ELA

Council of Verona

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The citizens of Verona have grown tired of the constant quarrel between the houses of Capulet and Montague. As ruler of the region, Prince Escalus has formed a council to help mediate the conflict and bring lasting peace to Verona.

Grade Level:

Middle

High

Content Area:

ELA

Play Time:

20 min.

Lord of the Flies

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Under the direction of Peter Brook, William Golding's fable about a swarm of young boys who, without adult supervision, devolve into chaos after crash-landing on a remote island during wartime becomes an unforgettable vision of cinematic horror. Shot with almost vérité camera work, Lord of the Flies takes a radical approach to Golding's allegory, grounding it in a terrifying reality.

Director:

Peter Brook

Grade Level:

High

Length:

01:30

Eleven: A Mystery

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Sam is almost 11 when he discovers a locked box in the attic above his grandfather Mack's room, and a piece of paper that says he was kidnapped. There are lots of other words, but Sam has always had trouble reading. He's desperate to find out who he is, and if his beloved Mack is really his grandfather. At night he's haunted by dreams of a big castle and a terrifying escape on a boat.

Author:

Patricia Reilly Giff

Grade Level:

Middle

Lexile:

600L

Length:

03:21

Shakespeare in Our Time

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This award-winning film introduces students to Shakespeare and his time. Featuring excerpts from more than 30 Shakespeare films and theatrical productions, it presents historical and literary background in an irresistibly enjoyable way.

Grade Level:

High

Length:

00:25

Why Shakespeare? (2012)

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The 20-minute video Why Shakespeare? asks what Shakespeare means to different people. This short documentary features students as well as actors including Tom Hanks, Martin Sheen, Christina Applegate, and Michael Richards reciting favorite Shakespearean passages and speaking about the impact of theater and Shakespeare on their lives.

Grade Level:

High

Length:

00:20

My Side of the Mountain

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My Side of the Mountain, based on the book by Jean George, is the unique adventure of thirteen-year-old Sam Gribley. Sam's hero is naturalist poet Henry David Thoreau, so Sam writes a note for his folks, packs up and leaves home for the challenge of wilderness living. Realizing his dream, Sam feeds himself, builds a makeshift home and learns to live in harmony with nature - miles from civilization.

Director:

James B. Clark

Grade Level:

Elementary

Middle

Length:

01:40

Comprehending the Calamity

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Short personal narrative by Emma Burke about the San Francisco earthquake of 1906.

This splendid eywitness account was written by Emma M. Burke, wife of San Francisco attorney Bart Burke, who lived on Waller Street, near Golden Gate Park, at the time of the earthquake. This article appeared in the June 2, 1906, edition of “Overlook Magazine.”

From the Virtual Museum of the City of San Francisco

Ethan Frome

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Ethan Frome, a poor, downtrodden New England farmer, is trapped in a loveless marriage to his invalid wife, Zeena. His ambition and intelligence are oppressed by Zeena's cold, conniving character. When Zeena's young cousin Mattie arrives to help care for her, Ethan is immediately taken by Mattie's warm, vivacious personality.

Author:

Edith Wharton

Grade Level:

High

Length:

03:45

The Cellist of Sarajevo

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Sarajevo in the 1990's, is a hellish place. The ongoing war devours human life, tears families apart and transforms even banal routines, such as acquiring water, into life-threatening expeditions. Day after day, a cellist stations himself in the midst of the devastation, defying the ever-present snipers to play tributes to victims of a massacre.

Author:

Steven Galloway

Grade Level:

High

Length:

05:23

Mark Twain (2001)

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Samuel Clemens rose from a hardscrabble boyhood in the backwoods of Missouri to become Mark Twain, America's best-known and best-loved author. Considered in his time as the funniest man on earth, Twain was also an unflinching critic of human nature who used his humor to attack hypocrisy, greed and racism.

Grade Level:

Middle

High

Length:

04:00

ELA

Why Shakespeare? (2012)

Mark Twain (2001)

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