Hoot and Environmental Effects

The story Hoot (the book) tells about a boy who discovers a conflict between a business and nature. Roy finds out that a group of burrowing owls lives on the site where the business wants to build their store. (BTW check out the link above for a short and interesting book review of Hoot)

On the author's webpage Carl Hiaasen answers questions about Hoot.
Carl Hiaasen says,
"The world can be nasty place, and there's nothing wrong with going after the bad guys in a novel...Funny stuff happens, weird stuff happens, but the soul of the plot is Roy's quest to stop something very bad from happening. And that's serious"

The environment damage that businesses can cause is a serious issue that affects our future. Watch this YouTube video about the BP oil spill. The G4 News Crew finds out how corporations have negatively affected pelicans of the Gulf Coast. (A Big Thanks goes to Mr. Cornfield for finding this video)

As they mention in the G4 News story there are ways people can work to help restore the environment on the Gulf Coast. One simple way is by sharing ideas about this disaster so it is not forgotten. The BP oil spill devastated peoples' lives and continues to affect the area today.

• Do you remember when you first heard about the BP Oil Spill?





• What are your thoughts about how human activity can affect our environment?





• How does the BP Oil Spill relate with destruction of the owls' habitat in Hoot?

Highlighting Student Created Blogs

DJxHyPex85: Should homework be given out to students?
Student blogger adds his voice about the affects of homework. This topic has been a recent debate among teachers, parents, as well on many students' minds. Comment on DJxHyPex's blog post to show your point of view.

Elizabeth and Jocelyn: Movies and Music Two bloggers share information and recommendations about the latest movies and music. Who doesn't like movies and music. The pictures, lyrics, and commentary show some interesting new hits. Check it out, before you make plans.

Lejla: Quotes
Student blogger writes about meaningful Quotes. What uses can you think of for quotes? I know that in posters, advertisements, and graduation speeches quotes are often a way to "hook" the reader's attention. If you too like quotes check out Lejla's blog.

Poetry and Art

April was National Poetry Month and students published poetry in response to art work. In the poems below, what types of figurative language do you notice? How do you see the poems and art work complementing each other?

Stuck in the Moment
By, Ines

She pressed against each petal
As if she was holding onto her life,

Blowing away each “He loves you petal”
Wishing she could be his wife.

A Rose By, Sara

Romance,
Is a symbol from the lovely red rose,
It’s something given,
In luxury velvet clothes.

A rose,
Is a symbol of love,
a touch of destiny,
from the angels above.

A Lone Tree By, Kim

A lone tree in a vast valley,
Holding fast to its shivering leaves,
But to no avail.
Soon it shall be alone.

Its children fluttering in the breeze,
Take off to join the world in its soil.
In anguish, the tree turns dark. Ebony.
Its central body clouded with desperation.

Untitled by, Advin

I stand on a great mountain
watching the city I call home.
As the dark night
casts its cloak around me
I never felt more alone.

The moon stands by me
and gives me a hopeful light
With each strike of lightening
I regret each mistake in my life.

What images do you see in the poems that are also present in the art work?

What Do You Recommend?

My hobbies are enjoying interesting books, movies, and music. This time of year there are always lots of cool things that come out for the summer months.
Share a favorite book/movie/song that you enjoy. What makes it special? How does it help you connect to memories? Was it based on a true story?

Teens Ink (www.teensink.com) has reviews written by teens for teens.

The Outsiders by, S.E. Hinton
This book review includes specific details about the way language is used to draw readers into the story. "If you like symbolism, this novel has plenty, but the main one is to “stay gold.” The book has a strong message of staying young and innocent. It teaches us not to create a shell to block emotions and the importance of friendship." (teensink.com, 2011)
The way word choices can relate to a theme in the book is an interesting point. The reviewer, Michael Twinsburg, points out the symbol "stay gold" to show readers a cool feature of the book.

Check out the full review from the link above. Do you agree with Michael Twinsburg that this book sounds like a fun read? What books do you want to read, or have heard great things about?

Should Video Games be Used in Gym?

It's a known fact Video Games have "kid appeal". But should they be used during gym class? Are video games something that you'd like to do or do you prefer real games over virtual games?

Share your opinion on this matter. Here are some online articles and information sources to check out:

Wii used in Physical Education classes This newspaper article highlights how an elementary school uses Wii.

Does Wii provide a replacement for gym class? A teacher research project that studies the effects of Wii on students learning in gym.

Video clip about Wii's Mario Sports Mix Wii video game preview.

The impact of video games on children A health company looks at video game use.

Negative health effects of Video Gaming A blog about gaming computers and technology.

It is true that schools are becoming more equipped with technology.
Are video games during gym class something that you would enjoy, if so what benefits do you see? What are some negative effects or disadvantages to using video games in place of other gym activities?

Xpression: Creative Writing and Art

"Art is literacy of the heart", said Elliot Eisner. (www.princetonol.com) Similar to creative writing, art shows personal ideas and opinions about the world.
Here's a video that shows Walking Across the Atlantic by, Billy Collins.
The famous painting on the right is called The Figure 5 in Gold by, American Painter Charles Dumuths.

Artists and Writers often work together to bring scenes to life. Charles Dumuths got the idea for this modern painting when he read a poem by Carlos Williams. This poem was called The Great Figure
and it reads,

"Among the rain and lights
I saw the figure 5
in gold on a red
firetruck
moving tense
unheeded
to gong clangs
siren howls
and wheels rumbling
through the dark city."

Source: http://www.poets.org

The poem uses imagery of "wheels rumbling through the dark city" and "the figure 5 in gold". The picture shows a 5 fading into the distance. As the fire truck races down the street it also fades into the background.

Details in this poem allow the reader to see a different interpretation or a new image then the one seen in the painting alone. As Poet Robert Creely said, "Any person reading what I've written and seeing what he's made is moving back and forth between two emotional fields"
Source: http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/5932
Those two "emotional fields" go hand and hand; paintings and poems.

Check out this website,
The Poet Speaks of Art to find some other art work and poems.
What other websites show visual or graphic art that you like? How do you feel about the connection between art and writing?