Abbey Quote from Wednesday's Starter

“One final paragraph of advice: do not burn yourselves out. Be as I am - a reluctant enthusiast....a part-time crusader, a half-hearted fanatic. Save the other half of yourselves and your lives for pleasure and adventure. It is not enough to fight for the land; it is even more important to enjoy it. While you can. While it’s still here. So get out there and hunt and fish and mess around with your friends, ramble out yonder and explore the forests, climb the mountains, bag the peaks, run the rivers, breathe deep of that yet sweet and lucid air, sit quietly for a while and contemplate the precious stillness, the lovely, mysterious, and awesome space. Enjoy yourselves, keep your brain in your head and your head firmly attached to the body, the body active and alive, and I promise you this much; I promise you this one sweet victory over our enemies, over those desk-bound men and women with their hearts in a safe deposit box, and their eyes hypnotized by desk calculators. I promise you this; You will outlive the bastards.”  ~ Edward Abbey  

Wednesday, April 17th

Today's Topics:  Similes, Abbey and Trout Unlimited!

Objectives:

• Identify simile in others’ writing and create your own.
• Critique Abbey's use of the Grand Style, sense of place and environmental ethic.
• Learn about the nation’s largest and oldest river conservation organization, Trout Unlimited,  through the presentation of Ty Churchwell. 

Starter:
Respond to the Abbey quote in your journal

Agenda

1. Mini-lesson on writing visually with similes and analogies.   Read the handout on similes and analogies (pages 3-4 only of online version).

 IN YOUR JOURNAL:
a.  What is the difference between similes and analogies?
b.  Create your own simile or analogy in describing a specific object in an environment that is important to you OR a machine that represents a form of energy production. 
c.  Based on yesterday's Abbey reading, what is Jessie Dvirnak's middle name?

*If you are stuck, choose one of  these photographs or search for google images of city landscapes or wilderness landscapes that inspire you.

2. Partner Analysis and Critique on Edward Abbey readings
3. Guest speaker: Ty Churcwell from Trout Unlimited 

Homework

Inspiration Journal Assignments!!

Tuesday, April 16th

Today's Topic:  Elements of Nature Writing and Abbey!

Objectives
1. Understand the 5 elements of nature writing

2.  Critique writing by Edward Abbey in his description of sense of place, perception of the 

relationship between man/technology and nature and his environmental ethics. 

Starter
Read the handout on elements of nature writing (page 1 and 2 only for online version) and answer the questions on the backside at the bottom of page #2.


Agenda
1. Introduction to Edward Abbey and overview of reading/annotation reqs

* Scroll down on this website to listen to a  short reading by Abbey from his essay "Freedom and Wilderness, Wilderness and Freedom"


Links to the Two Abbey Readings:
1. Desert Solitaire pdf: ·         https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B2QC-culCKvHc05NaF9VOFNQOVk&usp=sharing

2. "Freedom and Wilderness": https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B2QC-culCKvHc05NaF9VOFNQOVk&usp=sharing

Announcements

• Desert camping trip meeting today at lunch
• Honors seminar today at x-block
• Quiz corrections due by Friday
• Database of Links to Examples of Writing, Film, Photography (inspiration)

Homework:
Inspiration Journal Assignments (Due Monday 4/22)

Monday, April 15th

Topic: Introduction to Sense of Place and Elements of "Nature" Writing

Today's Objectives

1. Understand what sense of place means and see examples of how writers and filmmakers define and describe sense of place.

2. Creative Writing: Analyze how your perspective shapes how you feel about and describe place/people/objects and be able to express that perspective in detail. 

Starter:

Take the survey (below) and get out your inspiration journal

Agenda:

1. Discuss project learning objectives and this week's agenda

2. Powerpoint on Sense of Place

3. Critique Vimeos
4. Respond to Sense of Place Essays

5. Creative Writing prompt

Sense of Place Essays from Orion Magazine

• "The Backcountry" by Will Flemer
• “‘The Bluffs,’Pacific Palisades, CA” by Caroline Kanne
•   “Oakland, CA” by Phoenix Smith ·    

Announcements:

• Envt Ethics Quiz make-ups + quiz grades 
• Maureen meeting sign-up
• Meeting times with Elaine
• Desert Camping trip meeting Tuesday during lunch
• Honors: 
• Turn in Half the Sky seminar prep
• Seminar tomorrow during X-block

Envt Ethics Quiz Correction Guidelines:

You can make-up the quiz by correcting your mistakes with complete answers.  You will receive up to 5 additional points. These are due by the end of this week.  

Homework:

All 4 out-of-class journal assignments are due next Monday, April 22nd.
Instructions for the Inspiration Journal Assignment: Click HERE

Thursday, April 11th

Today's Topic:  Uranium Mining in Naturita  and Artistic Reactions to Interaction between Man and Nature 

Learning Goals: 

• Understand the concepts of Innovation and Mutation (both forms of ADAPTATION) to the way we've changed nature

• See examples of how artists perceive and react to nuclear energy.

• Evaluate the impact of energy development on one place (Naturita Uranium mill pro/con)

Starter:  

• What was yesterday's powerpoint about?  Summarize what you remember from it.
• Email me your Pinon Ridge Mill Notes!

Agenda

1. Review the goals and finish Powerpoint on Adaptation and History of Nuclear Power
2. Pinon Ridge Mill Town Hall Meeting Debate

3. Review Intro to Creative Writing ppt (and "Tips)

4. Creative writing- tell a story about ONE of these pictures here.

5. Go over inspiration journal assignment requirement

Homework:

Bring an "inspiration journal" to class on Monday.
Instructions for the Inspiration Journal Assignment: Click HERE

Wednesday, April 10th

Today's Topic:  Environmental Adaptation and Attitudes toward Nuclear Power

Starter:  

What questions do you have about this news report?  What additional information do you know about Chernobyl?  Does this make you concerned about nuclear power?

Agenda:
1. Quiz!

2. Powerpoint on Adaptation and History of Nuclear Power as well as artists reactions to nuclear power.


Videos used in class today:


What was the attitude toward nuclear chemistry in 1953? 


What is the attitude now?



Them! (1954)  Is radiation creating MUTANTS (either in human form or plant/animal/insect?)

Nuclear Testing on Pigs

Operations Crossroads (1946)

Tuesday, April 9th

Today's Topic:  Nuclear Power and Renewable Energy

Objectives:
1.  Finish Justice and Sustainability lesson and make sure you understand these two concepts
2. Evaluate pros/cons of nuclear power and renewable energy

Agenda:
1. 30  minutes to finish Justice and Sustainability activity from yesterday + work on homework for Thursday
2.  Class discussion on Justice and Sustainability activities
3. Guest Speaker: Eric Wanless on Nuclear Power and Renewable Energy

Homework: 
Same as yesterday (See yesterday's DP for the link to the homework form)!  Due Thursday.

Announcements:

• Submit your stations activity from last week and the Justice and Sustainability reading responses.
• Check out the "General Resource" google doc.  Add to this as you find resources for debate prep in Chem.  
• Desert Camping Trip-  open to all juniors!!  Please chat with me if you are interested or have questions.