The students presented their creative projects for All Quiet on the Western Front today. There was the annual absurdly funny video of the book by a few of the boys, a collection of poems about the war from all the countries involved (accompanied with their national flag), a very moving film of drawings done by JG accompanied with significant quotes from the book. There were a variety of posters, a soldier’s kit, and a diary.
AM created a portrait of Muller’s boots, the surface of which were covered with quotes about comradeship from the book.
KT created a camera that had a nationalistic, propagandistic poster at the back which opened and revealed a portrait of wounded soldiers inside.
One student created a locked box of the memories and emotions of a World War I soldier.
Three students sang “Black and Gold” in three part harmony.
There was the recitation of poetry by heart, some written by the students themselves.
EK created a war game based on the “Choose your own adventure” concept.
Two students performed a scene from War Horse.
JP wrote two obituaries—one for a soldier who died in the war, the other for the same soldier had he lived.
Did I mention that we gathered around the security guard’s desk at the end of class to hear some of his stories as a marine in Vietnam?
Powerful closures.
What a thoughtful, talented group of students. You’re lucky to have ’em. And they’re lucky to have a teacher who engages them in such an important way, and obviously helps them to think outside the box. Well done all ’round.
My
Hope
Is that
None of
Your
Students
Have to
GOTO
War
Perhaps
One Day
They will
Prevent
One