The Glory Field Project
The Glory Field
By Walter Dean Myers
This Newbery author's triumphant novel follows five generations of one African-American family from Africa to a South Carolina plantation through the Civil War, to the end of segregation, and beyond, to a moving and redemptive finale, when a young drug-addicted cousin is brought home to the glory field for a day of reunion and renewal.
This historical fiction novel encompasses several themes, including: discrimination, oppression, freedom, and of course, the eighth grade theme of evolution of the individual.
The theme of eighth grade is Evolution of Identity. Each of us becomes who we are from our heritage, experiences, and desire to create a better life. In The Glory Field, change is affected by the actions of people who are fighting oppression. At the House of Blues, the music and artwork are reflective of changes in society. In this project, you are asked to think about changes that have taken place in the past, as well as changes that you feel should take place.
By Walter Dean Myers
This Newbery author's triumphant novel follows five generations of one African-American family from Africa to a South Carolina plantation through the Civil War, to the end of segregation, and beyond, to a moving and redemptive finale, when a young drug-addicted cousin is brought home to the glory field for a day of reunion and renewal.
This historical fiction novel encompasses several themes, including: discrimination, oppression, freedom, and of course, the eighth grade theme of evolution of the individual.
The theme of eighth grade is Evolution of Identity. Each of us becomes who we are from our heritage, experiences, and desire to create a better life. In The Glory Field, change is affected by the actions of people who are fighting oppression. At the House of Blues, the music and artwork are reflective of changes in society. In this project, you are asked to think about changes that have taken place in the past, as well as changes that you feel should take place.
Part A (all three projects below are required individual work)
1. Research your family history
Research your family history back in time for three generations, including your own. This would include you, your parent(s), and your grandparents. You may research either your maternal or your paternal history.
2. Write a short story
Write a short story for the three generations based on the history you discovered.
Write these in the spirt of The Glory Field, where themes include individuals' rights and responsibilities to work to achieve their own dreams, preserving ties to their family's heritage. Focus on the strength of individuals to right any wrongs they have seen around them.
Write these in the spirt of The Glory Field, where themes include individuals' rights and responsibilities to work to achieve their own dreams, preserving ties to their family's heritage. Focus on the strength of individuals to right any wrongs they have seen around them.
3. Artistic representation of your story
Create an artistic representation of your family tree. Feel free to go back further than three generations if you want to, though it is not necessary to go beyond your grandparents' history. Combine this with a final copy of your story to create an illustrated presentation of you and your family.
Presentation options:
Presentation options:
Family Tree tools
Family Echo PowerPoint (using Smart Art) Explain Everything on iPad Interactive posters Glogster Smore See some Glogster examples Example 1 Example 2 |
Part B (choose one)
Both of these options require you to look at the sticky notes you've been using throughout your reading. Think about the topics that have been troublesome to you (what bothered you in this chapter) and what you've found interesting and would like to find out more about.
Think about:
Think about:
- What social issues did you hear about or see at the House of Blues?
- What social issues are addressed in The Glory Field?
1. Collage/Writing (individual project)
This option has two components:
Step 1: Create a collage on 12" X 18" paper. Your collage must reflect a theme from The Glory Field, such as: discrimination, oppression, freedom, and evolution of the individual.
Step 2: Write two well-developed paragraphs (8-10 sentences each), or a two-stanza poem that explains the ideas your collage captures. Both paragraphs and stanzas should be specifically related to the images in your collage.
Step 1: Create a collage on 12" X 18" paper. Your collage must reflect a theme from The Glory Field, such as: discrimination, oppression, freedom, and evolution of the individual.
Step 2: Write two well-developed paragraphs (8-10 sentences each), or a two-stanza poem that explains the ideas your collage captures. Both paragraphs and stanzas should be specifically related to the images in your collage.
2. Research/Writing (may be done in pairs)
Step 1: Research any topic from The Glory Field that you find interesting. Think about those sticky notes that say what you might like to find out more about.
Step 2: Write a feature article. Write two to three well-developed paragraphs (8-10 sentences each) for a TweenTribune magazine about your particular topic. Don't forget to check out the magazine to see sample articles.
Possible topics could be: Slavery in Andover; The Underground Railroad; Slave trade; Participation of African Americans in the Civil War; Other topics related to slavery.
Possible topics could be: Slavery in Andover; The Underground Railroad; Slave trade; Participation of African Americans in the Civil War; Other topics related to slavery.
Part C (choose one)
1. Music (may be done in pairs, or groups no larger than 4)
Step 1: Review the types of music mentioned in The Glory Field. These include: Spirituals and Code songs; Jazz; Gospel; Ragtime; Blues; Songs of the Civil Rights Movement; Music of the 1990's through today.
Step 2: Create a multimedia presentation that pairs readings from the novel with appropriate musical selections. These may be based on music referred to in the novel, music that has already been written, original compositions or both. The music can be live or recorded. It should represent a form of personal expression based on the social climate of the reading. The purpose is to create a musical anthology that represents the musical traditions with African American roots.
Presentation options:
Live performance with slideshow
Podcast
Interactive poster
Mix tape with slideshow
Movies with iMovie, GarageBand
Presentation options:
Live performance with slideshow
Podcast
Interactive poster
Mix tape with slideshow
Movies with iMovie, GarageBand
2. Art (individual project)
Step 1: Folk Art is art created by untrained artists using "found objects," which are any item found in everyday life. These might be buttons, sequins, old instruments, yarns, threads, etc. Create a work of art that reflects a social issue that is significant in today's world.
Step 2: Write a Product Description for your artwork.
Watch a slideshow of pictures from the trip to the House of Blues on Nov. 26, 2013.
Don't forget! Cite your sources
Other projects
Check out the cool project by students at University Prep Science & Math Middle School in Detroit who created the video below to connect personally to the driving question, "How did we get here?" Through conducting an oral history of an elder in their family or community, reading The Glory Field by Walter Dean Myers, and exploring historical maps of the early peopling of the Americas, students engaged in the question from a variety of angles.