CYCLE 9 - DAY 4 - SEMESTER 1: Rabbit Commandments

We covered the next five words in Unit 5 of the vocabulary book.

Today, you led the class work.

Group 4: Michael=leader, Shelby=typist, Billy=bouncer.
Small groups of 3 or 4 people worked together to:

• define "commendments."
• develop a list of ten of their own, using the previous night's homework.
• consider consequenes of breaking those commandments to refine the list to essentials.

Large group reconvened, created a larger list, and then winnowed it down. Final notes are available on the wikispace.

PROPOSED COMMANDMENTS

• Thou shalt not compromise thy warren.
• - Your individual actions should never hurt the group.
• Thou shalt trust thy Chief Rabbit.
• Thou shalt respect Frith and follow El-Ehrairah’s example.
• - Be cunning and resourceful
• Respect instinct first and Chief Rabbit second. Thou shalt be precocious (wary).
• - “If it is too good to be true, chances are it is” (Ostermeyer)
• Thou shalt look for a friend in all possible places.
• Honor thy group member’s abilities. Thou shalt know thy role as rabbit.
• Thou shalt act with modesty.
• - “If a rabbit gets too cocky, he/ she will make bad decisions” (Ostermeyer)
• Don’t let emotion cloud your judgement.
• Thou shalt keep thy goal in mind.
• Thou shalt be proud to be a rabbit.

Useful "bouncer" technique developed in this class: Hand gesture signaling "STOP" the conversation.

Group 6: Lilly=leader, Wil=typist, Alex=bouncer.

Small groups of 3 or 4 discussed last night's homework, each agreeaing on two principles for the four episodes. Large group reconvened, each small group then listed what it came up with, and the master list was then winnowed down:

Top 10 Rabbit Commandments:

• Trust each other
• Stick together, use teamwork
• Be patient with one another
• Listen to the wise
• Don’t judge a book by its cover
• Do what is best for the group
• Create alliances after weighing pros and cons
• Be resourceful and creative
• Sacrifice yourself for the team
• Don’t carry out your plan without a group consensus (first make a plan)

Group 2: Henry=leader, Daniel=typist, Jack=bouncer

After we read the comments posted on the last blog entry about why discussion has not been all it could be lately, Henry led the class. We began with vocabulary.

Small groups developed 5 commandments each. When the large group reconvened, each group offered the two that they thought most important. Please see the wikispace for full class notes.

Our Class’s 10 Commandments for Rabbits:

• Thou shall respect thy wisdom of Fiver-rah.
• Thou shall treat thy fellow anamalia with dignity and respect.
• Thou shall use the gifts of El-ahrairah for survival.
• Thou shall trust thy instincts.
• Thou shall trust in thy kin.
• Thou shalt not leave thy kin behind.
• Thou shall respect thy leaders/superior.
• Thou shall listen to thy comrades when they haveth something to contribute

Afterwards, Henry offered discussion questions:

• How do these rabbots' morals differ from our own? (Ours are meant to prevent harm; theirs promote survival.)
• How do their religious beliefs influence their moral codes?
• Are their values religious in nature?
• What is the role of Frith in the rabbits' lives?
• El-ahrairah is clearly a transcendent figure in their mythos. What are his morals?

HOMEWORK:

Read pages 261 through 289 in Watership Down. The study guide is posted on the portal, and available on the wikispace.

You are to write ONE study guide question related to this reading. While it should relate to the book, it does not need to be limited to the book (in other words, you may relate the reading to real life events, other books, etc.). You are to post your comment to the class blog, to the post entitled: "CYCLE 9 - DAY 5 - SEM 1: Watership Down 261-289." Just click the link here to get to it. If, for some reason, you are having issues posting your question, please just email it to me.

Also, please write 5 new sentences on the wikispace.