Nexus Literature Units

This unit covers Goldman's modern classic in relation to 12th-century feudalism, pilgrimages, relic cults, and the Crusades. It also examines the courtly love tradition in troubadour poetry and early Arthurian Romance as romted by Eleanor of Aquitaine and her daughter Marie of Champagne.

Feudalism is examined in relation to the central conflict of the play. Students explore the Crusades, but first must understand relic cults. Students look at the significance of the Magna Carta.

Medieval medicine is explored, as well as Arab Astronomy and the Physics of the Crossbow.

This is one of my favorites because I studied it in high school. Students explore Steinbeck's materpiece in relation to the Dust Bowl crisis, the New Deal, WPA art and theater, Swing music, cinema, and science of the Great Depression.

Learn all about he Dust Bowl Crisis through Woody Guthrie's songs, Dorothea Lange's photos for the Resettlement Administration, and the Grapes of Wrath.

Learn about the New Deal and explore New Deal Art through four murals that can be read like visual poems.

The Dust Bowl, the New Deal, the Great Depression, Uncle Sam - all words we're familiar with. They'll come to life through this study of "The Grapes of Wrath."

This is another that's close to my heart. I studied Latin all through high school and was fortunate enough to attend the play starring Charleton Heston - it was something I'll never forget.

Students explore the play and writings of the real Julius Caesar, metaphor & myth in Roman poetry and art, the influence of Roman playwrights on Shakespeare, and the exciting history of the real characters in the play.

In addition to a deeper look at Julius Caesar, students will explore Roman art and poetry. the will look at the aftermath of the assassination. They will learn about the Gladiators and the Roman Games. They'll learn about Catapults - Roman War Machines.