4.17.2013

Share Your Favorite Poems for Poem in Your Pocket Day

Last year I wrote a "Things That Make Me Go Hmmm..." post called "Which poems would Katniss and Peeta Carry for Poem in Your Pocket Day?" You can use the same prompt with any novel for any character, though. Or, just enjoy the day with your students by sharing your favorite poems. :) Either way, it's a great way to spread literacy and appreciate poetry.
What are your favorite poems? Sharing on Poem in Your Pocket Day

Which poem (or poems) are you carrying in your pocket for Poem in Your Pocket Day? Which poems would you associate with characters from ANY novel? Share in the comments below!

I have so many favorites, it's hard to pick just one. Two years ago I wrote about a Gwendolyn Brooks poem that has always stuck with me. Here are a few more of my favorites:

I Saw in Louisiana a Live-Oak Growing by Walt Whitman
anyone lived in a pretty how town by e.e. cummings
The Tyger by William Blake
Auguries of Innocence by William Blake

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4.14.2013

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Teaser Trailer (with Classroom Connections)





This is the official "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" teaser trailer from Lionsgate® (Lions Gate Entertainment); the movie will be released November 22, 2013.



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CLASSROOM CONNECTION
Teachers: If you wish to use this in a lesson, prompt your students to analyze the scenes (mainly from Part I...they don't want to give away everything, of course). Are they surprised about the scenes from outside of Katniss's point-of-view? Why or why not?

You can also use this FREE handout with discussion questions for comparing a novel to the movie trailer. It is aligned with the Common Core State Standards.

Hunger Games Lessons: Classroom Connections

Catching Fire Teaser Trailer Tonight on MTV!


The Hunger Games: Catching Fire movie trailer airs tonight on MTV

I was going to hold off and write up a post after the trailer airs, but decided I wanted to get the word out to you all to make sure you watch it tonight first. I will write my response to it later this week. I also can't wait to share it with my seniors, who just finished Catching Fire Friday and many will begin reading Mockingjay this week.

So, just a quick reminder to tune in tonight (April 14th) to the MTV Movie Awards program to see the premiere of "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" movie trailer, purported to be 2 minutes and 30 seconds in length and introduced by Gale--Liam Hemsworth, that is.

MTV Movie Awards to air "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" movie trailer

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4.04.2013

Catching Fire Movie Trailer and Chapter 5 Symbolism: Effie's "Wings"?

The first time I watched the "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" teaser released yesterday by MTV, it was obvious the setting was District 11 on the Victory Tour. The Victory Tour is one of my favorite parts of the novel because we get to see the other districts and have clues to their locations. But it's NOT long enough in the book! I really wanted more. But I guess that's what will make the movie even more exciting...filling in all those gaps.

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Collins spends more time unfolding the story in District 11 than in any other district. I love the details of the fence surrounding the district, the justice building, and how they flee to an unused room in the dome. Before they flee, they drop their things off in their room and the description is perfect, from the ceiling, the scent of the blossoms in a vase (eh-hm...yes, some foreshadowing there), and the carvings in the molding. Which reminds me of the the teaser...

Call me crazy, but doesn't it look like Effie is wearing wings?
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire - Effie's "Wings"

I mean, they do kind of look like angels' wings, right?
Go back and read page 64 in Catching Fire. What are those carvings in the molding again? Yes, "small, fat children with wings." Which would be cherubs, yes? I cannot stop my mind from going into overdrive when I see these things, so I apologize if I am being one of those annoying English teachers that looks too deeply into every little thing (hey, this is what I live for; I can't help it!).

Perhaps this part stands out to me because several years ago I created a lesson for my students specifically dealing with those cherubs and Katniss' lack of knowing what they were or what they symbolized in terms of religion, and why it was important enough to be included in those details.

CLASSROOM CONNECTIONS
The activity in my Catching Fire Discussion Questions pack has students analyze the reference to the cherub, what it may symbolize, and why Collins' may have included it in the novel.
Catching Fire Discussion Question - Connect to Movie Teaser
Studying Raphael's Sistine Madonna painting, which has the iconic cherubs at the bottom, is an excellent way to connect art and literature. Making comparisons like this is also one of the Common Core State Standards for literature (RL.7).

Questions to ponder & discuss...
What do you think? Do Effie's sleeve look like wings? Could it be symbolic of the "angels" Katniss sees in District 11?

Could this be a way to include that symbolism in the movie without having to include that part from the book? Do you think they will cut out the part where they flee to the dome of the justice building?

What else did you notice in the teaser? Does District 11 look like you imagined? Why or why not?

Feel free to post your responses, comments, or additional observations below! I'd love to read them.

You can find numerous resources for teaching all the books in The Hunger Games trilogy in my teacher store.

Catching Fire Novel Teaching Unit
Catching Fire Discussion Questions

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The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Trailer to Air April 14th During MTV Movie Awards

Yes, you read that correctly. We will finally get to see a trailer for "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" in little over a week! And that's not all; if you click on the video below, you can see a very short teaser (like 12 seconds) clip of trailer.

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What do you think? I know it's not much, but it is exciting to see a brief look at the first stop on the Victory Tour. My next post is going to deal with the symbolism of Effie's outfit...so check back here to read more about THAT! :)

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