6th grade will begin prepping for LAD Fair with a short unit on poetry. The curated poems will help students to answer the question “How do we forge an identity?” Over the course of the two week unit, students will examine a grouping of poems that discuss identity in some form or fashion. Through comparison/contrast and literary analysis, students will be able to determine not only what identity is, but how it might be created. The unit will culminate in the writing of their own poems about identity and will contain an accompanying mini essay explaining their poem and the choices within.
7th/8th grade continues with “Fahrenheit 451” after finishing part 1 before the break. They continue to dive deeper into the story of Guy Montag as he grows bolder in his attempts to defy an oppressive social system and strive for personal freedom. In depth analysis questions will follow the completion of part 2 later this week. LAD Fair will also be discussed and students can begin turning their attention toward what pieces they might wish to create and submit.
High School continue with “The Great Gatsby” reading and analysis. Jay Gatsby’s mask has started to fall away and the students are getting a glimpse of what the “Roaring 20’s” are like without the shiny veneer with which it has been presented thus far. As the world of Gatsby continues to unravel, students will be able to further analyze the larger themes of the novel such as “Is the American Dream real?” and “What are the true consequences for falsely constructing and manipulating an identity?” The latter being of particular relevance in a world with social media at students’ fingertips. Gatsby continues to be relevant even as it approaches it’s 100th anniversary in 2025.
