Week of 28 April Subject Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Grade 9 English +-15 min +-15 min +-15 min +-45min Watch this video or read the story Read the War and Peas cartoon. Look at the writing prompt and write entitled “The Greek Myth of Talos, the something from your own life, past or First Robot” What visual clues tell you the robot present, that this illustration makes you is scared? think of — or use your imagination to Which king had Talos created? Why is the robot crying for help? write the opening of a short story or How did Talos protect the island? What point is the cartoon making poem from the perspective of one of the What is ichor? about dogs? people pictured. What was the weak point of Talos’s design? Extension (optional): draw your own Extension (optional): read the article Modern science fiction stories often cartoon, featuring an animal’s perspective that goes with the image. imagine that machines, robots, and of humans Artificial Intelligence will develop Remember to read something you enjoy minds of their own and make Remember to read something you enjoy today!! decisions without human input. How today!! does the ancient science fiction tale of Talos fit in with these ideas?
Extension (optional): learn more about Jason and the Argonauts here (video)
Remember to read something you enjoy today!! Tuesday The Greek myth of Talos, the first robot Hephaestus, god of technology, was hard at work on his most ingenious invention yet. He was creating a new defense system for King Minos, who wanted fewer intruders on his island kingdom of Crete. But mortal guards and ordinary weapons wouldn’t suffice, so the visionary god devised an indomitable new defender. In the fires of his forge, Hephaestus cast his invention in the shape of a giant man. Made of gleaming bronze; endowed with superhuman strength, and powered by ichor, the life fluid of the gods, this automaton was unlike anything Hephaestus had forged before. The god named his creation Talos: the first robot. Three times a day, the bronze guardian marched around the island's perimeter searching for interlopers. When he identified ships approaching the coast, he hurled massive boulders into their path. If any survivors made it ashore, he would heat his metal body red-hot and crush victims to his chest. Talos was intended to fulfill his duties day after day, with no variation. But despite his robotic behavior, he possessed an internal life his victims could scarcely imagine. And soon, the behemoth would encounter a ship of invaders that would test his mettle. The bedraggled crew of Jason, Medea, and the Argonauts were returning from their hard- won quest to retrieve the Golden Fleece. Their adventure had taken many dark turns, and the weary sailors were desperate to rest in a safe harbor. They’d heard tales of Crete’s invulnerable bronze colossus, and made for a sheltered cove. But before they could even drop anchor, Talos spotted them. While the Argonauts cowered at the approach of the awesome automaton, the sorceress Medea spotted a glinting bolt on the robot’s ankle— and devised a clever gambit. Medea offered Talos a bargain: she claimed that she could make Talos immortal in exchange for removing the bolt. Medea's promise resonated deep within his core. Unaware of his own mechanical nature, and human enough to long for eternal life, Talos agreed. While Medea muttered incantations, Jason removed the bolt. As Medea suspected, the bolt was a weak point in Hephaestus’ design. The ichor flowed out like molten lead, draining Talos of his power source. The robot collapsed with a thunderous crash, and the Argonauts were free to travel home. This story, first recorded in roughly 700 BCE, raises some familiar anxieties about artificial intelligence— and even provides an ancient blueprint for science fiction. But according to historians, ancient robots were more than just myths. By the 4th century BCE, Greek engineers began making actual automatons including robotic servants and flying models of birds. None of these creations were as famous as Talos, who appeared on Greek coins, vase paintings, public frescoes, and in theatrical performances. Even 2,500 years ago, Greeks had already begun to investigate the uncertain line between human and machine. And like many modern myths about artificial intelligence, Talos’ tale is as much about his robotic heart as it is about his robotic brain. Illustrating the demise of Talos on a vase of the fifth century BCE, one painter captured the dying automaton’s despair with a tear rolling down his bronze cheek. Available from: https://www.ted.com/talks/adrienne_mayor_the_greek_myth_of_talos_the_first_robot/transcript?l anguage=en (accessed 27 April, 2020)
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Week of 4 May Subject Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Grade 9 English +-15 min +-15 min +-15 min +-15 min +-15 min +-1hr15min Read the article “Top Read the explanation of Read the poem “The Read the explanation of Look at the writing tips for success in what a relative pronoun Diver” what a portmanteau is. prompt and write a distance learning.” is. paragraph about what What two words you think the image is Write down a Join the following simile from the were the following saying. In your own words, sentences using the poem portmanteaus made write a summary of relative pronoun in What are the from? Extension (optional): - skort the article, which brackets (you must “string of pearls” read the article that goes - brunch you could share write out the whole bubbling at his with the image. - ginormous with your friends to sentence). side? - frenemy help them with - The player scored the Remember to read Write down an Can you think of distance learning. winning goal. They something you enjoy example of your own example of today!! won the best player alliteration from a portmanteau? trophy last year. the poem. The words “there” Extension (optional): (who) How does the and “their” are often create an infographic - My phone broke. I diver feel about mixed up. Write a (with an image and a few got it for my birthday. coming back to the sentence for each key words for each (which) surface? How do word to show the point) from the - My cousin lives in you know? difference between information Durban. Her friend them. became an influencer. Extension (optional): listen to the poem read Extension (optional): Remember to read Extension (optional): here (video) what new word(s) have something you enjoy learn the difference you learned since the today!! between “who” and Remember to read start of the pandemic? “whom” here (video) something you enjoy Write them down with a definition. today!! Remember to read something you enjoy Remember to read today!! something you enjoy today!! Monday Top tips for success in distance learning If this is your first experience with distance learning and you’re unsure of how to structure your days for success, you need to adopt good habits early on to succeed in online learning. Thriving through a change is tough but doable with a positive attitude. A positive attitude about online learning is the best gift you can give yourself. Everything you learn, whether it’s your most favourite or least favourite subject, will help you grow as a person. Creating an orderly learning space to do schoolwork will put you ahead of the game. Be sure you have room for everything you need at your workspace. Label folders to hold papers and notes for each subject. Create a monthly planner to plan your schedule and create your “to do” list, with items ranked in order of priority. While distance blended learning school do give you a more flexible schedule, having a routine will help keep you on track with your schoolwork. Naturally, you can vary your schedule when needed. To make great things happen in your life, it helps to set goals for yourself. Think about what you’d like to accomplish, both short and long term. Is there a class you want to improve on this term? Be sure to put your goals in writing and post the list where you’ll see it often. Start on track and stay on track. It’s always better to be ahead than to be struggling at the last minute! Break down big projects into small, manageable parts—and give each one a deadline. Don’t drag your feet—make yourself do things on time and you’ll be better off in the long run. You will spend a lot of time in front of your books. So scheduling physical fitness into the day is also important. Physical exercise can boost mood, energy, and brainpower. You won’t even have to leave the living room with the many online exercise videos available on social channels like Instagram and YouTube. Every person who succeeds has had to struggle to get there. When you have an argument with a friend, or experience other frustrations, realise that this is a learning experience. Talk to someone to get another point of view—you could be worried about something that’s pretty small in the long run. To move forward, you must take responsibility for what you’ve done (or not done) and decide to change your behaviour in the future. Making a plan for achieving greater success in the future will help you build confidence too! Adapted from: https://www.connectionsacademy.com/support/resources/article/8-top-tips-for-student- success-in-online-school (accessed 27 April 2020)
Tuesday Relative pronouns are a type of pronoun (a word, like “her”, which replaces a noun, for example “Xabisa”). It not only replaces a noun (or another pronoun) in the sentence, it also joins clauses in a sentence. For example: Nomahlubi has a sister, who goes to Herbert Hurd (the “who” replaces the “she” and joins the two clauses). Other relative pronouns (besides “who”) are “which”, “that”, “whose” or “whom”.
Wednesday The Diver by Ian Serraillier
I put on my aqua-lung and plunge, Exploring like a ship with a glass keel*, The secrets of the deep. Along my lazy road On and on I steal* – Over waving bushes which at a touch explode 5 Into shrimps, then closing rock to the tune of the tide; Over crabs that vanish in puffs of sand. Look, a string of pearls bubbling at my side Breaks in my hand – Those pearls were my breath ... Does that hollow hide 10 Some old Armada* wreck in seaweed furled, Crusted with barnacles, her cannon rusted, The great San Philip? What bullion in her hold? Pieces of eight, silver crowns, and bars of solid gold?
I shall never know. Too soon the clasping cold 15 Fastens on flesh and limb And pulls me to the surface. Shivering, back I swim To the beach, the noisy crowds, the ordinary world.
*keel: the bottom of a ship *steal: move quietly and cautiously *Armada: the Spanish fleet of ships
Thursday Portmanteaus are combinations of two or more words and their meanings into a brand new word. A portmanteau is not the same as a compound word, because it is a completely new word based on two words (conversensation) rather than two words joined together (starfish).
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