Journeys Through Literature: The Hobbit 11+yo.

1 Semester

 

Join our group of enthusiastic travelers and journey with us through the magical and mysterious world of Middle-earth!  In this semester-long class, students will explore J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit though home-time reading, class-time discussion, creative/educational projects (such as baking our own Lembas bread and dwarvish map-making), and games!  Aside from weekly reading, all homework projects are optional.  Costume accessories (such as capes or vests) are very welcome!

 

 

01/26/14 Week #1     The Journey Begins…

Lesson/Activity: Create “Aged Manuscripts” to hold several of our future activities.

Objectives: Introductory discussion time – Planning our personal characters.

The Week’s Reading: Chapter 1

 

 

02/02/15 Week #2

Lesson/Activity: Create laminated “Hobbit Door” bookmarks to use as we read at home.

Objectives: Discussion time for Chapter 1 – Learn to draw an illustration-style design in a narrow space – Become familiar with the process of lamination.

The Week’s Reading: Chapter 2

 

 

02/09/15 Week #3

Lesson/Activity: Add a “Line of Lineage” for our personal character to our manuscripts using India ink and gilding.

Objectives: Discussion time for Chapter 2 – Gain some familiarity with making a family tree – Learn about the importance of race and lineage within the stories of Middle-earth.

The Week’s Reading: Chapters 3 & 4

 

 

02/23/15 Week #4

Lesson/Activity: Create a Dwarvish map (complete with secret symbols and hidden meanings) using India ink and glow-in-the-dark paint – Add these maps to our manuscripts.

Objectives: Discussion time for Chapters 3 & 4 – Learn about the basics of map-making.

The Week’s Reading: Chapter 5

 

 

03/02/15 Week #5

Lesson/Activity: Create a sorcerer’s stone for our wizard staffs – Play Game of Riddles – Write our own riddles, adding them to our manuscripts.

Objectives: Discussion time for Chapter 5 – Learn about the art of riddle writing.

The Week’s Reading: Chapter 6

 

 

03/09/15 Week #6

Lesson/Activity:  Work on and assemble our wizard staffs.

Objectives: Discussion time for Chapter 6 – Gain some familiarity using sandpaper and wood stain.

The Week’s Reading: Chapter 7

 

 

03/16/15 Week #7

Lesson/Activity: Bake our own Lembas bread – Add recipes to our manuscripts.

Objectives: Discussion time for Chapter 7 – Learn about some baking basics.

The Week’s Reading: Chapter 8

 

 

03/23/15 Week #8

Lesson/Activity: Create and decorate Elvish potion bottles.

Objectives: Discussion time for Chapter 8 – Learn to consider matching artistic ornamentation to practical purpose.

The Week’s Reading: Chapter 9

 

 

03/30/15 Week #9

Lesson/Activity: Brew our own Elvish medicines and potions, recording and adding our recipes to out manuscripts.

Objectives: Discussion time for Chapter 9 – Learn about measuring and combining various substances in order to achieve a desired effect.

SPRING BREAK READING: Chapters 10, 11, & 12

 

 

04/13/15 Week #10

Lesson/Activity: Begin to work on a model of Smaug – Play some Middle-earth Charades.

Objectives: Discussion time for Chapters 10, 11, & 12 – Learn to sculpt a sleeping dragon.

The Week’s Reading: Chapter 13

 

 

04/20/15 Week #11

Lesson/Activity: Create a base for, assemble, and decorate Smaug model.

Objectives: Discussion time for Chapter 13 – Practice our painting skills in the presentation of a 3D object.

The Week’s Reading: Chapter 14

 

 

04/27/15 Week #12

Lesson/Activity: Practice our Elvish and Dwarvish alphabets, adding a few writing examples to our manuscripts – Begin composing our own ballads inspired by Tolkien’s songs from The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.

Objectives: Discussion time for Chapter 14 – Learn about the basics of ballad writing.

The Week’s Reading: Chapters 15 & 16

 

 

05/04/15 Week #13

Lesson/Activity: Create our own set of “Hobbit Door” coasters – Play some Middle-earth Charades.

Objectives: Discussion time for Chapters 15 & 16 – Share our finished songs and ballads.

The Week’s Reading: Chapter 17

 

 

05/11/15 Week #14

Lesson/Activity: Create an artwork depicting the Lonely Mountain and the Battle of the Five Armies.

Objectives: Discussion time for Chapter 17 – Learn about the significance of History Painting as an art form which recorded important events before the age of photography.

The Week’s Reading: Chapters 18 & 19

 

 

05/18/15 Week #15     THE END!

Lesson/Activity: Final Discussion Time & Farewell Hobbit Feast

Objectives: Finish up all incomplete projects.