Thursday, February 27, 2014

Today's Meet

Discussion for the Interschool Digital Dystopian Book Club
links to questions, video clips and articles...
Today's Meet Chat Lesson

https://docs.google.com/document/d/17tZ5oiTBRw8vlq5PUPNSboWq9LEmSBzoiAry67EN5l0/edit?usp=sharing


Week 3 Live Chat! Today’s Meet Discussion Questions
Friday, February 28th
Big Question:  Was the Sochi Olympics a Dystopian Reality??


Do you think that the Sochi Olympics resembled a dystopia?

Crazy visual of Olympics and Sochi… “Monolithic head statue, hammer and sickle”

Does this visual seem a little dark for an Olympic Opening ceremony?

The spirit of the Olympics is a celebration of countries coming together to celebrate teamwork, sportsmanship, tolerance, peace and harmony. Sounds almost like a perfect world, perhaps a utopian world where everyone comes together in harmony and respect for 10 days.

1. Watch the following video clip, “Sochi Winter Olympics closing ceremony highlights Russian culture”


Notice what Olympic IOC President,  Thomas Bach said “by living together under one roof in the Olympic Village (the athletes had sent) a powerful message from Sochi to the world: the message of a society of peace, tolerance and respect.
“I appeal to everybody implicated in confrontation, oppression or violence: act on this Olympic message of dialogue and peace.”  He then thanked Russia and its president Vladimir Putin for “delivering what you promised”.

The question now is… Did Vladimir truly “deliver what he promised”?? Would all Russians agree??


2. Take a look at another video also taken during the Olympics in Sochi….

Aussi News story on a Russian Protest band...

Same video as above with no News story explanation about human rights.

Would you say that the ideals of the Olympics are being upheld?

Russian All girl band speak out against Russian’s president, Vlamir Putin and human right violations.

3. Read the following aloud, and include on data projector or or paper.
"Putin will teach you to love the motherland"

Except taken from a CTV article,
A performance-art collective, made up of a loose grouping of feminists, has called for a boycott of the Sochi Olympics, arguing that Putin has exceeded his authority and is restricting human rights. The bands members, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Maria Alekhina spent nearly two years in prison on charges of hooliganism for their protest in Moscow's main cathedral in 2012.
The band’s video, called "Putin will teach you how to love the motherland", was posted on YouTube and features a song and footage of the band's protests.
The band described some of their Sochi experience in the song:
"Sochi locked down/the Olympus under surveillance/Of guns and crowds of cops."
Members told a news conference their treatment in Sochi is symptomatic of dissent being stifled in Russia.

It is also believed that many human rights activists fear a crackdown on dissent once the Olympic spotlight has moved on.”

Why would people fear a crackdown on protesting in Russia, once the world is no longer watching??

3. Read, Discuss and Chat About Article
Read and discuss briefly in class, then get to the Live Chat… Explore the question: Was the Sochi Olympics a dystopian reality??

“New Arrivals Are Finding a ‘Soviet-Style Dystopia’ in Sochi”

What are some of the weird or dystopian like issues that visitors to Sochi observed?



Novels
Teacher Leader
Today’s Meet Link
Edmodo Code
Divergent
Matt
x28q5p
Updated
Legend
Jenn/Christine
7pni46
UPDATED

City of Ember
Jenn
b6ugtk
UPDATED
Hunger Games
Sheldon
w3exqw
Among the Hidden
Carmel
ty5pre
UPDATED
Eleventh Plague
Jackie

udixvh
UPDATED
Matched
Tyler
2f7svy
Updated
Maze Runner
Christine
qud94a
updated

 


Wednesday, February 26, 2014

More Titan Pics

Homework


Titan Shots!!





















Titan 4 a Day




Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Dystopian Visual Dictionary

Link to Section 4-5 Dystopia Visual Dictionary Assignment.

Grade 8 Farewell Photos

Mark your calendar and get ready for the grade 8 Farewell photos on Tuesday, April 8th am! 

ELA reminders