Welcome Back! Class Values

Set Up Starters
Every student creates a Google Doc labeled with “Full Name Humanities Starters,” and shares it with me.  Make sure to give me permission to comment!

• Every starter should be clearly labeled with the Starter # and date
  
• Newest starter goes at the TOP of the page

 
Starter 1
Syllabus: Go to Lori’s DP, and find the Syllabus page.  Read closely!  Then explore the rest of Lori’s DP.  Bookmark it!

• What are you most excited about for Humanities this year?
  
• What are you apprehensive/nervous about?  What can I do to help alleviate those fears?
  
• What questions do you have?  List them!

Pair/share, try to answer each other’s questions.  Then come back as a whole class, I will answer any remaining questions.
 
Class Values:  The Bill of Rights
Given that we’re going to move into creating a class constitution, let’s start by looking at the Bill of  Rights of our own constitution to see what values were included there.

• Students in pairs or small groups
  
• Look at each amendment, make sure you all understand and can summarize verbally what it means
  
• What values does this amendment show?  If they wanted this in the constitution, what underlying values drove this inclusion?
  
• Based on these values, which amendment is most important?  If you had to cut one, which would you cut?
  
• Share out, annotate a class version

 
Our Class Values 
This will ultimately end in a class constitution of sorts.  What do we value?

1. Count off by 4.
2. Split into groups, go into different corners of the classroom
3. 5 min- brainstorm on sticky notes things that you value (one item per sticky)
4. 10 min- group, combine, winnow.  Get to 5 that your group agrees on.
5. Merge with another group.
6. 10 min- Share your qualities, group, combine, winnow.  Get to 5.
7. Merge two big groups.
8. 10 min- Both groups share their qualities.  Combine where appropriate/easy.
9. Get to a final class list if possible!
10. Debrief the process if time
    1. How did you make decisions?
    2. How did that decision making process change as you went from small groups to the whole class?
    3. How did it feel when one of the things you valued didn’t make the cut?
    4. Were you surprised at any of the values of your classmates?  Why?

 
The Habits of Highly Cynical People 
Read and annotate this article—it will be the basis for a Socratic seminar that is connected to our critical thinking goals for the course this year.  Make sure to mark:

1. Places where you are confused
2. Important or beautiful sentences/ideas
3. Vocab (look it up!)
4. Questions you have
5. HINT…you’re probably going to want to look up a definition of cynicism!

You’ll have time to finish reading and annotating in class tomorrow, so no need to do this for homework.

HOMEWORK:  NONE!  (Let's ease back into this year, eh?)