Storybook Topics Brainstorm

Possible Topic - Alaskan Legends

My interest in this stemmed from the fact that I did not know that there were Alaskan legends! Alaska has always been a place that has intrigued me, I have even visited once. The natural beauty is just astonishing. I want to learn more about the state, and this project will give me an opportunity to do that!

Research so far - I have done little research as to what stories I particularly want to write, but have read some of the legends. Some of the ones that intrigue me are The Origin of the Tides, The Flood, and The First Woman.

A lake with some mountains in the background

Source: Pixabay

Possible Topic - Georgian Folktales

I really enjoy folktales, but have never read any that are centered around Africa. So that alone was enough to intrigue me. I look forward to exploring and reading each of the folktales in preparation for my storybook. 

Research so far - I have read some about Georgia to better familiarize myself with a country I know very little about. I also took a look at some of the individual folktales, and am intrigued by a few. Some that interest me are Teeth and No-Teeth, Two Losses, and The Father's Prophecy. 

Some lions in Georgia

Source: Free Stock Photos

Possible Topic - Aesop's Fables (English)

I have already read one of the sections on Aesop's fables and really enjoyed it. So, I am jumping at the opportunity to read more of them. This project will allow me to do just that.

Research so far - I am already pretty familiar with Aesop's Fables, so I do not think I will have to do as much research with this topic as the others. I have already taken a look at the list of fables though, and some that intrigue me are The Gods, Fables about People, and Birds.

Illustration to one of Aesop's fables

Source: Wikimedia

Possible Topic - Dante's Inferno

Dante's Inferno has always been a story that has intrigued me, but I have never actually sat down and read. It is such a classic tale I feel like I need to read, and this storybook project will give me the opportunity to do that. I have friend's that talk about it occasionally, and it has inspired a popular video game that I played whenever I was younger. So that will make it even more interesting for me to read.

Research so far - I am somewhat familiar with Dante's Inferno through pop-culture, but I read some online articles about it. All of the different levels of Hell look interesting, but in particular The Fallen Angels, Limbo, and Jason and the Demons intrigue me.

Image from Dante's Inferno

Source: Wikipedia

Storytelling Week 2: A Very Brave Mouse

A Very Brave Mouse

Against Cat sat a Council of Mice.

Every Mouse came out prompt with advice,

And a bell on Cat's throat

Would have met a round vote,

Had the bell-hanger not been so nice.

~~~~

As the council concluded, suddenly a very small voice rose up from the back.

"I'll get the cat to wear the bell, for the cat and I are friends" said this small mouse "See, the cat doesn't eat me because I am so small, my meat is not even worth it."

The whole council stared in shock. The small mouse began to explain how he and the cat were actually friends, and regularly conversed. The council debated about how they could let such a small mouse take such a big responsibility. The debate went on for some time, but then the council decided that he was their best, and really only, option to getting the cat to wear the bell. So, after deciding this, they entrusted the bell to him. The mouse was excited to have an opportunity to prove himself. 

Picture from the fable "Belling the Cat"

Source: Wikipedia

After receiving the bell, the mouse had to think of a way to convince the cat to wear the bell. He knew that the cat would not wear it if it knew the mouse's original intentions, to make sure that all of the mice could hear the cat coming. So he had to think of a different way to reason with the cat, to convince the cat that there was another motive.

The mouse decided the best way to get the cat to wear the bell is if he could convince the cat that it was the cat was special, and such a good friend, that he had found this bell and thought the cat would love it. He would give it as a present to the cat, which he was sure the cat would love. 

Having the bell in his hand, he began to approach the cat like he always did. Cautiously, but not too worried because he would talk to the cat on a regular basis. The cat immediately noticed him approaching, and greeted him with excitement. As they conversed, the mouse explained how he had found the bell, and thought it was perfect for the cat.

At first, the cat was skeptical, but the longer the conversation went on, the more he imagined how pretty he would look with the bell. Eventually, the cat decided that he wanted the bell, and the mouse fixed it around his neck. Now, the cat could be heard walking around at all times day or night, and through this the little mouse had saved the lives of many mice. 

Bibliography: This story is based on a "Belling the Cat" from The Aesop for Children, written by Aesop, published in 2006. Link 

Week 2 Reading Diary: Aesops Fables - Wednesday Reading

Aesop's Fables by Joseph Jacobs

Birds - "Do not trust flatterers", fox tricks crow into dropping his cheese. Peacock wants to sound like a nightingale, but is told to be content because he cannot be first in everything. Bird that does not join in either side of a fight cannot rejoice with either side when the fighting is over. 

Insects, Snakes, Crabs - Grasshopper does not prepare for winter, ends up starving because of this, and watching the ants feast. I am pretty sure I have watched a cartoon about this fable. Mother crab tells her baby crab to walk straight, but is not leading by example.

Frogs and Fish - "Self conceit may lead to self destruction", frog blows himself up by trying to swell himself up bigger and bigger. Fish jumping in a fisherman's net whenever he plays his bagpipes. 

Nature and Inanimate Objects - Man asks trees for wood only to use when chopping them down. "Kindness affects more than severity", wind and sun try to get man to take off his cloak to prove strength. 

Humans and Gods - "The gods help those who help themselves", a god tells a farmer to get himself out of the mud instead of praying.

Family and Friends - Man tries to bite off his own mothers ear because she encouraged theft. "Never trust a friend that deserts you at a pinch", man leaves another man to die to a bear. 

People Wise and Foolish - "Words may be deeds", trumpeter of army is killed for encouraging others to fight.

More Fables - Maids kill a rooster because it annoys them and wakes them up too early, but then they have trouble waking themselves up every morning. Fir tree looking down on a bramble as it gets chopped down. "Fate can meet as well as follow", lion waits in cave for deer to return so that he may eat the deer. 

A stork from the fable King Log and King's Stork

Source: UnTextbook

Week 2 Reading Diary: Aesops Fables

Aesop's Fables by Joseph Jacobs

Lions - 

Fables explain the meaning of the phrase "lions share". He takes the whole stag for himself, when he is dying all of the animals take out their grudges on him. The slave that rescues the lion, repays him. "United we stand, divided we fall" Oxen story.

Foxes - "One bad turn deserves another". Fox and stork story about dishes and soup. Hedgehog trying to help the Fox, Fox says no, that driving away mosquitos will just bring more.

Wolves - Wolf decides to eat the lamb, no matter the excuse. "Better starve free than be a fat slave". Wolf eats domestic dog.

Dogs and Cats - Dog carrying meat over the stream, snaps and tries to get the reflections meat, loses his own. Cat has one escape method, but it is enough and saves it from the hounds.

Mice - "It is easy to propose impossible remedies". Mouse wants to tie a bell around cats neck, but no one agrees to do this.

Asses - Ass wants to be a pampered horse until the horse is wounded in battle, and changes his mind.

Deer - Hart loves his horns and not his legs until his legs nearly save him from a hunter, only to have his horns get stuck and the hunter catches him.

Hares - Story about the hare trying to get away from the hounds, calls on his friends, but none of his friends will help him because they all say that the others will.

Image from Lions, Pt 1

Source: UnTextbook

Learning Challenges

Learning while keeping HEART in mind could certainly improve how my satisfaction with the life I am living. I think HEART has a good distribution of how you should allocate your time spent among different activities. It places value on things that I think should be valued in your life.

The part of HEART that most interests me is H, happiness and health. I think this is something that I have just recently tried to incorporate into my own life. I have lost nearly 50 pounds in the last 6 months due to me placing a bigger emphasis on my own personal health. This has directly lead me to be a happier person. I could not be more pleased with how I look, and I feel so much better about myself and am more pleased with the life I am living. Placing a bigger priority on health has made me a happier person, and I think is a great value to have.

I have attached the picture below from the HEART blog because it made me laugh!

Meme from the learning by HEART blog

Source: Blogger

Growth Mindset

Before this video, I had never heard of the growth mindset. I have always valued trying hard and not giving up, I however had never heard of this particular Ted Talk. After watching it, I think this is a great idea! The growth mindset could help so many students not fall behind in school, and could help the ones that area ahead continue to learn at a fast rate. This growth mindset could help so many students reach new levels, levels that they could not reach with traditional teaching methods.

After watching this video, the growth mindset is something I will try to incorporate into my life. The results are astounding! If I can get the same results in my personal life, and with my future kids, I will help myself and others reach levels that would not have been possible otherwise.

Growth Meme from the Growth Mindset Memes Blog

Storybook Favorites

The first storybook that I read was Kindergarten Shenanigans. This storybook is really interesting, because it is fables written for kindergarten students. The fables teach the same lessons, the writer just re-wrote them from the point of view that a kindergartener could understand, changing the wording to make the stories more relatable for the kids. I think it is a very neat and intriguing idea, one that I could use for inspiration whenever I write my own storybook. 

The second storybook that I read was Louisiana Animal Folk Tales. This storybook is about written from the point of view of an alligator, telling stories about other animals. The intro is good and very well written, makes me as the reader want to find out what this storybook is about! I also really like the banner around the sides, with all of the beads for Mardi Gras. Fits the alligator being from New Orleans very well. This is a strong storybook, but I think I will try to make my layout a little more crisp. 

The third storybook, and the one my picture I have attached below is from, is the Tale of the Traveling Cat. I chose this one because the layout of the storybook is wonderful, very pleasing to the eye. I love that picture of the cat! That is not the first time I have seen it, but it always makes me laugh. This storybook is very well laid out, and is about a cat that has time revolving sunglasses. I really like how you can scroll through the different stories at the top of the page, and the images that accompany each story are also great and very fitting. This is the most complete storybook that I read today, one that I will have to take a look at before I create my own. 

Cat from the Tale of the Traveling Cat blog

Source: Memeorama

UnTextbook Reading Decision

I have decided to make my unit for week 2 Aesop's Fables. I chose this because ever since I was a child I have enjoy reading fables.

Some of the other units that interested me are the Adam and Eve, Beowulf, and Robin Hood.

I chose the Adam and Eve unit because I think it will be very interesting to hear the story from so many different writers and angles. I chose the Beowulf unit because I have always hear about him, but have never actually read anything about him. I also chose the unit about Robin Hood, because I have always enjoyed stories about him.

Robin Hood and Little John by L. Rhead 

Source: Wikimedia

Introduction to an Aspiring Photographer and Outdoor Enthusiast

Hi! My name is Mac and this post is to tell you a little bit about me! I am a senior, soon to be graduating with an economics degree. I have a job lined up in Denver after I graduate, which I cannot wait to start. I spent the summer up there and absolutely loved it. If you have not been, I would definitely recommend visiting, the mountains are gorgeous! I have included a picture I took this summer on a backpacking trip through the mountains so that you can see for yourself!

Some ways I really like to spend my extra time (which I have very little of, I work a full time job in addition to taking 18 hours) are by experimenting with photography, cooking, hiking and just being outside, and spending time with my friends. I am beginning to experiment with exposure photography, which is incredibly fun. I like to think I am a decent cook, I just wish I had more time for it. My love for hiking and the outdoors was definitely encouraged by my summer spent in Denver. 

Another way I really like to spend my time (and all of my money really) is by traveling. I always do everything I can anytime I have a break to go and visit new places. This break I went to Chicago, which was so fun! I loved the culture and people, and how proud everyone was of their city. It is a place I would consider living at some point. I expected it to be very cold, which it was, but it was not as bad as I was anticipating due to the fact that there was very little wind. I do not enjoy the wind of Oklahoma one bit.

I grew up in southern Oklahoma in a town that I imagine you have never heard of, which is okay! I would never go there if had not spent most of my life there. Growing up in such a small and closed environment has really helped me to appreciate all that I have around me, and I think has generally made me a happier person. So if I could go back, I would not change it. 

Week 1 Storytelling: Sour Fox

The Generally Sour Fox

There was once a fox who tried very hard to get some grapes that were out of his reach. Upon realizing that he could not have them, he ultimately decided that they were sour, and that he did not want them anyway. The moral of the story is " there are many who pretend to despise and belittle that which is beyond their reach." The story below is a continuation of his day.

~~~

Shortly after giving up on the grapes that he could not reach, the fox began to walk home to return to his den. He was excited to return home because he had a den that he was very proud of, one that he had spent much time on. Foxes take pride in their dens, as it is the only thing they can call truly theirs.

A fox in his den. Source: Flickr

So because of this, he had worked hard, and dug his den very deep. He did this on purpose, because he wanted to have a den deeper than any other fox. This was his den, and it was better than all of the others.

Upon returning home he noticed a mound of fresh dirt close to his home. This was odd, since he did not have any foxes close to him. He soon found that he had a new neighbor, with a den twice as deep as his own! The mound of dirt outside of the den was incredible, it was obvious that this new neighbor had put a lot of work and took a lot of pride in his new den. 

"This is impossible, how could another do this" the fox thought to himself “I will dig my den even deeper, deeper than my neighbor!”

As he began to dig deeper and deeper, he ran into a rock. This rock hindered him from being able to dig his den any deeper. This rock kept him from being able to make his den deeper than his neighbors, and this made the fox sour. He quickly gave up, and went to his neighbors to make sure that they realized that having a deep den was not important, and that he did not want one anyway, for if he wanted a deep den, he would have one.
 

Bibliography: This story is inspired by the fable "The Fox and the Grapes" written by Aesop in the book The Aesop for Children, published in 2006. Link

The Maroon Bells - My Favorite Place

        My favorite place is called the Maroon Bells. It is a state park in Colorado, just outside of Aspen. This summer I interned in Denver and spent my whole summer planning a backpacking trip to this state park with one of my buddies. Our trip was one of the most incredible experiences I have ever had. I had never seen just so much natural beauty in one place before, it was truly breathtaking. I have attached a picture below so that you can see for yourself.

Maroon Bells outside of Aspen, CO

Source: Wikimedia Commons

     As you can see, it is gorgeous. This is one of my favorite places because of the natural beauty, but also because of the memories I have made there. My buddy and I camped by the lake in the above picture, and hiked a 30 mile loop trail that went all the way around the mountains you can see in the back of the picture. I had a great time on the trip with him, and it is a place I will be back to soon.

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