Sharing stories based on chapter titles for an imagined autobiography. (Pre-writing for "Me-Poem".)

Sharing stories based on chapter titles for an imagined autobiography. (Pre-writing for "Me-Poem".)

Learning how to prepare tasy vegetables to finish the service learning day.

Demonstrating the pick-axe swing.

Man with pick-axe wanders into garden. Just kidding-- garden specialist teaches kids how to use tools safely..

Moving heavy logs for framing the new beds.

Planning grids for new vegetable beds.

Digging up old irrigation systems.

A beautiful caterpillar.

Carrying logs across garden.

Service Day! Preparing compost.

Pointing to where they would settle in Egypt (4000 years ago).

Mapping the geography of Egypt...with students as features.

Freeze-framing the party scene from Gilgamesh during the read-aloud.

Freeze-framing scenes from Gilgamesh during the read-aloud.

PLEASE NO MORE HW!

Freeze-framing scenes from Gilgamesh during the read-aloud.

Getting out Vocab to check the recent lesson.

Students practice making good word choices and effective line-breaks in non-rhyming poetry with a floor poem using Edward Abbey's Desert Solitaire. (Sharing the final product!)

Students practice making good word choices and effective line-breaks in non-rhyming poetry with a floor poem using Edward Abbey's Desert Solitaire..

Students practice making good word choices and effective line-breaks in non-rhyming poetry with a floor poem using Edward Abbey's Desert Solitaire..

Students practice making good word choices and effectve line-breaks in non-rhyming poetry with a floor poem using Edward Abbey's Desert Solitaire..

Students practice making good word choices and effective line-breaks in non-rhyming poetry with a floor poem using Edward Abbey's Desert Solitaire..

Developing a character in the writer's notebook for the portrait poem.

Finding "elements of civilization" in Ulysses, Gilgamesh, and today!

Freeze-framing scenes from Gilgamesh during the read-aloud.

Freeze-framing scenes from Gilgamesh during the read-aloud.

Freeze-framing scenes from Gilgamesh during the read-aloud.

Freeze-framing scenes from Gilgamesh during the read-aloud.

Students hold two cards while the teacher reads aloud; they have to "freeze-frame" the moment when their cards are called.

Students use photographs from Joel Sternfeld's SF MOMA exhibit to develop character perspectives for the portrait poem.

Developing a character in the writer's notebook for the portrait poem.

Making a floor poem with "found words" from a Newsweek article.

Finding a good book during a library visit for the start of Outside Reading Round 1: Historical Fiction.

Freeze-framing scenes from Gilgamesh during the read-aloud.

Gilgamesh brawls with Enkidu.

Freeze-framing scenes from Gilgamesh during the read-aloud.

Reading aloud to the class.

Freeze-framing scenes from Gilgamesh during the read-aloud.

Freeze-framing scenes from Gilgamesh during the read-aloud.

Freeze-framing scenes from Gilgamesh during the read-aloud.

Breaking into small groups to explain where they stood on the value line.

Freeze-framing scenes from Gilgamesh during the read-aloud.

Breaking into small groups to explain where they stood on the value line.

Breaking into small groups to explain where they stood on the value line.

Students choose a spot along a spectrum to respond to a value line statement about living in Ancient Babylon.

Learning about "THE IR" -- the fun way. : )

They made him wear the hat.

Hammurabi Trials conclude.

The coveted cane.