What did I miss on Monday, March 30th?

Dear Mythology Kids,
STOP MISSING CLASS, guys! Norse Mythology is so unusual that missing class will only be a determint to your future success. If you did miss class:

1. You have an assignment that is due on WEDNESDAY that involves some research. Each student has a tag on their desk with one of the Norse gods written on the tag. Your assignment is to research this particular god, and prepare a handout with your findings.

B1
Marlyse: You have Freyja (equivalent to Aphrodite)
Andrea: You have Frigg (equivalent to Hera)

B2
No one was absent! Yes!

B4

The following is an explanatino of your assignment:
The ttag you have on your desk is important for your assignment. You are being asked to do some research on one of the Norse gods. You have ___________________. The Greek god is included simply to help you make a connection.

INSTRUCTIONS:
1. You are to locate at least TWO SOURCES pertainting to your god. One must be the Internet; the other should be a book or periodical. Your book is a strong source. A great Internt source is "Norse Gods vs. Greek Gods." You are welcome to use my books, but you won't be able to check them out; however, you can find the information that you need after school, make your copies, and then bring the books back. The copy center is open until 3 p.m.

2. This is what should be included on your handout:
a. A handout that thoroughly details information you discovered about your god. The handout should be neat, organized, typed, numbered points, and include specifics on your deity (domain, physical appearance, abilities, enemies, children, likes/dislikes, etc.)

b. Works cited information included on the handout

c. Two copies of your handout (0ne is for me and the other to use as a reference in class)

d. Come prepared as the "expert" on your Norse god

2. You are also to continue making cards for the characters that we discuss today. You will have a quiz on Friday covering the Norse gods and the information discussed today (Monday) and the information that will be shared on Wednesday.

Inroduction to Norse Mythology

Norse Mythology is the stories of the Scandanavian people. The Norse were extremely skilled at sea faring; consequenlty, they were exposed to different cultures. The Norse came upon the Romans, who in turn, hired them as mercenaries. The Roman culture was extremely advanced; consequenlty, the Norseman adopted some of their belief system into their own culture. This is why when we start to read the myths you will note some strong similarities to Greek Mythology. Remember that the Romans stole their religion from the Greeks. Another important point that you need to know involves the conversion of the Romans to Christianity. The Norseman continued to be influenced by the Roman culture, and therefore they also adopted Christian influences into their mythology, as well.

Dear Mythology Kids,

Everyone of you should have a new textbook, and a "packet" of handouts that will be used during the next two weeks. Your homework assignments for Monday include the following

1. Plesae read pages xx-xxiii in the "Introduction" section of your book under the heading "Cosmology.

2. Complete your flashcards for the first 12 words indicated on your "flashcard" handout. This is the bright green handout.

3. Be prepared for a quiz on Monday covering the information that was shared on Thursday.

Norse Mythology is difficult to fully explain in this forum, but I will do my best.......In the beginning, there is no formed matter that exists. This enormous chasm of unorganized matter is called GUNNUNGAGAP! To the north of Gunnungagap is an immense area of frozen ice. This area is called NIFLHEIM

To the south of Gunnungagap is an immense region of heat called Muspelheim. Nothing exists but these two regions.

Suddenly these two regions begin to move closer together. The heat from Muspelheim causes the ice from Niflheim to melt and droplets of water land in Gunnungagap. Some how and I don't know exactly how this happens, and neither did the Nordic people, so you just have to accept it, two important beings are created at the same time......an enormous man called Ymir, who is also called a "frost giant" and a cow whose name is Adumla. I know, it's a little unusual.

Ymir begins to suck on the teats of Audumla, so she is nourishing this evil frost giant, and then he begins to "give birth" to other frost giants. As he is sucking on the teats of the cow, Ymir begins to sweat and his sweat morphs into other giants. In the mean time, Audumla begins to lick some of the ice from Niflheim that did not melt when Muspelheim moved close to it. Every place her saliva touches the ice a human form is created from the ice. You can see this depicted in the image above. The individual that is created from the saliva is known as BURI. He is entirely positive. He, in turn, gives birth to two individuals; their names are BOR and BESTLA. Bor is a male and Bestla is a famale. These two have three children whose names are Odin, Vili, and Ve. Odin becomes the king of the Norse Gods because he is recognized as the "first born."

OH......Sorry guys I am having major computer problems. My screne is informing me that I am short on memory. So, I must say good-bye to you. Please visit with someone in class. You could even look the following information up on Google: Gunnungagap, Muspelheim, Niflheim, Ymir, Audumla, Buri, Bor, Bestla, and Yggdrasil. I hope that I've given you enough information that you won't be too confused.

The first day of "The Odyssey"

Dear Mythology Kids,
Welcome to The Odyssey, by Homer. We started on this amazing piece of literature on Thursday. As part of your homework assignment, I asked that you read pages 211-224 in your textbook. You will not have a quiz over this information until Wednesday. I gave each student a "storyboard," which is an effective way of "breaking" the epic "a part" so that you can understand it better when you actually read it. If you did miss class on Thursday, please make sure that you obtain this information from someone that was present that day.

DON'T FORGET THAT THE BACCHUS BASH is schedule for Tuesday, March 24th. Each student was given a food assignment, in addition to their "Birthday Card" assignment. Please visit with me when you return to school so that I can show you examples of the "Birthday Card."

I will visit with you soon.
Cheers,
Crampton

If you missed class on Tuesday, March 10th...The "Bacchus Bash"is coming up!

(Dionysus/Bacchus the Greek god of wine and performance)

Dear Mythology Kids,

If you missed class on Tuesday, you missed your "Quest" covering The Iliad. You need to make sure that you take your quiz on or before Monday, March 16th! Your term ends on Friday the 20th, so we need to make sure all of your outstanding work is completed. YOu did not have any homework for tomorrow. DO NOT MISS CLASS tomorrow, as I am going to tell you about the "Bacchus Bash" and explain the assignment that you will submit on the day of the bash.

Cheers,

Crampton

"Quest will be on Tuesday......"

Dear Mythology Kids,

Don't forget that your "Quest" covering The Iliad is Tuesday. In addition, the revision for your "Movie Essay" is due on Tuesday, as well. To prepare for your "quest," I would do the following:

1. Read through all of the handouts for each character.

2. Complete the light green character sheet that I gave you in class the day we started the presentations. Fill in information about each character without the use of the handouts. Doing this will let you know which characters you need to study more than others.

3. Review all of the quotes given to you by each group.

4. Make sure you have read pages 185-210 in your textbook.

5. Don't miss class on Tuesday!

Don't forget to move your clocks back one hour this weekend!

Cheers,

Crampton

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