Embedded Files
"None of his comrades came to him, helped him, his brave and noble followers; they ran for their lives..." Beowulf
Beowulf Day 5 - The Fire Dragon Group Work: Students work in Groups - using two different readings (their text skipped some "big stuff" - and finish talking about "Beowulf".
Lesson Overview
Lesson Overview
This is their third group work - again, I feel it is so important to get them talking about the work they just read - in a class discussion they can be passive - these group works require everyone working at full speed, using the best of their individual talents to get the work done. This is their penultimate cooperative work with random grouping - in essence, their 2nd to the last chance to find like group members (though of course they can change groups later).
The texts (both of them) served as a guide for creating the Group Work. In my notes you can see the development of the the questions that the students are asked. As the years go on - what students asked questions about - what they connected with (and made connections to) helped to guide what the Group Work became. If there notes for the other reading (from their older text book - I have yet to find them).
Handouts
Handouts
Most Recent Handouts & Quizzes
Most Recent Handouts & Quizzes
Reading Quiz Old Book Text & pgs 42-49: Docx PDF (the quiz is longer - 6 quests. - because the reading was longer - it will also count for 150 points, rather than the usual 100 for the same reason.
The Fire Dragon Group Work Docx PDF (see above Lesson Overview)
A Kite for Michael and Christopher - This Handout - on the back - includes an Extra Credit writing assignment:, having the students write a short essay linking a poem by Seamus Heaney (one of the translators of Beowulf that I've played for them) with the ending of Beowulf - and the titular character's desire for a legacy to continue - though the text seems to preclude that possibility. Such a wonderful way for students to make other connections on their own. Connections with their lives, with Old English and Modern Times, etc.
It also gives them a chance to connect very different kinds of poetry - and perhaps see how the modern influenced Heaney's translation.
Links
Links
Here is a link to the Burton Raffel translation used in my class (I do not endorse or certify the use of any outside websites).
Remote Enhancements
Remote Enhancements
Nothing that I have found...yet. However - the video and the group work can certainly be a shared screen in any Remote Meeting.
What's Next
What's Next
A long-term group assignment where students will act out the last scene (the Fire Dragon & death of the hero) from Beowulf using a theme and translation of their choosing.
WHAT CAME BEFORE:
WHAT CAME BEFORE:
Thoughts on the Lesson
Thoughts on the Lesson
I've said this before and I'll say it again (many times). Students are NOT big fans of Group Work - this is not a problem with the approach - it is the nature of the beast. A good Group Work will have the students on their toes for the entire period - it is stressful (in a good, resilience-building, kind of way) and it is difficult and requires focus. That means it is exactly what the students should be doing in conjunction with great whole-class discussions.
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