Genesis

3/2: We wrapped up (for now) the Genesis discussion by looking at Joseph and Potiphar's wife, and at the Tamar story.

3/1: We spent the period working in the Media Center on the portfolio.

2/27-2/28: We looked at some portfolio examples and talked through questions. We discussed the Joseph story as a whole, focusing on Joseph's character early in the story, his youth and immaturity, his brothers' reactions, etc.

2/17: We started class by discussing Gen 34. We talked a lot about the last line and its echo to the "Am I my brother's keeper?" question. Then. students chose two statements from the "Jacob statement and motifs" notes on the board (attached below), and in journals, responded by first choosing T or F and then backing up their opinion with evidence from the text. I also asked students to copy down the Pope Francis quote (attached) as we will return to that again.

HOMEWORK: get started on the portfolios and finish Genesis over break.

2/16: We spent the period talking about the portfolio assignment and looking at some resources. Check out the "resources for portfolio" page link on the Bible as Lit home page. HOMEWORK: Read Genesis 34.

2/14: G Block: Please start class by reviewing all that you read for today, and in your journal, reflect on the stories. Choose at least two of the following to write about (fill two pages): Jacob’s character, Esau’s character, Isaac as a father, Rebekah’s character and her decision to help Jacob, God’s place in these stories.

After you are done, get together in groups of 4. Talk through questions about the stories, then turn your attention to these ideas: what do you make of all the deception in these stories? Which character(s) have your sympathy and why? Is blessing really worth it? Is Jacob a worthy recipient of the blessing? Why or why not? How is Rebekah like Abraham? Does she make the right decisions (does Rebekah avoid the Cain and Abel problem or does she make it worse)? What do you make of God in these stories? . Keep one set of group notes that you can hand in to the sub at the end of the class (make sure everyone’s name is on the notes). Include in the notes questions you cannot resolve, your best insights into the stories, etc.

I have posted the portfolio assignment and portfolio tips on the website. Please print these out, read them and bring them to class on Thursday so we can talk it through. Read Gen 34 for Friday and finish Genesis over break. Vanessa and Jordin, if you can, email me your portfolio pieces. Otherwise, please bring them to me at the beginning of school tomorrow.

2/10- We spent the period wrapping up Abraham's story, including Gen 22 (art on Genesis art page). On the front of a notecard: react to the Gen 22 story. What did you think when you read it? Did you find it terrifying (as I do), surprising, comforting, etc and WHY? What questions do you have and/or what stuck out to you? Fill the front of the card. After class discussion and art, on the back of the notecard: which Gen 22 art piece challenged you the most and WHY? Fill the back of the notecard.

2/8: HOMEWORK: Revised copy of portfolio piece die tomorrow. Read Gen 22 for Friday.

In class, we continued to follow Abraham's family and its story: questions, insights, wrestling and concerns.

2/6: We started talking about the Abraham stories today. Some terrific ideas from classmates including the idea that God is in search of relationship with man, that Abraham intervenes (unlike Noah) on behalf of Sodom and Gomorrah (and on behalf of God as well), that Hagar had no say in the matter, yet God speaks with her, that Sarah and the rest are completely human. I've posted my motifs to watch for below. HOMEWORK: Read 19-21 carefully. Lots goes on. Think about the stories and the characters in all their complexities. On the back of the Cain notecard, reflect about one character in the chapters who you find compelling. Dig deep to THINK about what it is that makes the character compelling, complex, sympathetic and perhaps not. Fill the back of the card.

2/3: Portfolio draft response in class. Portfolio draft piece is due Thursday.

2/2: See "Noah story group work" below. HOMEWORK: draft portfolio piece due tomorrow (see art on the "Genesis art" page).

1/30: Genesis schedule is out (see attached). Please keep up with the reading, whether or not you are here. We worked together to make meaning out of the poems, to THINK about how the poems convey a particular understanding of the Genesis stories. We also reacted on the front of a notecard: to the Cain and Abel story. If it is a story with which you were familiar, write about what you noticed, what surprised you and what new ideas you had as you read. If you were not familiar with the story before this reading, then react to it. Ask questions, write about the characters as you see them, think about who. what is to blame here, what this story says about man, about God, etc. Fill the front of the card.

1/27: We talked about 1-3 today. Homework: With today’s discussion in your heads, please read closely and carefully Gen 4. The concept of sin is introduced here for the first time. THINK about the story, about the characters and the tension and the conflict, about God’s actions and Cain’s and about the ending. Also, please read and mark up the Genesis poems. Choose two poems (you must use the highlighted poem) – circle words you do not know (or do not understand as they are being used in context) and look them up. Underline images that particularly stick out to you and make notes about WHY. Use those images to help you make meaning of the poem. Try to summarize the poem (a one –two line “bumper sticker” that indicates what the poem is about). Paraphrase (this is a closer reading) lines/ complete thoughts, ideas, etc. for the poem, marking lines you do not understand. Square word choice that seems striking (look for patterns, words that stick out because of sound or vividness, strong verbs, etc.). Examine the title and how it shapes an understanding of the poem. Make notes for each about what views of the Eden story the poem is expressing.

1/23: Tonight, read Genesis 1 and Genesis 2. These two chapters present two different creation stories, and they will give us a chance to think about how these stories create a people, explore this people’s relationship to its world, to the divine, etc. As you read, on the front of the notecard: make two lists – ideas/images that are familiar to you and new ideas/images (strive for at least 5 on each list). When you are finished reading, on the back of the notecard: reflect on the two stories. Start with what is surprising to you, what you had not heard or did not remember and why it might matter. THINK about imagery or ideas that particularly stick out to you and write about why. What is the view of God in these stories and how do you know that? Fill the back of the card. I do not take late work. These are due tomorrow.