Shakespeare Celebrates Mardi Gras

After enjoying a crepe or two last month Shakespeare decided French culture was not all bad.  Upon returning, Shakespeare thought a tempest was brewing when in actuality he was hearing zydeco music for the first time.  The French club students learned about the religious and cultural history of Mardi Gras as well as how people celebrate the holiday around the world.  Shakespeare was particularly fascinated by this New World city known as New Orleans and all its jazzy syncopations.  Shakespeare could not help but feel at home as he stood amongst the students constructing and wearing masks.  He thought it was the grandest masquerade he'd ever seen.  Famished, Shakespeare and the students also partook in the Mardi Gras tradition of eating King Cake - a flaky circular cake covered in a sugary frosting with a plastic baby hidden inside.  The cake was covered in the traditional colors: purple, green and gold.  Tradition has it that whoever receives the baby in his/her piece of cake is the king or queen of Mardi Gras and in turn the host of next year's party.  Shakespeare couldn't help but try the crown out for himself before handing it over to our two queens of Mardi Gras this year: Kaylee and Ramyia.  Everyone had a bon temps!

Shakespeare Learns about The Giver

When Shakespeare first arrived in London in the late 1580s, he encountered a society that was drastically different than ours is today. We, like Shakespeare, are the product of our time and our culture. While Shakespeare tackled issues like, love, betrayal and murder, 8th Grade AT Literature students explored some of the challenges societies inevitably face. 

After reading Lois Lowry’s The Giver, students were tasked with answering some tough philosophical questions, while also forming connections to the novel and real-world events. Research topics ranged from population control to utopic societies, genetic engineering and language manipulation.

As children to whom the future is entrusted, these 8th graders came to understand some of the difficulties involved in everyday culture.

Ms. Mangan and Shakespeare presiding over the presentations

Shakespeare Learns about Afganistan

Shakespeare visited 7th grade social studies and got a history lesson on Afghanistan. 
Students are reading the book The Breadwinner, which is about an 11-year-old girl named Parvana. She lives in Afghanistan during the Taliban occupation, and the trials and tribulations she has to overcome. It also describes the general difficulties of life for women in Afghanistan. This is part of the 7th grade unit on the Middle East.  

Shakespeare consumed by French culture!

Shakespeare had a rendez-vous with the French Club this week. The Bard had a hankering for something sweet so he crossed the channel for some delicious French crepes. He was nervous about his first taste of la culture francaise, but the whole point of these adventures is to try new things so peu importe. He found that he especially loves Nutella. French Club meets once a month to study and live the Francophone culture from the French-speaking world. Next month they will be celebrating Mardi Gras and laissez les bons temps roulez! (Letting the good  times roll!). 

Shakespeare was thrilled to be a part of this year's play! "Gooney Bird Greene and Her Fabulous Animal Parade"

Congratulations to the cast and crew of Lisle Junior High’s production of Gooney Bird Greene and Her Fabulous Animal Parade.  This year’s play was a huge success scoring major laughs from all audiences alike.  This play could not have happened without the talented 6^th through 8^th grade students who put everything they had into each performance.  They were supported by their peers with a diligent and efficient crew working behind the scenes.  The play was performed on Friday, January 31^st for the Junior High students as well as Friday and Saturday (February 1^st) evening for the Lisle community.

We would like to thank Tripp Burton and Jason Smid for directing the school play as well as the staff, administration and maintenance crew of Lisle Junior High School for their support. Thanks to all the parents and guardians of our actors/crew for your flexibility, transportation and support.  Finally, thank you to the Theatre of Western Springs for lending us a variety of costume pieces. 

Hope to see you all for our next show in 2015!

CAST

                   Gooney Bird Greene…                                  Chelsea Neylon

                   Felicia Ann…                                                   Amelia Frederickson

                   Malcolm…                                                       Nathaniel Sojka

                   Chelsea…                                                        Maggie Dooley

                   Tyrone…                                                          Evan Schwemer

                   Ben…                                                               Jack Nadolny

                   Beanie…                                                          Bella Winiecki

                   Tricia…                                                            Jules Cole

                   Keiko…                                                           Cheyenne Nape

                   Barry…                                                            Joseph Krebaum

                   Nicholas…                                                       Sam Cremeens

                  Mrs. Pigeon…                                                  Emily Woltmann

                  Mr. Leroy….                                                    Parker Barrette

                  Bush, Deer, Baby Mandrill 1…                      Kira Springer

                  Dad, Big Cub, Lion 2…                                   Aaron Harris

                  Little Panda, Vulture…                                   Ellie de Buhr

                  Rhododendron, Little Cub…                          Ayush Ghosh

                  Baby Kangaroo, Rich Lady    …                    Frankie Brummel

                  Koala, Big Dog…                                           Tessa Haldeman

                  Stop Sign, Dingo, Big Dog…                          Alex Sohl

                  Eucalyptus Tree, Mother Mandrill   …         Bridget Brock

                  Mom, Hunter 2, Green Snake…                    Victoria Riedy

                  Nicholas’ Mom, Young Bison, Wallaby…     Audrey Strunewitz

                  River, Lion 1, Big Dog…                                Jordan Cygan

                  River, Older Bison 1, Baby Mandrill 2…      Haley Kowalski

                  Apple Tree, Wildebeest…                              Bich-Yen Pham

                  Dead Tree, Hunter 1, Giraffe…                     Renee Armitage

                  Bees, Camerawoman, Baby Mandrill 3…     Natalie Marriner

                  Older Bison 2 …                                              Sophie Osborn

                  Bamboo, Woof…                                             Faith Ryan

CREW

 Docia Jarecki, Kaylee Gansberg, Jacob Wilk,

Annie Gill, Ayona Ghosh, Colby Klimczak, Joel Clancy

Lydia Rossin, Jackie Mullas, Anum Fatima, Annie Gill

Raquel Klein, Patrick Nitzki, Grantas Jankauskaite,

Carlo Lopardo, Bich-Nhu Pham, Lily Brandes,

Ryan Smith, Glorija Jankauskaite, Nicholas Rohla,

Nathan Ryan, Sophia Tchakanakis, Aaron Cail

Shakespeare Learns about Allegory

Mrs. Broadus's display for the presentation

Allegory is a story or image in which the characters and events are symbols that stand for ideas about human life or for a political or historical situation.

Mr. Smid's Seventh Grade A.T. Literature class learned about allegory using stories from Dr. Seuss. They came to the LRC to learn about the author's life and his motivation to teach lessons through his writing and illustrations. He teaches us the importance of taking care of the earth in "The Lorax" and the idea of human equality in "Sneetches."

Shakespeare Learns how to Make Soap!

Mrs. Keigher and Shakespeare 

Last week Shakespeare learned about chemical reactions in Mrs. Keigher's 7th grade science class. He made soap and compared its properties to the properties of the materials used to make it. Before this lesson, Shakespeare didn't know that soap is made from fat!

Stay tuned for Shakespeare's next adventure!