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.