only allowed one-inch margins on all sides. You CAN decorate it up, add your creative flair, and make it POP!  See your class's project due date to the left.

1. Write a diary of one of the characters. Tell his/her secret thoughts, motivations,history, ideas for the future, and thoughts about others. For example, write Deborah’s diary explaining what really happened the day she died. (4 entries, one page each, double-spaced)

2. Summarize one chapter of the novel in poem or song form. (a minimum of 25 lines for the poem; and the song must have one chorus 5 lines long, and 4 verses that are 5 lines long each)

3. Pretend you are one of the characters. It’s 2O years from the end of the novel. From a character's point of view, write a letter to another character in the book about what you’ve been doing with your life. For example, does Lily ever see her father again? (There will be two letters. One is from the character to another character, while the other letter is a response. Each letter must be one-page single-spaced).

4. Write a series of letters between any two characters (This is different from the number 3. These letters are about events in the novel, not 20 years later. This is four letters, two from each character, that are double-spaced and one page long.)

5. Write a letter to the author aboutwhat you think about the book. You will mail or email the letter after I read it. (Your letter must be one page single-spaced, be in letter format, including a return and the recipient's address, a greeting, a closing, and four specific references to the novel. You not only have to bring me a hard copy for this one, you must also email it to me at cnoel14@gmail.com)

6. Write a sequel (or the next chapter) to the novel. (Four pages double-spaced minimum).

7. August lived in Richmond, Virginia during the 192Os and 1930s. Research Richmond during these times and then write a story from her persepective about what she did before she got to Tiburon, or how she came to be a beekeeper. (2 pages single-spaced or four pages double-spaced minimum).

Notice there is no more #8.

Your rubric will be as follows: 20 points - relevance to the novel; 10 points - adherence to the rules of the project; 10 points - creativity and neatness; 10 points - submitted on time

DO NOT BRING ME YOUR WORK ON A JUMP DRIVE OR EMAIL ME AND ASK ME TO PRINT IT THE MORNING IT IS DUE. If you do not have a printer, you can print it out the day(s) before during lunch. Be warned that I cannot guarantee that I will have ink in my printer. Currently, I am out, but I will try and buy more. Please make arrangements EARLY. You lose an automatic 10 points for late work (even a minute). Even if you are absent, you need to get your project here on the day/time it is due... I am sorry, but I am just prepping you for the demands of doing a research project. YOU CAN DO IT, GUYS, I KNOW IT! Start now and you will do GREAT!

Extra Credit - Chapters 9 & 10

In chapters 9 & 10, there are many similes, metaphors, allusions, and other literary tools. Find an example of one of our literary tools in this section, type the quote, then indicate which literary tool the author is using. Your answer HAS to be from one of the two chapters, and you cannot use one that someone has already posted. Your post must be done by 2/18 by 11 p.m. Remember to include your first name and period number!

Ch 7 & 8 Mini-Project for Secret Life of Bees

In chapters 7 & 8, Lily shares that her Sunday school teacher used a name to create a philosophical message. Using the letters of JOY, Mrs. Poole (see pg. 162) creates an acrostic poem that details an amazing message and her philosophy about life . GUESS WHAT? You have to do it, too! Be warned, it is not suppose to be like the DADDY one Lily made with a bunch of adjectives. Yours needs to be a little more philosophical and less descriptive. Here is an example:

Create smiles around you
Help others
Relinguish yourself to the divine
Ignore negativity
Share hugs
Take time for family
Initiate forgiveness
Never lose faith
Embrace peace

Here are your rules - it needs to be typed, you can include graphics, it can rhyme if you want, it must be at least 7 letters (if your name is shorter than 7 letters, use the letters of your last name, or use both your first and last name). Have fun with it. This is due Thursday, 2/19 for period 6; 2/20 for periods 1 & 3. THIS IS NOT EXTRA CREDIT!!!

Secret Life of Bees Chapters 5 & 6 Extra Credit

Here is more extra credit! You can choose to do one of two hands-on/crafty activites:
Choice 1 - Create a hat that identifies you (like the Daughters of Mary hats described on pg 106. The guys can do this, too! Just use a baseball cap).
Choice 2 - Make a box which will be like May's "wailing wall" (pg 97). We will call the box our "Crying Crate" and will use it to hold little notes listing our fears, worries, and such. Decorate it using themes from the novel.

Try to use materials you already have. Many of our pledges were to recycle, so why not try to honor that pledge with this activity!

You can ALSO respond to this post for blog participation points:
To help herself deal with pain, May sings, "Oh, Susana" and writes notes to place in the wailing wall. Now explain how do you deal with pain? Be sure to post your comments in this section, please.

This is due on 2/18 for period 6; 2/19 for periods 1 & 3. HAVE FUN!

Home Learning Assignment

Periods 1,3 and 6:

Create a "bumper sticker" that reflects on an event, tragedy, idea or person from the 1960's. For example, you could create one for a presidential candidate of the era. What about your feelings on the Vietnam War, the Civil Rights Movement, space travel, the Cuban Missile Crisis, Woodstock, and much, much more? You slogan (or saying) must be one of our literary tools. In addition, you must use a minimum of three colors, a symbol or graphic, and it must be unique (not something you find on the Internet).

For example, mine would be: No more danger, no more destruction, no more death. (I used parallelism and alliteration while I reflected on my feeling of the Vietnam War). I will bring a sample to class!

Here are some sites of some 1960's events:
http://www.kyrene.org/schools/brisas/sunda/decade/1960.htm
http://www.ronaldreaganweb.com/thesixties/timeline.htm
http://history1900s.about.com/library/time/bltime1960.htm

Due Dates: Periods 1&3 - February 13; Period 6 - February 9

If you have questions or concerns, leave me a comment.