Year 2: Quarter 2
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Catholic SchoolhouseTM Dialectic Level Tutor Guide Year 2: Quarter 2 by Kathy Rabideau Quarter 2 Background Information Language Arts (Literature): Aesop’s Fables— Setting: The fables attributed to Aesop were actually composed over the course of many centuries. Aesop is a semi legendary figure, about whom various stories have been told. All that can be known with any certainty about Aesop is that he was a Phrygian slave who was later freed by his Greek master because of the wit and charm of his stories. All other details about Aesop’s life appear to have been invented after his death. Aesop’s Fables—Plot: As mentioned, Aesop was a slave in ancient Greece. He was a keen observer of both animals and people. Most of the characters in his stories are animals, some of which take on human characteristic and are personified in ways of speech and emotions. However, the majority of his character retain their animalistic qualities; tortoise are slow, hares are quick, tigers eat bird, etc. Aesop uses these qualities and natural tendencies of animals to focus on human traits and wisdom. Each fable has an accompanying moral to be learned from the tale. Religion: Aesop’s Fables—Summary: Each week, you will read and discuss multiple fables using Aesop’s Fables. (Use: https://books.google.com/ books?id=UO0pAQAAMAAJ ) 1. Read the fables one by one. (Do not read the moral listed in the fable until after they have thought of a moral in their own words.) 2. Have the students put the moral in their own words (no more than one sentence in length—see example ideas in parentheses in your weekly plans. Write the moral decided upon by the students on the board. (You will end up with a list of morals—one for each fable—at the end of the lesson.) Then ask for everyday examples of when this moral could be applied. 3. Read and discuss as many fables as allows in the time period (saving the last five minutes for step 4). 4. In the last 5 minutes of the book discussion, see if the scholars can deduce the overall theme/message of all of the fables discussed that day. (One idea for the overall message is listed as the heading for the week in the tutor guide. After deducing the overall message, the Scripture verse with the same message could be read.) Week 7 will be an easy overall message to deduce, and the message will get generally more difficult as time goes on each week. 5. If all fables and the overall message are covered before the time is complete, the students could use any extra time to come up with a new moral that would fit under the same theme and then collaboratively write an original fable which could teach that moral. Note: When the overall message is related to Scripture verses, be sure to discuss how fables are never on the same level as Scripture. Scripture is the Word of God. Fables can just help to remind us of God’s marvelous truths. Language Arts (Grammar) 4x4s of Effective Essays: While the First Quarter focused upon various styles of paragraphs to get the scholars writing in small doses, now the scholar will tackle an essay using the foundation of the 4x4s of Effective Essays to improve their writing skills. The handout provided will explain the overall structure. Religion: Senses of Scripture/Covenants Religion will continue to follow the timeline and mention the covenants as they fit accordingly. Meanwhile, the scholars will discuss the senses of Scripture (much like genres in Language Arts), particularly typology as it tells of what is to come. Speech: Pericles’ Funeral Oration This quarter the students will read the entirety of Pericles’ Funeral Oration; however, they will memorize only a section and give the speech in front of class. This speech comes from Thucydides in The History of the Peloponnesian War which is covered in Week 10. Mathematics: The history and explanation of circles and how they work in math and nature. In this quarter on mathematics Euclid will be referenced as well as Pythagoras. Supplies for the Quarter: History: Timeline Cards, Sample Visual Timeline (accordion fold to fit at back of binder) Literature: Aesop’s Fables Geography: Maps provided on Catholic School House website Language Arts: The 4x4s to Good Writing Handout Religion: Old Testament (Catholic edition), Catechism of the Catholic Church Mathematics: Mathematics Handout on Circles Latin: Vocabulary document Speech: Pericles’ Funeral Oration selections Socratic Seminar: Fishbowl handout Dialectic Level Week 7 Latin Chant: Attende Domine Literature Focus Book: Aesop’s Fables Mathematics: Circles Religion: Five Senses in Sacred Scripture Language Arts: 4x4s of Effective Essays: Style Catholic Scientist: Antoine Lavoisier Speech: Pericles’ Funeral Oration Additional Literature Selections: Herodotus and the Road to History, The Children’s Homer by P. Colum, A Wonder-book for Girls and Boys by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Tanglewood Tales by Nathaniel Hawthorne This week we will begin a new book, Aesop’s Fables, and start with fables that may Introduction be more familiar to the scholars so they can get used to the process. You will read the story to them and have discussion so minimal homework will be required for literature. With this knowledge, more attention at home can be spent on writing a complete essay based upon the 4 x 4s of Effective Essays as well as continuing to read the Old Testament. The scholars should recall the usage tips provided in the last quarter and continue to build on them as they learn about important stylistic, grammatical and technical skills. The new speech, Pericles’ Funeral Oration, occurred during the Peloponnesian War (week 10) and was recorded by Thucydides. By the 5th or 6th century BC, the Athenians held a public funeral for those soldiers who died in war. This speech became not just for the soldiers but a cry for Athens and all that was great about the Greek City-State. Give the scholars this background to help them put in the emotion that would have been expressed during this time. ……………………………………………………………………………………… Teacher should familiarize herself with the story of Elijah and Elisha. Teacher Prep Print maps for the scholars. Print timeline master sheets for the second quarter. Have 4x4’s of Effective Essays handout available. Have a list of essay topics you approve that the scholars can choose. Background Information The Old Testament prophets were the authorized spokesman for God in representing the Covenants. Elijah was a prophet in the northern kingdom of Israel, a kingdom that wanted to develop its own government and separate itself from Jerusalem. That separation lead to the building of other temples and worshiping of gods such as the Canaanite god Baal. Elijah spoke against Ahab and Jezebel and their god Baal. Elijah prophesized a severe drought to the land. Elijah leaves to survive the drought and is fed by a widow and son, whose flour and oil never run out until rain comes again, because of her faith in God and Elijah’s promise that if she feeds him, she will never go hungry. Sadly, her son dies and Elijah is so moved by the woman’s confession he asks God to revive her son to show God’s trustworthiness and the 1 Kings 17:22 son was healed. The widow confessed to her failings whereas Israel did not. This instance is the first recording in Scripture of someone rising from the dead. Elisha is to be Elijah’s suc- cessor and is with him for the last years before his death. Elisha continues to spread God’s good name throughout northern Israel and purified the waters at Jericho so that it would be Note: You are drinkable again. He healed the Syrian military commander Naaman of leprosy. discussing these prophecies, as Isaiah spoke to both kingdoms; Israel did not listen and lost to the Assyrians while Judah well as the cov- listened and was spared from them. The Book of Isaiah then discusses that the Jews will re- enants (Quarter turn to Jerusalem (after the Babylonian Captivity) and they will receive a Messiah who will 1), the promises make Jerusalem the center of God’s rule. The main importance of the book is to that we are (like Gen 3:15) not to fear for the Messiah is coming. These three prophets as well as others often spoke in and the types, which is also parables, just as Jesus will, as a sort of test to see if the people are truly listening to what God discussed in the is asking of them. Rhetoric’s While all this conflict among the people was stirring, the Greeks were continuing to develop Quarter 2 reli- gion Dei Ver- their civilization into City-States, and learning to come together for things like the Olympics bum. Make the to show the strengths in each of those states against the other. They will also show great ad- connection to vancement in architecture, as studied in Art with the Parthenon. In both the Jews and the help promote Greeks, a culture is forming among the various groups of people which shows the im- family unity in portance of family. The bond of family unites the people, just as family unites your home. their studies. The Jews survived the Babylonian Exile because they remained untied and faithful to their customs. Likewise we Catholics should not lose our culture and identity to the ways of the world. from Harry Wong... The First Days of School: How to be an Effective Teacher Students get more done when they see where they are going and what they are doing.