The following lessons use various forms of written and oral expression to explore the concept of home and housing .

Literature

Discussion

For instance, students delve into literature, its metaphors and images of home and emerge thinking, speaking and writing more deeply about their own experiences. Or perhaps, through their shared journal writing about their neighborhoods, students learn correct sentence syntax, and how to write a complete, solid paragraph. This assortment of lessons weaves writing, reading, thinking, listening and speaking activities into the larger task of creating thought-provoking, word-loving learning environments. 

 

Lord: it is time. The huge summer has gone by. 

Now overlap the sundials with your shadows, 

and on the meadows let the wind go free. 

 

Command the fruits to swell on tree and vine; 

grant them a few more warm transparent days, 

urge them on to fulfillment then, and press 

the final sweetness into the heavy wine. 

 

Whoever has no house now, will never have one. 

Whoever is alone will stay alone, 

will sit, read, write long letters through the evening, 

and wander on the boulevards, up and down, 

restlessly, while the dry leaves are blowing. 

 

From Autumn Day, Rainer Maria Rilke (trans. Stephen Mitchell)