Sunday, August 11, 2013

Just a drive... or a click... away



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.


No comments:

Post a Comment