Lesson 1

Art Journals

Let’s discuss what exactly we are doing in this class.

This class is about writing down your thoughts. The thoughts in this class will be prompted by JK Rowling’s words but you can take them in whatever direction you feel like. That’s what an art journal is. It’s just a fun way to document your thoughts and feelings.

Art journals come in many different forms. They can be digital or on paper. You can use crayon, pencil, pens, paint, other papers, leaves, dirt, water, or basically anything on your pages. If you choose to journal with paper and pencil, you will need to take a picture or scan it to get credit. If you don’t have a digital camera or scanner you can create all your art on the computer. Programs that you can use are Paint, Word, PowerPoint, Adobe Photoshop, or any other program you can think of. There will be examples every month using some of these different programs so don’t feel you have to do it exactly the same every time.

Art journals are all about having fun and getting down your thoughts. (I’ve said that a lot haven’t I?) As long as you’re enjoying your art, that’s all that matters!

Now on to the lesson….

Classifying Others

Everyday we form opinions of the people around us. Are they always right? Definitely not! First impressions are great tools, but they’re not always the most reliable. For example, when I was a freshman in college there was a girl that lived across the hall from me that stayed in her room. Towards the end of the year she joined in the girlyness a little more. I later found out she hated us all because we were girls, not a gearhead like her. This girl is now my best friend.

We often put people into categories. We define them by what we know. Is this right? Think about this when creating your pages this month.

You are to take any or all or a combination of the following ideas and create a journal page for each one.

IDEA #1 (20 pts.)

The Sorting Hat gives us a glimpse of what each house in the books is about.

You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
If you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folks use any means
To achieve their ends.

----------------------------------------------------
By Gryffindor, the bravest were
Prized far beyond the rest;
For Ravenclaw, the cleverest
Would always be the best;
For Hufflepuff, hard workers were
Most worthy of admission;
And power-hungry Slytherin
Loved those of great ambition.

---------------------------------------------------
Said Slytherin, "We'll teach just those
whose ancestry is purest."
Said Ravenclaw, "We'll teach those whose
intelligence is surest."
Said Gryffindor, "We'll teach all those
with brave deeds to their name."
Said Hufflepuff, "I'll teach the lot,
and treat them just the same."

Look at what the Sorting Hat says about your house. Is it right? Is it wrong? Journal about what the words mean to you. This is a required entry if you choose to do this month’s homework.
Then choose one of the following...

IDEA #2 (10 pts.)
"You fail to recognize that it matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be."

IDEA #3 (10 pts.)
"If you want to know what a man's like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals."

IDEA #4 (10 pts.)
". . . The public is warned that Black is armed and extremely dangerous. A special hotline has been set up, and any sighting of Black should be reported immediately."
"No need to tell us he's no good. Look at the state of him, the filthy layabout! Look at his hair!" ~ News reporter, Vernon Dursley

For full credit you must journal about IDEA #1, and then choose any or all of the other ideas. You can earn up to 50 pts. this month in homework.

If you have any questions you can email me or post in our classes forum which is part of the HOL forum.

The assignment must be emailed to the Professor at professornoodle@gmail.com by September 30th. In your email please include your HOL name and id. The lesson number and class title should appear in your subject heading. If you are willing to share your homework with the class, please let me know within the body of the email.