Today we will be viewing The Man Who Planted Trees.

 

It is a short story published in 1953 by French author Jean Giono. An allegorical tale, it tells the story of one shepherd's long and successful single-handed effort to re-forest a desolate valley in the foothills of the Alps in Provence throughout the first half of the 20th century. It was written in French, but first published in English.

 

It was adapted as an animated short by Frédéric Back and released in 1987. It earned a number of awards including an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film.

 

Watch the animated short, and thoughtfully answer the following questions in complete sentences. You will be marked on the quality of your written expression. Each question will be worth two marks.

 

1. Who was Elzéard Bouffier?

 

2. What was his character like?

 

3. What did he do in his life?

 

4. What obstacles did he have to overcome?

 

5. After planting acorns, what did Elzeard do with his time? 

 

6. Are “trees” used metaphorically in the story?

 

7. Write a theme statement for the film. What can we learn?  

 

 

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTvYh8ar3tc

 

Explore 2022: Welcome

 Hello Explore students, 

Welcome to Mr. Miller's blog.  Work will be posted here occasionally, especially when we start heading out on trips.  Today we will continue reading the novel, Tuesday's with Morrie. Please complete your sentence assignment before starting the rough draft your tribute letter, which we will discuss in class. 

Here is your daily dose of grammar:

Daily Dose # 45

 

Correct the following sentence.  The referee is a cold fish who always has an axe to

grind.

 

(Consistency—don’t use too many figures of speech or switch suddenly from literal

to figurative speech)  The referee is a cold fish who always has a selfish motive.

 

 

Daily Dose # 46

 

Define the following two words: all ready    already

 

all ready: everything is ready     already: by this time

 

Daily Dose # 47 

 

Define the following two words: allusion    illusion

 

allusion: an indirect reference to something     illusion: a deception

 

The Man Who Planted Trees

Today we will be viewing The Man Who Planted Trees.

It is a short story published in 1953 by French author Jean Giono. An allegorical tale, it tells the story of one shepherd's long and successful single-handed effort to re-forest a desolate valley in the foothills of the Alps in Provence throughout the first half of the 20th century. It was written in French, but first published in English.

It was adapted as an animated short by Frédéric Back and released in 1987. It earned a number of awards including an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film.

Watch the animated short, and thoughtfully answer the following questions in complete sentences. You will be marked on the quality of your written expression. Each question will be worth two marks.

1. Who was Elzéard Bouffier?

2. What was his character like?

3. What did he do in his life?

4. What obstacles did he have to overcome?

5. What were the results of Bouffier’s work? 

6. Are “trees” used metaphorically in the story?

7. Does the story have a message about life? 

8. How did the story make you feel?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTvYh8ar3tc

"Saturday Climbing"

 "Saturday Climbing" by W. D. Valgardson

 

 

1.   Give one example of conflict in the story. What type of conflict is it? Write two to three sentences and provide at least one quote to support your thoughts (Hint: quotes use quotation marks).

 

2.   “Life seeks balance” is a theme statement for this story. Using evidence from the text, give an example that highlights the theme.

 

3.   In this story, Moira and her father share some successes and conflicts, as well as feelings of tension because of her wanting to move on and her father not wanting to let go. Describe a recent conflict you have had with your parent(s) or guardian(s) (2-3 paragraphs).

 

"The Brass Teapot"

 Questions for the story "The Brass Teapot"

1. List the following details for this story:

• Protagonist
• Antagonist
• Conflict
• Climax
• Point of View

2. The final line of the story, "we could buy our way into paradise" is an example of dramatic irony. Explain why.
3. Can you think of anything in our society that would drive someone to act like John and Alice do in this story? What might the teapot symbolize in that situation?
4. Go back and read the start of the story about how they acquire the teapot. What do you know now that you have finished the story that was not obvious before?

"The Kayak"

 “The Kayak” by Debbie Spring

 

1.   What is it that Teresa most desires? Use evidence from the text to support your answer.

2.   Why did Teresa start to head for shore?

3.   What does the author's use of italics indicate?

4.   Which literary device is used in the line, "you don't know what it's like being so helpless."

5.   What does Jamie's remark, "Bring the marshmallows" suggest about the way he thinks of Teresa?

 

Empathy

As we continue to study resilience, lets learn the difference between sympathy and empathy. As mentioned in class, everyone has a story. Watch this short clip from Brene Brown.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Evwgu369Jw

Group discussion to follow.

English 11-Short Stories

 

“Hills Like White Elephants” by Ernest Hemingway

 

 

1.     Read the story first for pleasure.

2.     Your second reading should be an investigation to see what is going on. It is rich with symbolism, so take notes and pay attention to details such as the dry hills, the bead curtain, and the station.

3.     Draw and label a picture or diagram of the setting. Where is everything? Get a layout of the land.

4.    Write a one-paragraph literary analysis. Put your thoughts to paper. Plan your writing and start with an outline. It should include:

 

·      A solid introduction (author’s name, the title of the story, and a topic sentence)

·      Three main points with supporting details (quotes)

·      A solid concluding statement (three to four sentences)

 

Need help…Start with something like this:

     In Hemingway’s short story “Hills Like White Elephants,” the author uses setting, imagery, and theme to create a story with deep meaning.

 

Hand in outline (5), setting illustration (10), and paragraph (15).

 

 

 

 Work for Friday, Jan. 8th

Today we will be viewing The Man Who Planted Trees.

It is a short story published in 1953 by French author Jean Giono. An allegorical tale, it tells the story of one shepherd's long and successful single-handed effort to re-forest a desolate valley in the foothills of the Alps in Provence throughout the first half of the 20th century. It was written in French, but first published in English.

It was adapted as an animated short by Frédéric Back and released in 1987. It earned a number of awards including an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film.

Watch the animated short, and thoughtfully answer the following questions in complete sentences. You will be marked on the quality of your written expression. Each question will be worth two marks.

1. Who was Elzéard Bouffier?

2. What was his character like?

3. What did he do in his life?

4. What obstacles did he have to overcome?

5. What were the results of Bouffier’s work? 

6. Are “trees” used metaphorically in the story?

7. Does the story have a message about life? 

8. How did the story make you feel?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTvYh8ar3tc

"The Kayak"

 

“The Kayak” by Debbie Spring

 

1.   What is it that Teresa most desires? Use evidence from the text to support your answer.

2.   Why did Teresa start to head for shore?

3.   What does the author's use of italics indicate?

4.   Which literary device is used in the line, "you don't know what it's like being so helpless."

5.   What does Jamie's remark, "Bring the marshmallows" suggest about the way he thinks of Teresa?

 

 

"Saturday Climbing" by W.D. Valgardson

 

 

1.   Give one example of conflict in the story. What type of conflict is it? Write two to three sentences and provide at least one quote to support your idea.

 

2.   Notice the character development in this story. The top of page 54 reveals a great example of this. Read from, "she had frizzy dark hair, …"

 

Write a descriptive passage of your own character. It can be a real or fictitious person. Use the passage to help with your own writing. Draw a picture if you are inclined!

 

3.   On page 55, Valgardseon writes, "Gradually, as a dozen Saturdays passed, what had seemed impossible was reduced to the merely difficult."

 

Think back to your own life experiences and make a connection to this statement. What challenge have you overcome?

 

4.   In this story, Moira and her father share some success, conflict and the tension between her moving on and her father not wanting to let go. Describe a recent experience you have had with your parents or guardians.

 

5.   What is an aphorism? Give an example.

 

6.   The line, “The world seeks balance” is a possible theme in this story. Why do you think that is?

 

Daily Grammar 16-25

 

 

Daily Dose # 16

 

Define the colon and describe its uses.

 

The colon is a mark of expectation or addition. Major uses are to: introduce lists or tabulations; introduce

a word or phrase; precede an example or clarification of an idea suggested before the colon; to introduce

a long or formal quotation; act as a separating mark in special situations (letters, time, stating

proportions, titles of books, acts verses, etc.)

 

 

Daily Dose # 17

 

Define the dash and describe its uses.

 

The dash is an emphatic mark that usually indicates an interruption of thought, a sharp break

or a shift in thought. Uses are to: introduce a word or group that you wish to emphasize; a break

in thought; to set off distinguished parenthetical material.

 

Daily Dose # 18

 

Define quotation marks and describe the placement of end punctuation with quotation marks.

 

Quotation marks enclose words, phrases, clauses, sentences and paragraphs indicating the

beginning and ending of material being repeated or quoted. The comma and period always

come inside quotation marks. Question marks, exclamation points and dashes come outside

quotation marks unless they are part of the quotation. The semicolon and colon always go outside

quotation marks.

 

Daily Dose # 19

 

Describe the uses of the apostrophe.

 

The apostrophe is a mark of punctuation and a spelling symbol. It indicates omission

of a letter or letters (wasn’t, can’t, he’s); forms the possessive case of a noun

(the horse’s saddle, the boys’ clubhouse).

 

Daily Dose # 20

 

What is a verb?

 

A verb is a word that specifies actions or events that take place in time or a relation between two things.

 

Daily Dose # 21

 

What is an adjective?

 

An adjective modifies a noun or pronoun by describing, limiting or making it more exact; it may

indicate quality or quantity. There are three general types: descriptive, limiting, proper

 

Daily Dose # 22

 

Give an example.

 

descriptive (yellow, wide house), limiting (third, several boys), proper (Canadian policy).

 

Daily Dose # 23

 

What is an adverb?

 

An adverb modifies a verb, an adjective or other adverb by describing or limiting to

make meaning more precise; often have an –ly ending.

Generally tell how, when, why, where, how

often and how much.

 

Daily Dose # 24

 

Give an example.

 

quickly ran, moved sideways, he treated us kindly

 

Daily Dose # 25

 

What is a conjunction?

 

 

A conjunction is a linking word used to connect words or groups of words in a sentence.

Write two examples from each category.

 

Coordinating: and, but, for, or, nor, yet, neither, either,

Subordinating: since, because, as, while, so that, although, unless

Correlative: both/and, either/or, neither/nor, so/as, not only/but also

 

Daily Dose # 26

 

What is a preposition?

 

 

A preposition is a linking word used before a noun or pronoun to show its relationship

to some other word in the sentence; usually indicate a location.

 

Examples:

 

above, in, at, down, onto, over, upon, toward, within, for, except

 

 

 

Daily Grammar

 

Daily Dose # 9

Nouns can be made by simply adding -ing to a verb. The result is a gerund, or a verb functioning as a noun.

·        Swimming is a healthy exercise

·        Healthy exercise includes swimming.

 

Daily Dose # 10

Similarly, an infinitive, a verb in its infinitive form (the base verb plus to), can be a noun:

·        To swim is healthy

·        Her goal is to become a veterinarian.

 

 

When reading or hearing an unfamiliar word, or working with words, it might be helpful to remember that some nouns have distinct

endings; here are some of them:

-ment (resentment, government, parliament)

-ism (communism, liberalism)

-ness (happiness, wellness)

-tion (multiplication, domestication)

-ty (equality, fraternity)

-ence or ance (independence, indifference, temperance, deliverance)

 

Daily Dose # 11

Define a noun.

 

  

A noun designates or names a person, place, or thing; a quality, idea or action; an event or point in time.

 

Daily Dose # 12

 

Write down the nouns in the following sentence:  Albert met his sisters’ best friend, a pretty girl.

 Albert met his sisters’ best friend, a pretty girl.  (Persons)

 

 

Daily Dose # 13

Write down the nouns in the following sentence:  Her pride suffered because of her forgetfulness, but his courtesy brought her happiness. (Qualities)

 

  

Daily Dose # 14

 

Write down the nouns in the following sentence: She sold her car to the man from Detroit on Saturday. (Combo)

 

 

 

Daily Dose # 15

 

Define the semicolon and describe its uses.

 

The semicolon is a mark of separation; it is never used to introduce, enclose or terminate a statement. Uses are: to separate independent clauses not joined by a simple conjunction; to separate clauses joined by a conjunctive adverb (also, besides, however, for example, otherwise, thus, therefore, still); between independent clauses that are lengthy or contain internal punctuation; to separate phrases and clauses of considerable length and also series of words that need complete clarity.

 

 

Conjunctive adverb example: We regret selling all of the blue shirts; however, we still have some white ones.

 

In a series: Here is what you need in life; money, health, and ambition.

 

Daily Dose # 16

 

Define the colon and describe its uses.

 

The colon is a mark of expectation or addition. Major uses are to: introduce lists or tabulations; introduce a word or phrase; precede an example or clarification of an idea suggested before the colon; to introduce a long or formal quotation; act as a separating mark in special situations (letters, time, stating proportions, titles of books, acts verses, etc.)