Last week, our school had a performance of Matilda Jr. at the LHPS Harriett Coleman Center for the Arts.  Some of my students attended the event and wrote reviews of the show.  We all agreed that every aspect of the performance was excellent!  Read the following review to hear more about it……

Teagan

Mrs. Darden

English 7 College Prep

19 April 2021

Matilda Review

This week I had the opportunity to watch Matilda Jr. I was originally going to be in the production but lost the opportunity because I was digital. In the production Matilda, based on the book by Roald Dahl, the main character Matilda falls in love with books and knowledge. Her parents the Wormwoods, however, treat her horridly and like she was dirt. They call her “a book worm” and try to stop her from reading her books. She is then sent to a terrible school where the Principal, Miss Trunchbull, tortures her students.  Miss Trunchbull believes that the way to educate children is by harsh discipline and labor. The only person Matilda can count on is her sweet teacher, Ms. Honey. Matilda decides to fight up for the injustices that she experiences in her life by revenge, and revolting. She then gets her peers to join in with her.

The music in this musical is the best part of the experience. You can feel the passion. The music moves the story along and keeps you attentive. It’s a whole experience. The first song is comical. Mr. Wormwood interacts with the audience, and then he goes on to tell how books are dumb and that the television is much better. A favorite song by most is probably “Revolting Children” where they fight for their rights and go against Ms. Trunchbull. Everyone has a song in them, either what they’re feeling eternally or what’s going on around them. Songs are arguably the most powerful things of all. This musical has songs that connect with the audience so well that your heart beats in sync with theirs and you’re dying to leap out of your chair onto the stage and sing with them.

The set helps you to be in the scene with the characters. Behind the bridge, there was a screen that showed different pictures in each scene to help the audience visualize what is happening. In the center hanging down from the bridge was another screen where they used shadows to help the audience visualize. They had boxes that they would use to sit or stand upon. The set ultimately was amazing along with proper use of props.

The lighting was ever-changing. If it was raining it dimmed a little. “Blackouts” would go dark, but you could still see the characters. If they were in school or at home they would keep the lighting up.

Matilda is an amazing musical with a great storyline, songs, and visually nice.  I would highly recommend this play.

This week’s goal was to use the prompt, “I like Marmite,” in a 100-word story.  We hope you enjoy some of our short stories.  Make sure to leave us a comment and subscribe to our class blog page.

Paddington’s Adventure to the Supermarket 

By: Isabella R.

Paddington is a friendly little bear that everyone loves. He lives in London, England with Mr. and Mrs. Brown along with their children, Judy and Jonathan. One day when Paddington was home alone he decided that he would go to the supermarket to get some more of his favorite snacks, bread, and marmalade. When he finally found the supermarket he ran inside and immediately found the jam aisle. He found the marmalade and went to check out at the counter. The clerk asked, “Just marmalade, really?” Paddington replied, “Yes sir, that is my favorite snack after all. Do you like marmalade?” “No,” he said, “I like Marmite.”  

 

The Noisy Bed and Breakfast

By: Karina

Lewis walked into the quaint bed and breakfast, a bell ringing as he opened the door. He sat on a tattered armchair while a lady shuffled toward him. She slowly smiled and offered him some toast, to which Lewis nodded. To the tune of the creaking wood boards, the lady walked through a dimmed corridor. Soon after there was an angry cacophony. A door closed then opened, and there was immediate silence as the grinning lady hobbled over to the man with his buttered toast. “No,” he said, “I like Marmite.” “Oh, of course, dear,” The lady said and walked through the corridor.

 

The Spreading Festival

By: Gabriel

There once was a famous town for its different spreadings. Every year there was a festival in town for people to vote which spreading is the best. There were many spreadings you could pick from like ketchup, mustard, ranch, BBQ sauce, marmite, and many others. When the voting began lots of people started debating over which one is best. Then randomly someone yelled, “No,” he said, “I like Marmite!” The crowd was in silence for quite a while then they started debating again. At the end of the day, the votes came in. The host shouts, “ 78 Ketchup, 60 Mustard, 67 Ranch, 57 BBQ sauce, and 1 marmite. Ketchup wins!” 

 

 

After reading and identifying the literary devices used in The Crossover by Kwame Alexander, we embarked on a poetry writing unit.  Students experimented with Blackout poetry, Haiku, and Cinquain poems. We also created rap lyrics for vocabulary words on Flocabulary.  Flipgrid was used to showcase some of our favorite songs that contained a rhyme scheme and other literary devices.  We hope you enjoy some of our work!

The summer is bright

Water rushes to the shores

The beach sky is blue

-Anonymous

 

                                                                           Fog arose calmly,

                                                      the sun peered out from the clouds

                                                                           What a sight to see

-Anonymous

 

 

 

 

Dreamy

A violin

playing through the dark night

playing even when there’s no hope

I’m safe

-Anonymous

Music

A sign of hope

made by a violin

An example of elegance

Music

By: Karina

Blackout Poetry

 

*The students used vocabulary words in their lyrics. Click on each link to read some of the rhyming rap lyrics.

Flocabulary Lyric-Lab-by-Alexander

Flocabulary Lyric-Lab-by-Sadie

Flocabulary Lyric-Lab-by-Rachel

Flocabulary Lyric-Lab-by-Emily

 

 

We recently finished studying the use of literary devices in The Chronicles of Harris Burdick by Chris Van Allsburg.  My 7th-graders used the mysterious drawings from the book to inspire their own stories.  We went through the writing process in class and published our final drafts on Book Creator.  Below you can read some of the stories written by some of my awesome writers!

 

 

After reading the novel, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, by William Kamkwamba & Bryan Mealer, we embarked on a research project.  Students chose topics that included William Kamkwamba’s current projects, refugees’ stories, educational and water issues, and more.  We used the Innovator’s Compass in a few of our classes to help guide us.  The students practiced collaboration, research, digital, and writing skills.  After each presentation, we took the time to share “Grows” and “Glows” with each other to help with further iterations of the presentations. Here are a few of the presentations by my 7th graders. Please take a moment to leave your thoughts in the comment box.