August 11, 2013
There’s nothing like an impromptu weekend jaunt to boost
your spirits. Especially after the
first, exhausting week of school. After
a whirlwind trip to northern Indiana Amish country and back
through the lake region, I realized the treasures that Indiana holds, not
only for rejuvenating my mind and body, but also for teaching writing.
The Mentone egg, a symbol of the livelihood of this north central Indiana region and possibly the largest egg in the world, albeit concrete, is listed in several Indiana tourism books. Now that I have its image in my iPhone, I can use it as a relevant visual for teaching symbolism.
Our drive through the little town of Shipshewana
was a visual lesson in juxtaposition.
Black buggies and horses lined up next to RV’s and vans outside quaint
stores, as Amish and Mennonite locals purchase staples, and out-of-towners
bargain for antiques. A Google Image
search of “Shipshewana” is a delight with its white houses and tidy red
barns, bonneted girls, and rows of buggies. I can share these images and challenge my students find others to juxtapose with them.
Next, we traveled south and east to find conservationist
writer Gene Stratton Porter’s “Cabin at Wildflower Woods.” This 125 acre- state historic site offers
visitors a secluded stroll both in the woods and history at Sylvan Lake in Rome
City, Indiana. Stratton’s persuasive narratives combine
story-telling and argument, a Common Core Standard for writing. Her passion for
saving the Limberlost swamp and its inhabitants may inspire young
people who are concerned about today’s environment. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Vu0tdgIAs0
Heading farther east toward I-69, we discovered the National
Military History Center outside Auburn, Indiana. This massive building provides an opportunity
to study the historical use of rhetoric in its home front propaganda posters
from World War II. The posters are filled with excellent examples of rhetorical
devices and the three appeals. Boys and
girls alike will find plenty of inspiration and opportunity to conduct research
for writing historical fiction in this museum that houses military vehicles of
all types. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WP2fzTsygsI
In another section of the structure, a traveling exhibit
featuring German Eugenics program would solidify the unfathomable cruelty of the
Nazi mentality in any visitor’s mind.
The graphic depictions and artifacts could build strong background
knowledge for any high school study of The Holocaust, and provide inspiration
for narrative as well as argumentative writing.
I’m guessing that with a little research, most every teacher
can find local attractions that they can use to inspire a new generation of
writers and thinkers. And with the
accessibility of the Internet, a field trip or lesson is often just a click away.
