Friday, September 27, 2013

Photo Practical (Summative)


PHOTO SUMMATIVE PART I
DIRECTIONS:
Take a photo to answer each one of the questions below.  Remember to TAKE YOUR TIME in setting up your shot. 


1.      What is in the frame and what is not in the frame?
2.     Where is the light coming from?
3.     How far away or how close up do I have to be to take this photo?
4.     Where is the horizon line?
5.     What would happen if I took one step to the right?
6.     Where is there repetition in line or shape?
7.     How can I capture texture?
8.     What can I do in this picture to create layers (things in the foreground, middle-ground, and background)?


PHOTO SUMMATIVE PART II
DIRECTIONS:

Choose one of your photographs and upload it to Flickr.  Save it to the set called “Photo Practical.”  Next, click on “You” then “Organize.” At the bottom of the screen drag your photo into the gray area in the middle of the screen.  Your photo should pop up in the upper left-hand corner of the screen.  Click on “edit photos” in the upper left hand corner of the tool bar and click on “Title, tags, and descriptions.”
Once there, write the following:


1.     Write a title for your photo in the “Title” space.
2.     Describe the composition choices you made when taking this photo (which question did you answer, and how did you answer it in this photo?) in the “Description” space.  Use the class’ photo composition terms where applicable.
3.     Add your first and last name, no spaces, in the “Tags” space.

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Brooklyn History Lesson 9.24.2013

Welcome documentary photographer Erica Macdonald!

AimHow do photographers use composition to capture their ideas about a subject?

Do Now: Now that you have taken some photographs yourself, write down one or two questions that you can ask a professional photographer. 

AGENDA:
1.Introduce the day and our guest speaker: Erica Macdonald
2.In conversation: A look through the photographs of Erica Macdonald
3.A discussion of some of your own photographs
6.Summary and Q & A

HW:  
1. Write an answer to the Aim question based on the visit by Erica Macdonald and your notes.  
2.  Go to the BK History Flickr page.  Choose someone's set of photos to look through and choose ONE photo you feel has strong composition.  We will be sharing student photographs in class tomorrow.

Questions that might help you get started on your Personal Narrative! 9.23.2013


1.Do I want to follow David Gonzalez’ model and write/reflect on a specific neighborhood that is important to me? If so, what neighborhood?

Brainstorm a list of reasons this neighborhood is important to me.

2. Do I want to follow Colson Whitehead’s example and talk about NYC in a more general way? Trying to define what it means to be a New Yorker and what my “private NYC” is…

Brainstorm a list of places/experience that I want t write about

3. Where can I use imagery and sensory language in my piece?

4. What personal anecdotes can I use in my piece?

5. Where can I include reflection in my piece?

6. Who is my audience?

Monday, September 23, 2013

Photo Assignment: Unit 1 - How can photographs capture our perceptions of NYC? Due Tuesday, October 24th


After examining the work of several NYC photographers for style and subject matter, take 5 photographs of your New York City that demonstrate your own relationship to the city.  For each photograph try to use one of the following techniques/terms when planning the photo.


PHOTO COMOPOSITION TERMS:
(Or – how to sound smart when looking at art)

Composition – how the image is set up (for example, what is in the foreground, middle-ground, background), what you choose to put in the frame

Foreground – What is in the front of the photograph

Background – What is in the back of the photograph

Frame – The borders of the shot.  The frame dictates what you include or exclude in your shot.

Juxtaposition – Setting one item in your frame next to another to highlight their differences (example: old and new, tall and short, light and dark)

Contrast – The lights and darks in your shot (example: shadow and light, light building next to a dark one)

Angle – Taking the photo from above, below, to the side, a long shot, close-up or straight on to highlight what is in the image (example, a long, lonely road from its center, or a tall building looking up from below)

Personal Narrative (Summative Assignment) Due Friday, September 27th


Unit 1:  Growing Up in New York, Then and Now

In this unit, students will read and examine stories and essays written or presented by several New Yorkers.  They will consider how each writer defines what is like to live in New York and what it means to be a New Yorker, as well as the intended audience for each piece and the writer’s craft.  The students will consider their relationship to the place in which they live and compare it to the writers’ experiences.  They will take initial photographs of their neighborhoods, documenting the character and places of interest. Then students will craft a personal narrative piece that answers the question “What is my relationship to NYC?  How is my identity shaped by where I am from and where I live?” How does my NYC experience shape my priorities for the city?

Summative Assessment:  My New York writing piece and photo illustration

How do writers communicate their experiences of being a New Yorker?  After reading and analyzing personal essays by several New Yorkers describing their perceptions and relationships to where they live, write a narrative from your own perspective of living in New York that addresses your relationship to the city, and how living here shapes your identity.   Use imagery and sensory language to develop a narrative effect in your work.   Include personal anecdotes, reflection and details to support your ideas about what it means to live in the city.

How can photographs capture our perceptions of NYC?  After examining the work of several NYC photographers for style and subject matter, take 5 photographs of your New York City that demonstrate your own relationship to the city.  
Anchor Texts:  Colossus of New York, Colson Whitehead; The Bronx Remembered slideshow, David Gonzalez; + 1 from the immigrant experience

Guidelines:
  • The assignment should be 2 pages minimum and 4 pages maximum.
  • Typed and double spaced
  • Make sure to give your piece a title.
  • Students must print out a hard copy.

Sunday, September 15, 2013

BK History Lesson - 9.19.2013


Lesson Four:

AIM: How do photographers communicate their experiences

Do Now: 
Think about your neighborhood and David Gonzalez’ slide show.  What are 2 – 3 photographs you could take that would capture your neighborhood?

HW: Choose one of these photographs and use detailed imagery to describe it in order that your classmates can picture it.

AGENDA:
  1. Do Now
  2. Do Now Share
  3. Hand out photo assignment and discuss (Due on Tuesday)
  4. Explain:  Just like we look at different writes writing styles, we have to look at different photography styles
  5. In groups look at pictures. Use the books and the LES Slideshow
  6. Students come up and present their chosen image in their group
  7. Mike introduces photo terms

BK History Lesson - 9.18.2013

Lesson Three




AIM: How do writers use reflection to communicate the meaning of their experiences?



DO NOW: Share your commute description with the person next to you. Be prepared to discuss your partner’s anecdote with the whole class. We will collect your HW!



AGENDA:

1. Do Now: Share HW with the person next to you

2. Whole class share of HW (share your partner’s)

3. Introduce David Gonzalez piece

4. Listen and watch

5. Getting to the gist

6. Read, code and annotate looking for reflection and significant moments

7. Listen and read

8. Interpreting the Ideas of the text

9. Open Forum discussion



HW: Brainstorm a list (at least 4) moments you have had in New York where you felt changed afterward (think about David Gonzalez’ example of coming back to the Bronx and having his experience there). Choose one of your ideas and 1) describe the experience, and 2) explain how it changed you.

BK History Unit 1, Lesson 2 - 9.17.2013


Lesson Two:

Aim:  How do you distinguish between what a writer is saying and what a writer is doing?

Do Now:
Jot answers to the following questions in prep for the Open Forum discussion. 
  • What is Colson Whitehead saying about what it means to live in NYC?
  • What is he saying about what it means to be a New Yorker?
  • Where did you like his writing style?  What techniques did he use?

AGENDA:
  1. Do Now: 
  2. Open Forum Discussion
  3. Introduce the note-sheet:  Model the sheet
  4. Author says, Author does, Author means – in class
HW:  Describe an aspect of your commute to school using sensory images (example:  your walk to the subway or from the subway, your ride on the subway etc.)

BK History Unit 1, Lesson 1 - 9.16.2013


BK History
Unit One: Personal Narrative

Lesson One:

AIM:  How do writers communicate their experiences?

DO NOW: 

Vocabulary: 
Anecdote:  A short amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person

Write down one anecdote that you have experienced that could only have happened in New York City.


AGENDA:
  1. Do Now
  2. Do Now Share – highlighting imagery (creating a picture for the reader by using descriptive language), sensory images (include details that bring to life the smells, sounds, touch, sights, and tastes for the reader), reflection (describing the impact something had on you and your idenity)
  3. Review the unit overview – expectations, assignments, summative assessment
  4. Hand out Whitehead reading and begin to read, discuss and code and annotate
  5. Choose a line that  resonates with you and share

HW:  Finish reading, coding and annotating.  Choose a line that most resonates with you.  Open Forum discussion tomorrow

Thursday, September 12, 2013

BK History Lesson 4 - 9.12

Aim: What are the questions we can ask that will help us explain how Brooklyn got to be the way it is?


DO NOW: In your notes, make a T-Chart: 
Observations:
Inferences:
                               
Questions:

Write your observations and inferences of this image, and a level 1, 2, and 3 question.
Come up with a title for the image.
http://maggieblanck.com/Brooklyn/Nov0512a.jpg

VOCABULARY:
CORRELATION:   To establish the mutual relationships of different data
DATA:  Factual information used as a basis for reasoning, discussion, and calculation

AGENDA:
  1. Do now
  2. Do Now share
  3. Introduce next lens: historical
  4. Explain the task:  viewing two historical maps and observing and generating Qs (use Gowanus Canal)
  5. Review Costa’s House and model Level 1, 2, 3 Questions with the map
  6. Students get laptops, handouts, and task to begin
  7. Independent/pair research and question-creation
  8. Stop and share observations as students go along
  9. Write Qs on post-its and stick on Costa’s house
Map 1 Link:


Tuesday, September 10, 2013

BK History 2013 Lesson 3 – 9.11.2013


 Aim:  How has NYC changed under Michael Bloomberg’s tenure as mayor?

DO NOW:   Which of these topics seems the most interesting to you:

1.        Building affordable housing for NYC
2.       New building development in NYC
3.       Who is moving in and out of NYC neighborhoods

AGENDA:
1. Share HW in a discussion reviewing the coding
2. Hand out different readings – by interest (ELL students get shortest reading)
3. Students independently read, code and annotate
4. Hand out Qs and students jot answers
5. Review Open Forum protocol – we will use for any informal whole class discussion from here on out
6. Start Open Forum discussion with readings

Questions for readings (Complete on worksheet)

1.        According to your text, which issues are New Yorkers facing today?
2.       According to your text, how did Mayor Bloomberg attempt to address these issues?
3.       Based on what you have read so far, and any prior knowledge, how important is this issue for the city?

   HW:  Answer AIM Question

BK History Lesson 2 - 9.10.2013


Aim:  How has NYC changed under Michael Bloomberg’s tenure as mayor?

DO NOW:
Answer the following questions in your notebook or on a separate sheet of paper:
1.      How long have you lived in NYC?
2.     What is one thing about the city that has changed since you have lived here?
3.     Would you say that this change has been for the better or for the worse?  Why?

AGENDA:
Do Now
Share HW:  Turn-and-Talk with Questions; and Whole Class
Discuss Do Now answers
Introduce Lens Two:  Current NYC issues
-        Reshaping New York: NY Times interactive  

-        Introduce coding and annotating text with “New York Remade” article from WNYC
-        Independent Work:  Coding and annotating article

HW2:  Finish coding and annotating “New York Remade”.


TURN-and-TALK DIRECTIONS:
1.      To the person or persons next to you, explain who you interviewed, and the questions that you asked.
2.     Which of the answers was most interesting or surprising to you?
3.     How do your interviewee’s answers compare to your own?

Monday, September 9, 2013

9-9-2013 BK History Lesson 1

Course Introduction

How do you see yourself in relation to where you live?  What do you value about NYC and your neighborhood?  What would you like to change?

DO NOW:
Choose ONE of the following questions and free write a response.

1.  Do you see yourself as a New Yorker; a Brooklynite; or something else?  Why?

2.  What do you value about NYC?

3.  What do you value about your neighborhood?

4.  What would you like to change about NYC or your neighborhood?

AGENDA:
Work on Do Now
Discussion of Do Now answers.
Explain HW
Introduce Map Activity
Work on Map Activity
Share ideas and discuss the Map

HW1: DUE TUESDAY, SEPT. 10, 2013
Choose someone to interview using 2 of the questions from class, and one you make up.  Summarize their answers and be prepared to share tomorrow.


MAP ACTIVITY DIRECTIONS:
1.  With the person next to you, come up with several (at least 3) facts about Brooklyn.
2.  After generating facts, come up with several perceptions you hold about Brooklyn.
3.  Choose your strongest fact and write it on the yellow/green post-it.
4.  Choose your most interesting perception and write it on the pink post-it.
5.  Write your name and your neighborhood on the blue post-it.
6.  Come up to the large BK map and place your post-its on the map.