I find I almost always end up with a high tide unit study in January. I think it has to do with taking down the Christmas stuff and seeing all that blank wall space again.
We are having a fabulous time with Beowulf, reading and coloring. I would like to extend the moment, and do a unit study. Poking around, most things seem to be geared for high school.
I'm not doing the Old English version, though I'd like to show the kids what it looks and sounds like. I think we will act it out (with me or the Emperor as Grendel with a detachable arm made from my big roll of paper). I'd like to explain about thanes and gifts and the warrior culture. And make food (danish?). Any ideas?
3 comments:
I've heard the recording of Seamus Heaney reading his own translation is really good--I haven't heard it yet though. (I want to! Also someone reading Chaucer properly.)
You ought to be able to find plenty of books about Vikings with activities; Beowulf is a little earlier than the standard Viking era but the culture ought to be pretty similar.
You could always brew your own mead--I had a co-worker who used to do that. :-P Writing with runes. Composing your own heroic poem about family events.
Oh, but hmm, that's probably just him reading the translation, isn't it?
I just found this site that has the original and translation side by side with some one reading the original!
http://www.beowulftranslations.net/benslade.shtml
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