Wuthering Heights
There are many forms of technology that can be used in teaching this unit. This outline is intended as a guide only. Please modify it to your specifications-these techniques and technologies can be used for other novels as well. Wuthering Heights has been selected as a common example of the 122 curriculum.
Introduction to students
When beginning this novel, provide students with the following items:
Beginning the novel
For each chapter it is likely that you will have several questions and
a list of vocabulary words. After each chapter is completed, students should
write the questions down, complete them, and leave them in the folder for
evaluation. You can also take time in class to go over the answers, giving
you time for class discussion. It is not necessary that you assign a specific
mark for these answers. You may also wish to give students vocabulary words
from each chapter. Again, it is up to you to decide how and how often the
students will be evaluated on the vocabulary. Will they be required to
define and use it in a sentence, or just define it? Will they be tested
every chapter, or every three chapters?
Audio enrichment
It could be an interesting aside to have the students listen to Kate Bush's song titled "Wuthering Heights." She wrote this song when she was the age of your students (17), and it is a haunting account of the vision of Cathy's ghost as it hovers outside of Wuthering Heights. It could prove useful in provoking discussion. You might also wish to have the students write a paragraph on it, or some similar literary analysis. You may wish to play this song before the novel has been started, as a means of piquing student interest, or halfway through the novel after some of the events from the first chapter have been explained. A copy of this song may be downloaded from:
Student presentations
This is the point at which those overhead projector transparencies can
be introduced. As a mini-project, students could be assigned to do one
of the following:
Video Enrichment
Wuthering Heights has been made into a commercial film several times. Two of the more well-known examples are the 1939 classic with Sir Lawrence Olivier and Merle Oberon and 1992's "Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights" with Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche. The 1939 classic version is available from Instructional Resources in Fredericton. Please be advised that it may take one to two weeks for the video to arrive if you request it from them. Should you need the video sooner, or should you wish to show the latest version, it may be obtained from most local video rental stores. At some future point this video may be available from Instructional Resources. Please check the new catalogue for availability.
You may decide to show this film either at the end of the novel as a
summation, or show parts of the film after each pivotal point in the novel.
Some students find the novel tense and confusing with its dark imagery,
and using the film to highlight and explain relevant sections may be helpful.
The Information Superhighway and Wuthering Heights
There are several sites devoted to the study of Wuthering Heights. You
may find them an excellent personal resource. You may also wish to create
assignments from these sites. Students could be required to find information
on these sites and present it to the class. They could also be required
to find answers from these web pages. One exciting possibility is that
there is a bulletin board site devoted to Wuthering Heights. Students could
be required to post questions on these boards and report the answers to
the class. A list of these sites is included with this guide.
But I'm not "doing" Wuthering Heights. How does this apply to me?
Much of the above material can be used in teaching other novels without any extensive modification. Most novels that are standard in high school instruction have information available on the web. If not, a class project could be to create one. As well, if your novel does not have a bulletin board or discussion site, you could try to set one up with a class at another school who is studying the same novel. To do this, you could send messages to other schools in your area to find out if someone else is doing your novel in the same time frame, and set up a web site to interact with the other class(es).
There is a great example of a web site on the works of S. E. Hinton. This site shows how you could create a site of your own with or for your class. This site also has many great web-based projects your class can do.
Back to Table of Contents
Wuthering Heights Resources and Links
Algebra
Algebra is a complex subject for many students. Some have difficulty
relating letter symbols to numeric values. Throw in extra variables, brackets,
and multiplication, and you have a recipe for a very confused state of
affairs. To instruct students on solving such problems like these, you
may like to use some of the following suggestions:
1. 2X = 6
2. 3X + 7 = 4X
3. 4(Y+2) = 44
Presentation
For this you will need to get some coloured transparent paper. (You
can get this from a craft supply store-it's the material used to wrap gift
baskets.) Cut out ten large squares in one colour, ten large rectangles
in another, and twenty small squares in a third colour. On a blank transparency
sheet, write " 2X=6 ". Arrange the coloured blocks beneath the symbols
and numerals using two of the large squares to represent 2X, and six of
the small squares to represent six. Line them up so that one large block
is opposite three small squares. This can then be used to illustrate X=3.
Repeat for Examples 2 and 3. This activity goes along well with the algebra
tiles sets on hand in the math work area.
Video Enrichment
Instructional Resources has many excellent films on the topic of algebra. A list is provided with this guide, however, it is recommended that you check the new catalogue for new selections regularly.
Computer Programs
The math department has in its collection the program "Algebra 1o1". This program is a multilevel interactive algebra tutorial. Students have the opportunity to solve problems in a timed setting using one of three different methods-simple substitutions, find the formula, and calculate. Some of the upper levels of the program may prove too challenging for all students. It is recommended that they not be required to advance beyond level ten. However, the remaining ten levels may be used for challenging gifted students. The program can be used singly, or in groups. Students could be encouraged to pick "Team Names" under which they would play.
Presentation Programs
One possibility in presenting this topic is to create a "Slide Show"
using CorelPresentations. This may require a bit of work on your part.
You could also prepare presentations for testing or games using this package.
This presentation software can create visually-rich text material, and
allow you to question the class between slides. You could also create a
Jeopardy-style question and answer game using QuickKeys.
The Information Superhighway
There are many resources out there on the web for students and teachers alike. If you are looking for a way to integrate mathematics and technology, students could design a simple question and answer web-site. For an example of this, please see the material listed at the end of this guide. Also available on the web is an Algebra chat site, and a site where students can e-mail "Dr. Math" for answers to problems.
Back to Table of Contents
Math Resources and Links
Africa
Social Studies is a course that, unlike most other subjects, has a great deal of freedom in the curriculum. We have chosen the African Studies unit as an example of a typical section covered in all Social Studies classrooms at one time or another. The techniques and ideas presented here can be used in teaching any country or culture that your class may be studying.
Introduction to Students
When you begin your unit on Africa, you may wish to assign an essay
project to be handed in at the completion of the unit. A simple option
is to assign each student a particular country. You may find it useful
to use the folder technique outlined in this guide for "Wuthering Heights."
If so, the students should be provided with the following:
There is a wealth of traditional and modern African music available. Students could be asked to find and bring in some examples if any have such a resource at home. You or they could also search the Internet for some downloadable music demos or singles. If there is an organization in your area that supports and helps immigrants, they may be able to help you in your search.
Student Presentation
There are many options for this presentation. Students could draw maps of their chosen country, sketch African tribal dress, villages, art, animals, or some other part of African life. Please note: The use of transparency paper becomes unnecessary should you decide to use a presentation program as outlined below.
Presentation Software
CorelPresentations is a presentation program contained within CorelSuite 8. One option with this type of software package is that students can be assigned to create a presentation on their "country." (Depending on the size of your class, you may wish them to work in pairs on this project). You could present it to them that they are a travel agent, "selling" tourists on the idea of visiting the country, or if there is a special event, such as the Olympics, in the offing, you could get them to try and convince the officiating body to hold their conference or event there. Students should be given a list of things to include in their presentation, such as the history of their country, its people, religion, principal products, special attractions, culture, economics, climate, and geography. They should be encouraged to use both text and graphics either gleaned from on-line encyclopedias, texts. or found on the Internet. These presentation programs allow for a wide variety of presentation modes, from simple slides with text to interactive question and answer options. Students may find the opportunity to create a professional slide show very interesting.
Video Enrichment
As with most subjects, Instructional Resources has a great many films
and videos that could prove quite useful as an adjunct to your regular
classroom instruction. A list of suggestions is provided at the end of
this guide.
The Information Superhighway
If you prefer to assign a written essay instead of a presentation, there
are certainly a great number of sites on the Internet which could be very
helpful to you and your students. A list of these sites is provided at
the end of this guide. One other idea is to set up a "KeyPal" exchange
which would allow your students to interact with children actually living
in Africa. To find participating classes around the world you can use the
"e-pals"web site noted at the end of this guide. This is merely an updated
version of pen pals. This activity can provide a sense of realism often
missing in the study of foreign (and thus unseen) countries. Students will
find greater meaning in the learning if they are in contact with other
people their own age who can give them a youthful view of the country at
hand.
Back to Table of Contents
Social Studies Resources
and Links
Core French is a required subject for all New Brunswick High School students. The main emphasis in the past has been on conjugation and spelling, with very little conversational practice or interaction. Technology offers a way to change this tradition in a variety of ways.
Audio Enrichment
There are many audiotape series that are available for student interaction. Tape recorders can be used in a number of ways. Students could be required to listen to a taped conversation and answer questions based on the contents of the conversation. Alternatively, students could be required to prepare a written monologue or conversation, tape it, and play it back. They could then have their pronunciation corrected by others in the class. It helps a great deal in learning pronunciation if the student can hear themselves speaking on tape. Very often when a student is learning French, their concentration is focused on knowing and using the correct word and gender and not on how it sounds when they say it. Recordings can also be used to show a student how far they have progressed by comparing new pronunciation to old recordings.
Presentation Software
Students could be assigned to present a slide show on some topic-food or apparel for example- in which slides would alternate between the English words and the French translation. Students could also create a presentation on a topic like safety, health, or other social issues.
Video Enrichment
Les Aventures de Tintin is a commercially-produced French language cartoon that is available from Instructional Resources. Alternatively, there is the series Telefrançais, which presents information in a magazine format using simple dialogue and syntax. These videos show French being used in real-life and fantasy situations.
Computer Programs
WordPerfect in CorelSuite 8 can be modified to check spelling in French instead of English. Under "Options" in the spell-check menu you may select French as the default language. Students can write paragraphs or short stories in French and follow it up by checking their grammar and spelling.
The Information Superhighway
One possibility is setting up an "e-pals" service with a school in a French district in New Brunswick or Quebec. To do this, you simply need to visit the "e-pals" web site and search for a compatible school looking for English "e-pals." Students could have a great deal of fun "talking" to other students in French and correcting their "e-pals" English spelling and grammar.
The field of Art Education comprises many different areas including Visual Arts, Graphic Design, and Art History. We will attempt in this guide to present a broad variety of suggestions applicable to all areas of Art interest.
Audio Enrichment
Music is a powerful stimulant for art. You could play a piece of music and have the students draw, paint, or make a collage showing how the music makes them feel. Another option is to play the music and have students create a piece of artwork based on the lyrics.
Print Materials
There is an excellent series of books called Career Connections. One book in the series is called "Great Careers for People Interested in Art and Design. " This book leads the learner on a visual tour of graphic arts-related careers including jewelry maker, decorator, curator, commercial artist, and architect. This book is full of pictures of real artists working at real-life careers after having completed graphic arts training. It could provide some excellent direction for students who are unsure of where a career in art could lead.
Video Enrichment
There are many films and videos that are available from Instructional Resources. As a class project they could use the video camera to create a work of art such as animation of clay figures. Students could also copy Picasso's movie and create a video log of work in progress.
Photography
Photography is a big player in the art world. Students could go out and be instructed to take pictures from around the school that captures the spirit of their school and fellow students. On the ArtsEdNet page there are links to galleries containing student's photographic displays.
Computer Programs
An exciting option is the use of scanning and image editing software
such as Imaging, Corel PhotoHouse and PaintShop Pro to scan and manipulate
images. The students could either clip these images from magazines, or
retrieve them from the Internet. Once the pictures have been obtained,
the students could add special effects, animation, or manipulate them to
create a "virtual collage."(No more dried-up glue!) Students could scan
photos of themselves and add images in and around these photos that represent
their favourite things and how they view themselves.
The Information Superhighway
There are many uses of the Internet in Art education. There is an entire network of art education sites called appropriately, the ArtsEdNet. This is a wealth of links for the educator containing lesson plans, a discussion group for educators, and links to children's art work that your students could view to get ideas on their own work. It has links to art from around the world, and students could be assigned to create a work of art based on a specific culture. The Internet may also be used as a reference tool in researching art history or preservation topics, or for finding images for the "virtual collage" mentioned above. As a class project, students could also create pieces of art work, scan them, and create a class web-site for public viewing.
Back to Table of Contents
Art Education Resources and Links
Chemistry, like the other "hard" sciences such as Physics, lends itself well to technology-based instruction. There are many things you can do, from computer simulations to generate data for experiments to virtual textbooks and tests.
Presentation Materials
The overhead projector can be a very useful teaching tool when dealing with those parts of chemistry that use complex diagrams or graphs, such as boiling point elevation and freezing point depression of a solvent when it is diluted or has other impurities added to it. While this is certainly possible to draw on the board, having an overhead transparency prepared saves class time in presentation. Students could also create slide shows using CorelPresentations on a topic or concept.
Computer Programs
There is a wonderful JavaScript program available on the Internet. At this site, students can input data such as number of moles of a substance, and get back the number of molecules, or its mass. This is a very helpful site if students are not sure if they are calculating the answers properly. You could also use spreadsheet programs to teach students about molecular mass or percent composition.
Video Enrichment
There are a number of videos available from Instructional Resources. A list has not been provided because of the sheer number of videos and films available. Please look in the catalogue for videos to support your particular topic. Videos can help students relate Chemistry to the real world. Videos can also demonstrate reactions and experiments that are otherwise too dangerous for the students to experience in person, such as reactions with sodium metal, or hydrogen gas.
The Information Superhighway
There is an abundance of material on the Internet for educators and students. There are entire text books complete with tutorials and worksheets. There are many sites designed for students who are home-schooled, and for those who wish to write the Advanced Placement exams that allow them to earn university credits. As a class project, your students could design a web site explaining some concept in Chemistry. An example of one such site is given at the back of this guide. There are also Chemistry listservs that you or the student could subscribe to where they could send questions to the list, or find out about new advances in Chemistry. You could also have students write about a particular chemist, such as Louis Pasteur, or chemical such as acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) using information found on the Internet.