11th Grade Humanities
Energy & Place
Essential Question:
How does your sense of place, your environmental ethics influence your perception of humans use of Earth's resources and your own lifestyle?
How does your sense of place, your environmental ethics influence your perception of humans use of Earth's resources and your own lifestyle?
Reflection:
Project Description:
Sense of Place project we explored the spectrum of environmental ethics. By reflecting on what influenced our own environmental ethics and describing where we find our sentimental value throughout our Earth's resources. We had multiple guest speakers informing the class on old and new energy production. As well as connecting to our surroundings with nature writings finding deeper meaning to the world we live in. We represented our Sense of Place writing in either a short story or poem, I chose mine to be a poem.
Writing Growth:
Throughout my poem, I found growth by changing the language to showing not telling and adding stanzas to separate the different scenery describe. My nature writing improved immensely with using more descriptive language and organizing the writing structure. My first nature writing was more of a list stating the surroundings and now it's more story material, bringing all the listed words together.
Personal Growth:
The reflective process I went through was listing off words that describe my sense of place, the surroundings, what I like to do there, weather, sound, people, animals, and etc. I struggled in some areas of letting my writing flow, showing not telling, and adding a metaphor or simile of some sort.
Project Description:
Sense of Place project we explored the spectrum of environmental ethics. By reflecting on what influenced our own environmental ethics and describing where we find our sentimental value throughout our Earth's resources. We had multiple guest speakers informing the class on old and new energy production. As well as connecting to our surroundings with nature writings finding deeper meaning to the world we live in. We represented our Sense of Place writing in either a short story or poem, I chose mine to be a poem.
Writing Growth:
Throughout my poem, I found growth by changing the language to showing not telling and adding stanzas to separate the different scenery describe. My nature writing improved immensely with using more descriptive language and organizing the writing structure. My first nature writing was more of a list stating the surroundings and now it's more story material, bringing all the listed words together.
Personal Growth:
The reflective process I went through was listing off words that describe my sense of place, the surroundings, what I like to do there, weather, sound, people, animals, and etc. I struggled in some areas of letting my writing flow, showing not telling, and adding a metaphor or simile of some sort.
Rough Draft:
Final Draft:
Happiness & Meaning
Essential Questions:
a. What is the purpose of your existence?
b. What is happiness and what makes you happy?
c. What does it mean to live a meaningful life?
d. To what extent can literature shape your personal philosophy on happiness and meaning?
Link to Project Description:
https://docs.google.com/a/animashighschool.com/file/d/0B5ktO3NLUDlcems1NU1kbjZudWM/edit
Visual Piece:
a. What is the purpose of your existence?
b. What is happiness and what makes you happy?
c. What does it mean to live a meaningful life?
d. To what extent can literature shape your personal philosophy on happiness and meaning?
Link to Project Description:
https://docs.google.com/a/animashighschool.com/file/d/0B5ktO3NLUDlcems1NU1kbjZudWM/edit
Visual Piece:
Personal Philosophy:
When I look at how I was raised today, I am reminded of respect, holding true to my strength, taking on more than I can handle to push myself harder, achieving short term and long term goals, and being friendly to everyone around you because you never know what one’s going through. Now I find my meaning in my life from the values above because the challenges, not the peace, are what build me up. As I reflect on my life up until today, I try to define my own happiness and meaning, I find myself connecting the dots of my past, my present and what I want for my future. Joining together, these dots compose the meaning of my life and the image of my character.
As a native to Durango, I have been skiing since I could walk, and I have enjoyed the mountains of Colorado, both summer and winter my whole life. My family, friends and I try to fulfill our winter seasons to the fullest with ski outings. This year, I went back country skiing with the San Juan Mountain Guides to complete my avalanche one course. After I climbed to the top of McMillan mountain with my friends, I looked out across the San Juans and I felt satisfaction of pushing myself and appreciation for the home I live in. I chose my visual piece to be on a pair of skis with the people that give back happiness to me and that I in turn seek to pass along to others. As I find most my happiness with skiing, the people that I surround myself with, and the views my home offers. My pair of skis symbolize the passion I have for the outdoor sport of skiing, the pleasure I feel from mountain top views and the rush I receive from shredding down the slopes. On the skis, I captured images of memorable moments in beautiful places and with important family and friends that I share so much with. Ultimately, my definition of a meaningful life is to have a satisfaction of giving to others, pushing myself to become a better person and offering support for people. I will continue to build my own personal philosophy as I grow and explore more of who I am as a person.
When I look at how I was raised today, I am reminded of respect, holding true to my strength, taking on more than I can handle to push myself harder, achieving short term and long term goals, and being friendly to everyone around you because you never know what one’s going through. Now I find my meaning in my life from the values above because the challenges, not the peace, are what build me up. As I reflect on my life up until today, I try to define my own happiness and meaning, I find myself connecting the dots of my past, my present and what I want for my future. Joining together, these dots compose the meaning of my life and the image of my character.
As a native to Durango, I have been skiing since I could walk, and I have enjoyed the mountains of Colorado, both summer and winter my whole life. My family, friends and I try to fulfill our winter seasons to the fullest with ski outings. This year, I went back country skiing with the San Juan Mountain Guides to complete my avalanche one course. After I climbed to the top of McMillan mountain with my friends, I looked out across the San Juans and I felt satisfaction of pushing myself and appreciation for the home I live in. I chose my visual piece to be on a pair of skis with the people that give back happiness to me and that I in turn seek to pass along to others. As I find most my happiness with skiing, the people that I surround myself with, and the views my home offers. My pair of skis symbolize the passion I have for the outdoor sport of skiing, the pleasure I feel from mountain top views and the rush I receive from shredding down the slopes. On the skis, I captured images of memorable moments in beautiful places and with important family and friends that I share so much with. Ultimately, my definition of a meaningful life is to have a satisfaction of giving to others, pushing myself to become a better person and offering support for people. I will continue to build my own personal philosophy as I grow and explore more of who I am as a person.
Reflection:
Throughout the Happiness and Meaning project I gained some new insights about myself. I was able to take sometime away from the stress load of school and just dig deeper into who I am as a person. This project helped me self reflect on how Durango, Colorado has shaped me. How the outdoor adventures have taught me a lot about the people I can work with. Life can constantly be putting mountains in front of your path representing the obstacles that may stand in your way. This project not only represents my happiness and meaning but how I am still growing and still exploring life's true definition in my eyes and heart.
Questions:
What will be a future fulfilling job for me that will also be successful?
Will my personal philosophy now be much different if I were to write one in ten years?
Throughout the Happiness and Meaning project I gained some new insights about myself. I was able to take sometime away from the stress load of school and just dig deeper into who I am as a person. This project helped me self reflect on how Durango, Colorado has shaped me. How the outdoor adventures have taught me a lot about the people I can work with. Life can constantly be putting mountains in front of your path representing the obstacles that may stand in your way. This project not only represents my happiness and meaning but how I am still growing and still exploring life's true definition in my eyes and heart.
Questions:
What will be a future fulfilling job for me that will also be successful?
Will my personal philosophy now be much different if I were to write one in ten years?
The Morality and Politics of Justice Project
Thesis: In order to end animal testing the government needs to ensure a law for animal rights, sign several petitions against animal testing, and alternate testing towards jack beans and vegetables. Us humans have the right to life, liberty, security, equality, and freedom. Why can’t non-human, animals, have the right to life, liberty, security, equality, and freedom?
Project Reflection:
First and Final Draft of my Op-Ed
First: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1JcEJJkC9FcQ30Mt9FiiYTIg7wZx3wwG_IVkZW8B1IUU/edit?usp=sharing
Final: https://docs.google.com/document/d/104ZtxNVwDThg3XBYwfu4EUBkSi1v1UyJJpZDoxBjAhE/edit?usp=sharing
Semester 1: Personal Writing Growth
Writing Goal #1: Streamlining
"Being is taking those breaths in and stepping out of your normal routine by breaking your comfort zones. Doing something on a daily basis that scares you and truly living is seeking answers every minute of the day. Expand your knowledge past what you already know. Do the being while you’re living." I thought, throughout my op-ed these couple of sentences constructed a well written streamline. The topic flows and the words click together in a well written thought.
Writing Goal #2: Focused Thesis
"Thoreau ultimately teaches us the beauty in being and it’s ability to allow us to form authentic conformity." The topic of my paper was about being v. living. I wanted to show the readers that there is more background to the words than most think of right away. My thesis was to catch the eye of the reader to dig deeper in how Thoreau teaches us the meaning in a deeper form.
Writing Goal #3: Sophisticated and In-depth Analysis of Evidence:
"Living is breathing in and out on a daily, getting through the day on a daily basis agenda. What did Henry mean this fact of living through the moment “... I’m afraid that I might “live” right through this moment- and only live--” (36). Henry speaks as living, he isn’t enhancing the the moment of consciousness that he feels, hears and smells." The evidence piece this brings is the exact point I am trying to make. The quote I pulled from the book ties in to my topic making it flow and backing up my thoughts with other humans perspectives.
"Being is taking those breaths in and stepping out of your normal routine by breaking your comfort zones. Doing something on a daily basis that scares you and truly living is seeking answers every minute of the day. Expand your knowledge past what you already know. Do the being while you’re living." I thought, throughout my op-ed these couple of sentences constructed a well written streamline. The topic flows and the words click together in a well written thought.
Writing Goal #2: Focused Thesis
"Thoreau ultimately teaches us the beauty in being and it’s ability to allow us to form authentic conformity." The topic of my paper was about being v. living. I wanted to show the readers that there is more background to the words than most think of right away. My thesis was to catch the eye of the reader to dig deeper in how Thoreau teaches us the meaning in a deeper form.
Writing Goal #3: Sophisticated and In-depth Analysis of Evidence:
"Living is breathing in and out on a daily, getting through the day on a daily basis agenda. What did Henry mean this fact of living through the moment “... I’m afraid that I might “live” right through this moment- and only live--” (36). Henry speaks as living, he isn’t enhancing the the moment of consciousness that he feels, hears and smells." The evidence piece this brings is the exact point I am trying to make. The quote I pulled from the book ties in to my topic making it flow and backing up my thoughts with other humans perspectives.
Voices From the Animas
Storycorps.me Interview with Robin Fox
https://storycorps.me/interviews/voices-from-the-animas-animas-high-school-student-shea-toner-and-robin-fox-a-mild-to-wild-raft-guide/
10th Grade Humanities
Social Entrepreneurship Project
Vietnam Art Project
Artist Statement
“Although another horrifying day has passed, I still sit here empty with thoughts of death and I can still see the scene of musky air. I wonder what my world would be like with peace.”
The perspective statement I wrote is supposed to be the perspective coming from the soldier in my art piece. This expresses the thoughts that the soldier is having in that moment. My drawing is in all black and white because it shows war has no color everything is gloomy and dark. I tied my art piece into my perspective with the main word peace, which is in a big font font to emphasize the meaning of the word “Peace.”
In this art piece, the message I was portraying was the heartbreaking and emotional drain the soldiers fought through daily. Peace was extremely scarce at war, with that said I drew the back of a soldiers head, looking out into a field of carnage. The soldier is sitting back and he has his helmet on with the word “PEACE” sketched out across the back. The word peace was written on the back of his helmet because he only sees destruction and the peace is unscene. I chose to do this art piece because it gives you something to visualize and really think about, it makes the viewer think why the word “peace” would even be in the art piece.
I was influenced and inspired by a Google image I found that drew my eye into recreating it. The image was a photograph from the Vietnam war, this photo was very contradicting but gave off a valuable meaning, the meaning behind most soldiers. So I had the idea of drawing it onto sketchbook paper and adding the final touch of a nice black frame. The glass over the drawing gave it the nice shine that it needed. I very much enjoyed this project because art has always inspired me to improve and is something I’ve always enjoyed.