Happy Earth Day!

A hymn from the UCC hymnal:

We cannot own the sunlit sky, the moon, the wild-flowers growing,
For we are part of all that is within life’s river flowing.
With open hands receive and share the gifts of God’s creation,
That all may have abundant life in every earthly nation.

When bodies shiver in the night and weary wait for morning,
When children have no bread but tears, and war horns sound their warning.
God calls humanity to awake, to join in common labor,
That all may have abundant life, oneness with their neighbor.

God calls humanity to join as partners in creating
a future free from want or fear. Life’s goodness celebrating,
that new world beckons from afar, Invites our shared endeavor
that all might have abundant life and peace endure forever.

Movies that Made the List

and I'm open to more ideas since I'll be using this project again.

Movie List

Hotel Rwanda
Schindler’s List
Super Size Me
The Mission
The Eleventh Hour
An Inconvenient Truth
Real Women Have Curves
Philadelphia
The Constant Gardener
V for Vendetta
Control Room
X Men 2
Bonhoeffer: Agent of Grace
Fog of War
Bobby
The Killing Fields
Children of Men
Ghandi
Good Night and Good Luck
Pay It Forward
Motorcycle Diaries
Hearts and Minds
Dead Man Walking
Crash
Brokeback Mountain
Flags of Our Fathers
Letters from Iwo Jima
Blood Diamond
City of God
Babel
As the Band Played On
Stories from the Quilt
Follow My Voice
The Devil Came on Horseback
North Country
Last King of Scotland
Trade
Kids
Joy Luck Club
Gangs of New York
The Pianist
American History X
King Arthur (recent movie)
American Gangster
The Godfather
The Kite Runner
Jesus Camp
Requiem for a Dream
Equilibrium
Sarafina
Pursuit of Happyness
Paper Clips
Rent
Juno
Into the Wild

Movies!

Last week, I asked my English 102 movie to watch a movie that would make them think. I gave them a list that they helped make and had them pick one that they hadn't seen. They then had to respond to it on Blackboard and pose a question for the class to discuss. Then they had to answer at least two other peoples' questions. The conversations have been amazing! I have really enjoyed the maturity of thought they have put into their responses. They have discussed everything from war to conspiracy theory to discrimination to teen pregnancy. It's fabulous.

In my 102 class, I have developed a citizenship and volunteerism theme. As part of that, they have to volunteer with a nonprofit agency for at least 15 hours over the semester. Part of their writing for the class is tied in with that experience. It was rough last semester because I was still ironing out what I wanted them to be doing, what was realistic, etc. It's going quite well this semester, though. I think they are enjoying it, too. They're always skeptical at first, of course, but I think it's overall been a great experience.

My English 102 class is my favorite this semester, even better than my upper-level classes. I've really enjoyed their insights into the world.