My dear students, we are at the end of our journey together. If we read the news, the world still seems to be full of hatred, violence, revenge, injustice and madness. I want instead to end the school year with something contemporary to convey a positive message .
I’ve therefore decided to show you this short movie (click link) ‘Today, I Rise’ by Alexandra Feldner, that will only take you a few minutes to watch, but hope will inspire you forever.
- We’re going to WATCH the FILM WITHOUT SOUND. What do you think the film is about? How does the film make you feel?
- Now we’re WATCHING IT WITH SOUND ON. In your group decide what the message of the film is. Write it down and be ready to report to the rest of the class.
Here’s the PDF of the paper with the text I’ve given you in class.
The short film and poem seem to be inspired by the poem Still I Rise by Maya Angelou -(April 4, 1928 – May 28, 2014 was an American poet, memoirist, and civil rights activist) which is about the centuries of mistreatment and oppression of black people, and about the triumph of the human spirit over adversity.
- Can you find any similarities between the two poems?
I have finally chosen Michelle Obama’s last official speech addressing to young people like you.
INDIVIDUAL TASK: Make a personal comment connecting “Today I rise” to your daily life. Anything you cannot accept the way it is and can change? Anything you’d like to improve or do differently? Anything you’d like to commit to? LEAVE IT AS A COMMENT BELOW.
May the future bring you love and peace or al least bring you the wisdom to accept its imperfections.