This past Friday, I spent the day subbing for PirateTeacherFriend. I enjoy being in that room for several reasons - I know that PirateTeacherFriend is happy with my efforts and has confidence in me (heck - it was his idea that I sub to begin with, so it is only fitting...) so I can relax and just do my thing. I also enjoy his class - there are some very bright and interesting little minds in that second grade room - and it doesn't hurt that they like me in there too... And sometimes, PirateTeacherFriend asks me to bring a movie...
Well - I arrived with "Stellaluna" (both the movie and the book), a wonderful story about friendship and acceptance, some worksheets and even an outside game similar to MarcoPolo to help the kids learn about echolocation. Just in case. Instead - I notice I am being asked to show the students "The March of the Penguins" since it ties in nicely with the Language Arts unit. Makes perfect sense, and in theory a wonderful idea. Seemingly innocent request... right?
Have you SEEN this movie?? It is incredibly sad even when one is not knee deep in hormones. It is a documentary, so even though it is only 80 minutes long, it FEELS much longer... For seven year olds... it gets even better - gasps of horror as the leopard seal gulps down a penguin... "Is it DEAD??" when a little chick freezes in the Antarctic's subzero temperatures - sniffles when the adult penguins abandon their young at the end of the film... Not what one would call a "fun" day - not hard, mind you, just not fun...
At the end of the movie... I posed a question: "Those of you who were horrified when the leopard seal ate that penguin, please tell me how that is different from you eating a hamburger..." One of the aforementioned bright, interesting minds raised his hand and said, "The hamburger is dead and the penguin was living."
'nough said...
