Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Tonight's Essay

Please write three paragraphs - and remember the MLA heading.

Paragraph 1 - The expectations in my relationship with X
Paragraph 2 - How sometimes we fail to live up to those expectations
Paragraph 3 - The steps we take to rebalance our relationship


Thank you!

PS - Awesome quote of the week: "They say that 'I'm sorry' is the hardest thing to say, but I think 'I forgive you' is harder." - Jessica Bachner

God Project

Performance Assessment – The God Unit

You are an artist commissioned to be part of the “GOD” installation, a museum designed to show the many faces of God. Your mission is to create a work of art that the guests will find understandable, meaningful, and moving.

Task 1: Create a prospectus. This will be a proposal of your planned art display, including the names of God you intend to use, the size and media, and an idea of the eventual composition. This part of the assignment will be due on Monday, January 31st.

Task 2: Create a work of art that displays your relationship to, and understanding of, God. The work must include at least 5 names of God (1 that we discussed in class, 3 that are on the distributed list but did not discuss, and 1 that you generated yourself.) The names of God must be readable, but may be in English or in Hebrew, and of any size. The work must also include artistic elements that show your understanding of the nature of God.

Task 3: Write a passage that will accompany the artwork. This will include why you chose the names you did, reasons for artistic decisions such as color, size, relationship of position, artistic additions, etc. This should be at least 1 typed, double spaced page with standard margins and MLA heading.

Task 4: Create a smaller, “About the artist” work and paragraph. This should display God's understanding of you at this time in your life. This part of the project must be 2D.
Tasks 2-4 will be due on February 14th.

Rubric
Out of 100 total points:
Task 1: Prospectus – 10 points
On time – 2 points
MLA format – 2 points
Accurate spelling and grammar – 2 points
Clear and correct summation of what the work will be – 4 points

Task 2: Art Project – 35 points
On time – 5 points
Includes 5 names of God – 10 points
Names of God are correct and readable – 10 points
Work of Art shows effort and artistic sensibility – 10 points

Task 3: Accompanying Explanation - 40 points
On time – 3 points
MLA format – 2 points
Proper Spelling and Grammar – 10 points
Appropriate Length – 5 points
Piece thoroughly explains all artistic decisions – 10 points
Artistic decisions made show depth and understanding – 10 points

Task 4: About the Artist – 15 points
On time – 2 points
MLA/Spelling/Grammar – 3 points
Work shows good self-understanding – 10 points

Friday, January 7, 2011

Monday's Quest

For Monday's quest, you should know:

1. Hebrew vocabulary

2. The content of the answers on the packet

3. How all those answers are tied together.

If you worked diligently in class, and paid attention in today's review, it will be just fine.

The format will be:

1. A vocabulary MATCHING section.

2. A short answer section that is checking for factual recall.

3. A couple of questions designed to check for conceptual understanding.

4. Bonus Questions

Some of you have asked if this will count as a quiz or a test. I have decided to model "מידת רחמים" in my decision. If the grade OVERALL does well, it will be a test so that you all get the maximum benefit. If the grade OVERALL does badly, it will be a quiz so that you won't be hurt as badly.

Ms. Schwartz

BTW: If you write, at the bottom of your quest, the translation of the Hebrew in the above paragraph (which can be found in your packet) - i.e. Ms. Schwartz modeled ____________________ - it will be worth 3 bonus points.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

For Period 6 only

Please answer (on a sheet of paper, MLA format) the question:

Under what circumstances might one value the image of God as a Rock?

It is due tomorrow.

Ms. Schwartz

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

BoomdeYada

Boom-de-Yada Project

Based on the Discovery Channel’s “The World is so Awesome” videos, we will be making short videos of our own. They will feature the good, the bad, and the just plain crazy things found in the created universe.

You will be graded on two components in equal measure – the lyrics and the finished project’s artistry.

The project will be due the Monday we return from break.

The lyrics must be based on the video – but absolutely cannot be the lyrics of the video. This is a personalized project. I encourage you to use the chorus form, “God made the whole world, and all the ____________ things,” but you need not. You must have three verses and three choruses, making roughly 1 minute of video. You may go over, but should not be more than 5 seconds under.

You may find your images online, or create and upload yourself. However, both American and Jewish laws prohibit the use of images that are not in the public domain. Any watermarked or copyrighted images are disqualified.


You can use any of several video makers to create your movie. You may use:
o PowerPoint
o www.animoto.com
o www.slideroll.com
o Windows Movie Maker
o iMovie

Please remember that my tech skills are limited, so choose something you are comfortable with.

You also have a choice of ways to incorporate the lyrics – you may either record and upload you singing them (or a helpful friend or loved one singing them) as a musical track, or you may have the lyrics appear on the screen.

Finally, all of the things you feature in the video must be God-made, not man-made. Sports teams, the great wall of China, iPhones, and all other very cool but human-created things are prohibited.

Have Fun!

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Cool Things

If you like Matt's music, more can be found at two websites.

www.bibleraps.com

www.biblerapsnation.com

In terms of all the cool things you do:

The quote of the day is "If you want to help G-d, help other people." - Ethan Hertz

The excellent example of the day is, "Don't give Reese's to people who are allergic to peanut butter." - Meredith Galanti

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Hanukkah Bonus Point Bonanza

In honor of Hanukkah, which begins tonight, here is an gift for all of you - an opportunity to earn Bonus Points. Follow the link to one of my favorite Hanukkah songs - Light is in the Air, by Matt Bar. You may remember Matt from his Lech Lecha song, which inspired us to write our Lech Lecha songs.

If before the end of Hanukkah, you come to me at the start of the day and sing me the chorus, it is worth 8 points.

If you can sing the whole song, with the words in front of you, it is worth 13 points.

If you can sing the whole song, without the words in fron of you, it is worth 20 points.

Happy Hanukkah!