“How can small changes in my habits shape my success this year, and beyond?”

If you wanted to create a habit for yourself, how would you go about doing it? Would you plan out all the steps? Would you find a friend with the same goal to help? Or would you start your habit and pray that your motivation would last long enough for you to keep going? Well, what if I told you there’s a way to help you continue your habit, without it feeling like a chore?

For the past few months in PGP, we have been studying what makes & brakes healthy habits, and how to continue them even when not motivated to. It started by reading Atomic Habits, a book by James Clear that teaches all ages how to make functional habits by making small changes in our day-to-day lives. As a skeptic myself regarding these things, I wasn’t convinced that reading a book would miraculously change how my brain thinks to adapt to my new “habits”, but tried my best to keep an open mind while I read. And that action alone helped me absorb way more helpful insight from the book that I have put in place in my own life. 

Before we read the book, we were tasked with creating pop art photos that reflected our learning intention for the year. We had to take a photo of ourselves, edit it, and add symbols that would represent said intention. I wanted to focus on my time management, as my schedule this year is quite packed. I wanted it to show all the different aspects of my life that I had to balance, and my learning intention statement represented just that. This beginning task helped me understand the context of the task we were about to indulge in, and hopefully help me set this goal into place.

There were a lot of key takeaways from Atomic Habits, but there were a couple that helped me understand why and how to create a truly good habit. The reading for us was split into 4 segments and was primarily focused on 1 of the 4 laws James mentions in his book. The 4 laws are to make it obvious, make it attractive, make it easy, and make it satisfying. The book was split into those 4 sections, with the chapters inside corresponding with the law and showing us a new tactic to help achieve that part of the habit. If you follow these laws when creating a new habit, you are more likely to stick to it and see success in the long run. He also talked about how to use the habit loop, cue, craving, response & reward, to build a new habit. Identifying the habit loop in your new goal can help you build things that will act as a reminder to put the habit in motion. And the two-minute rule – creating a habit that’s less than two minutes, can help you effectively merge the goal into your daily routine very successfully, as it takes minimal effort and has a great reward. These three ideas helped me understand how to create a habit I could use for my entire life, and also helped me with the creation of my artifact!

For our end product of this project, we had to use what we learned from Atomic Habits and create an artifact unique to you that represents it. Once we had our finished products, we would present them to our parents at our PrePOL (pre-presentation of learning). My classmates chose an array of different end products, each portraying the information we learned from the book, but I wanted mine to be something that would help me achieve my intention for the year, time management, so I created the one thing I knew would help me the most, a schedule. Every day was planned out with the order of classes, homework due that day, and any extracurricular activities that would take place. It took me a long time, as I had to put every single detail and item into the schedule, but when I was finished, the product looked great. And before I knew it, PrePOL day had come.

I showcased my artifact to my parents, showing them it while explaining all the different concepts I included. I used the 4 laws in it, I made it obvious was having the entire day planned out, and I made it attractive by making it visually appealing with icons and colour. I made it easy by being able to go into the app and see what was next, and I made it satisfying by being able to check off every task when finished. I am very proud of it and have been using it ever since the PrePOL to keep track of everything going on in my life. It has helped me not only keep on top of my learning intention for the year but also help put James Clear’s ideologies into place in my daily routine, which has helped me immensely. 

In conclusion, small changes in our habits can greatly shape our success not only this year but beyond. By following the principles outlined in Atomic Habits by James Clear, we can create functional habits that become ingrained in our daily lives. By utilizing tactics such as the 4 laws, habit loop and the two-minute rule, we can effectively create habits that will stick and lead to long-term success. By incorporating these strategies into our daily routines and creating artifacts that represent our intentions, we can make significant progress towards achieving our goals and ultimately shaping our success for the future.

Now, if you’re still feeling skeptical about the idea of small changes leading to big results, you’re not alone. It can be hard to believe that such simple adjustments can have a significant impact on your success.  I had a hard time believing it myself when I started reading. But the truth is, our habits – whether good or bad – shape the course of our lives more than we may realize. So, rather than relying on sheer willpower or hoping for a stroke of luck to keep you on track, why not try implementing the proven strategies outlined in Atomic Habits? After all, what have you got to lose? Take a chance on yourself and see just how far those small changes can take you.

“Why does the world need more Canada? We are a great country, with a strong government and beautiful environments, but what aspects do we have that other countries could greatly benefit from?” 

This question, our driving question, was asked to us at the beginning of the year. At first thought, people could say many things such as our government, our nature, and our immigration system. While these are important, they only touch the surface of what Canada has to offer. Throughout this project, we dived deeper into exploring why the world truly needs more Canada. 

At the start of this unit, our teachers thought the best introduction to the project would be to show the class some advantages and disadvantages of Canadian society, and would do so through The National. The National is a Canadian-wide televised news network that discusses and reports on major and current events daily. We were all tasked with watching it every night, as well as participating in Thinking Thursday, where we head to learn about a specific current event, connect it to the driving question, and present it to our peers on our allotted day. I was assigned the first Thursday, so I spent my week researching and writing about my topic, “B.C implements new guidelines to help protect bears across the province.” Doing this activity as a precursor to the multi-paragraph composition, helped me get a full grasp of what the teachers are asking of us to consider for this project. 

The next step in the project was in my opinion, the most beneficial part of the whole learning process. We spent many days as a class in split classes, one teacher teaching us how analyzing Canadian literature for allegories and concise arguments could benefit us in our essays, whereas the other taught us about Canada’s presence on the world stage. It was really difficult at first trying to find the hidden meaning behind stories while studying about Canada in the UN, NATO and NORAD. It helped me understand how to identify the underlying messages in a piece of literature, and be able to connect it to different topics, as well as supply information on Canada for my multi-paragraph composition, which was the end product of this unit.

The hardest part of this project by far was indeed the multi-paragraph composition. Before we could start writing it though, we had to pick a topic that shows how Canada has helped them in the past. I was racking my brain trying to come up with a topic, but when I considered what I cared enough about to write an essay that fit the criteria, only one thing came to mind. I quickly jumped into my research, reading and analyzing anything to do with Canada’s support of Ukraine. Canada has the biggest Ukrainian immigrant population, and my father has been one of them since he immigrated in 1979, so this topic was personal. It wasn’t difficult to find the information but to format it in a clear, concise and clever way, that was the issue. I must have written about 6 different drafts, but every time I thought I had completed the “perfect” draft, I found a flaw in it that ultimately made me start to rewrite that part. After what seemed like hours of writing, corrections and editing, I ended up with an end product I was very pleased with and was happy that the only hard part was over. But I was wrong.

This project flowed between Humanities and Maker, so we had some overlap during the middle of the project. Once we had finished our multi-paragraph composition, we had the task of turning it into a podcast script. The podcast was mainly maker-focused, but the manufacturing of the script and the creation of the podcast were equally as difficult as the essay. I had to pair down so much information for it to all fit in 5 minutes, including time for a brief interview with my dad, and the problems didn’t stop there. After it was recorded, I had to pair the interview and information even more to make sure it was interesting, informative & fit the time frame. After hours of staring at my iPad fixing audio files, I was finally finished and ready to hand in. This project was possibly one of the most challenging ones I’ve ever been tasked with, but the skills and information I’ve learned through it are things I can use to make other assignments easier, and I wouldn’t trade that for an “easy” project any day.

In conclusion, the world needs more Canada for a multitude of reasons. Not only does Canada have a strong government, beautiful environments, and a welcoming immigration system, but it also has a rich history of supporting and helping others on the world stage. Through exploring Canadian literature, current events, and personal connections, we discovered the importance of Canada’s global presence and impact. From protecting wildlife in British Columbia to supporting Ukraine, Canada has shown time and time again that it is a valuable ally and leader in making positive change in the world. By embracing the values and lessons that Canada has to offer, we can work together to create a more compassionate, inclusive, and supportive global community. Let’s strive to embody the spirit of Canada in our own lives and actions, making the world a better place for all.

World War One was one of the bloodiest, deadliest wars that killed millions and injured way more. It caused mass destruction across the entirety of Europe and has been a key factor in Canadian history. During WWI, Canada played a significant role as a member of the Allied Powers. The war had a lasting impact on Canada, shaping the country and its identity in ways that are still evident today. From the sacrifices made by Canadian soldiers on the battlefield to the changes in Canadian society and economy, the effects of WWI can still be felt in Canada a century later. This was the topic of the grade 9 exhibition this year, so join me as I take you through the different stages of creating it.

After our Nationalism project, we swiftly moved into what would be the highlight of our grade’s exhibition, World War 1 Comic Books. When first introduced to this project, I thought it would be an easy, fun, end-of-year assignment, but boy was I wrong. The instructions were to make a WW1 comic book about a battle/event that had taken place, with full details and everything. It was a tracing assignment, so in my mind that meant less drawing time, but I decided that I was going to go the extra mile, I was going to freehand draw the entire thing! Am I good at drawing? No. Because I had a stellar idea? Somewhat. Because I like to make things challenging for myself. Absolutely. We had to create storyboards before we could start drawing our good copy, so as soon as it was announced, I got started drawing. 

My story is about the last day of the war, November 11th, 1918, and is told through 3 different points of view. So not only had I decided to freehand the entire thing, but I had also decided to at 17 more panels than suggested. I realized that I was digging myself into a hole I wasn’t sure if I could get out of, but I had to try. And the moment I finished the storyboards, I jumped head-first into the comic. The rest of the time prior to exhibition was a blur. I only had a week and a half to create my comic, and that had me feeling stressed, using any free time I had to draw. I would stay up late on many occasions to draw, and before I knew it, the dreaded day had arrived.

 To say exhibition day was chaotic would be an understatement. All the grade 9’s were instructed to meet in the cafeteria at 3:15, and we quickly came to the conclusion that no one knew what the plan was after. Because we spent all our time on our comics, we didn’t really think about the decor or anything. We all frantically ran around for the next hour and a half trying to organize ourselves. The comics came at 4pm, and everyone dropped everything and excitedly gathered around Miss Madsen to collect them, but mine wasn’t there. The printers didn’t print mine, and that made me freak out. Since I was the only one doing my topic, I was lone in a group, and if I had no comic then why was I even here?! But thankfully Mr. Harris came in clutch and printed out the forgotten comics, and at 5pm, the doors opened, and the presenting started!

In the end, all the stress, late nights, and chaos of exhibition day were worth it. Seeing all the hard work and creativity of my classmates showcased in one room was truly inspiring. Despite the challenges and setbacks, we all came together to create something truly special. The experience of creating my World War 1 comic book taught me the value of perseverance and determination. It showed me that even when things seem impossible, with hard work and dedication, anything is achievable. The lessons learned and memories made during this exhibition will stay with me for a long time. So, here’s to overcoming obstacles, pushing through challenges, and coming out stronger on the other side. Cheers to a successful exhibition and all the growth and learning that came with it!

Driving Question: How can you showcase evidence to demonstrate that PLP Success Behaviours have prepared you to advance to the next grade?

Within 3 months, in September, I will be starting my grade 10 year. That means I would have completed 2 years at Seycove, as well as 2 years in PLP. And at this moment, standing here, I can’t quite fully grasp the fact. This year has flown by, and with the weather changing every day, it honestly feels like we’re in February, not June. Grade 9 has been something different, with plot twists and events I never knew were going to happen, let alone expect it ever would. But, before I can successfully move into the next chapter of my education, I need to reflect on the most challenging, annoying and wonderful school year yet.

For this year’s tPOL, I would like to start with my most challenging event of the year; Destination Imagination! Specifically, I want to talk about how the competition has helped me open my mind to the simple yet taxing part for me, which was accepting feedback. On the first competition day, my group and I were ready to take the stage, presenting our performance to the audience, and hopefully snagging a spot on the podium. But due to lack of preparation, technical difficulties and overall disagreement, we ranked 4 out of 4. Honestly, in my opinion, we would have ranked the same on the second round if it weren’t for what the appraisers had to say. Now, I can give feedback like no one’s business, but accepting it is another story. I feel like if someone has any criticism or negative thoughts about my work, that I had failed and should give up, but the judges at DI, they made sure to portray the feedback in a way that encourages you to preserve, which helped my entire group. With this, we rewrote our script, made some adjustments to the costumes, and made sure our pinball machine was looking good. And this time, we came out on top, tied for 2nd! I was proud of myself for being able to take the feedback, mix it into the content, and have something in the end that was what they wanted and more! This is something I needed to learn, and will hopefully improve more on in future projects and next year’s Destination Imagination!

Like many projects, the Nationalism Video proved to be equally as challenging, but throughout the process, I learned a very valuable skill: Self Regulation. During the whole time, I was working like crazy day and night trying to have a finished product by the due date. But while I was working, I was constantly stressed, working until 11pm every night, and even missing sports practices. I’ve always struggled with clear boundaries between school/homework and my time outside of the classroom, but over this year the lines have become severely blurred. After that project was finished, I vowed to myself to keep working on my regulation, and hope to make it a strong strength for the future. So far I have kept this up, (with the exception of a few late night comic drawings sessions), and am definitely going to try bringing this new skill with me into grade 10!

Every POL I like to reflect on my learning guide, to see what things I have accomplished this year, and skills that I have yet to learn. But today, I want to talk about a specific skill that has taken me ages to develop, but am slowly getting better at. For me, seeking help from teachers about schoolwork has always been an issue, especially in the past. My mind had convinced me that if I’m confused or need help, than I’m stupid and should just give up. That is clearly not a healthy work mentality to have, and over my 2 years in high school, I’ve tried to improve that. At this moment, I can confidently tell you that I have been able to ask teachers and other administrators my questions, and have not had the little voice in my head telling me to just give up. I know this seems like a skill that is very easy to do, but for my people pleasing, overachieving self, showing even a hint of weakness can send me into a downward spiral. So this is when I am at right now, and hopefully at next year’s tPOL, I will be able to talk once again about this topic, and have more confidence to go with it!

In conclusion, as I prepare to advance to grade 10, I can showcase evidence that PLP Success Behaviours have prepared me for this next step. From learning to accept and utilize feedback effectively during Destination Imagination, to practicing self-regulation during the Nationalism Video project, and even conquering my fear of seeking help from teachers, I have demonstrated growth and development in key areas. These experiences have equipped me with the necessary skills and mindset to tackle the challenges of the next grade level with confidence and determination. I am proud of the progress I have made and excited to continue to build on these successes in the future.

Nationalism is a mysterious ideology that has been used to help create almost every country on planet Earth. It can help improve government, make the country a better place, or single-handedly ruin a nation. Events happen in wild, crazy ways, that can be methodically thought out, or just free-wheeled. No one can tell if it happens for better or for worse, so our class decided to figure it out for ourselves. 

At the beginning of April, all PLP 9 students were faced with a new and daunting assignment. We all must pick a country to study, learn about its history during nationalism, and make a 4-5 minute video displaying our knowledge on the topic. There were many different countries to choose from, but I wanted a challenge, so I picked the place I thought would that would do just that; India. Now, I know absolutely nothing about the history of India, so I was excited to start this project, and as soon as we were given the green light, I dived right into the research. 

Before even doing any research, the teachers taught us how to find a good, reliable source, and how to cite our sources. It was a really useful lesson, and it helped me later on, but I was having a hard time finding things to source from. Locating information about Indian nationalism was super difficult because every page I looked at had differing interpretations of the event. I looked for a solid 3 days, but eventually, I gathered all my necessities and started forming a script. After having all my notes, writing was the easiest part of the whole process, as I used my notes as the starting point and turned them into proper sentences, after I was finished, double-checked for errors, and headed in, it was time to move on to the video. 

The video was slightly less stressful than the research but was a challenge as well. Since nationalism in India happened quite a bit later, I thought it would be easier to find, but a lot of important dates occurred during WW1, in which India did not take part. I had to use so much media to create my video from many various places, and thankfully I had all of them in my search history so I could accurately source them all. After many hours of editing, some slight procrastination & many snacks later, and I finished my video! Honestly, I’m proud of this, and I hope you all enjoy!

DRIVING QUESTION: How have I demonstrated growth as a learner so far this year?

8 months ago, I started grade 9. In eight months, I have drastically changed the way, I learn, the way I live, and the way I think. In eight months, I have had my fair share of successes, failures, learning moments, and about everything in between. I have accomplished things I never thought I would, felt proud of myself, and opened my mind up to the possibilities that school and the world have in store for me. Alongside that, I have failed in the ways I didn’t know I could, tried new things, and made mistakes.  I feel more connected to my work than ever. I have dared to learn, dared to dream, dared to be the best human being I can be. And for these 7 minutes, I would like to share my greatest moments in PLP this year with you.

 To start, I’m going to jump into my biggest learning moment so far: The Winter Exhibition. If anyone wasn’t aware of the grade 9 project, we had to make a Rube Goldberg machine based off a revolution, each step coronating with a part of history in that time. When we were put into a group at the beginning, everything was going amazingly. We collaborated, brought new ideas, and helped with equipment and items we needed, but as time ticked away, things took a turn for the worse. We broke off into groups of 2 to tackle each machine module, and by the day of the exhibition we had all our necessary pieces to set up, yet when we tried to put them all together, the top part was way too big. No one had been on the same page, no one had even talked. We spent the majority of that day frantically working to try and make something happen. In the end, we got the second half to be a successful machine and rolled with that. Now, was this an absolute disaster? Yes. Should we have probably tried everything together before the day of? Absolutely. But did we also learn, grow, and experience strong self-reflection? 100%. I learned that if you want something done, you have to do it yourself and find those people who can help you achieve your goals, instead of holding you down. I also learned how hard it was to work in big groups where everyone wanted different things, but it is now a skill of mine I can use in the future. So this year, my biggest fail, my biggest challenge, was my biggest learning, and honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way. 

Alongside the failures, I have had so many accomplishments and proud moments. I went to Alberts and did hikes I didn’t even know I was capable of doing! I have grown with my peers at Loon Lake, opening our minds and emotions to each other. I have competed in DI and tied for 2nd! I have learned about a wide variety of topics, from the periodic table to Louis Riel to our creating thrillers. But one of my biggest achievements of this year was none other than my Frankenstuffie. The project was for us to sew the most creative creatures we could think of, write them a story, and turn it into a video. Like most of my projects, it started easy, getting to be fully immersed in the storytelling, but by the time the video part rolled around, I realized that this would be harder than I thought. I looked high and low to find photos for background and props, but nothing was working, so eventually started drawing. Before I even knew it, my Apple Pencil was taking control. And I am proud to say that everything in that video besides my Frankenstuffie is hand-drawn. All 2 minutes and 24 seconds of it. Boy was it a struggle, my hand cramping up countless times, getting bored, and almost giving up. I’m glad I didn’t though, because whenever I look back and reflect on it, I get overwhelmed with a feeling of pride, and that made all the hours of drawing worthwhile.

To take it back the beginning of the year, I would like to talk about my learning  plan. I still remember how I started my very first mPOL with it, and how it taught me a valuable lesson of expressing one’s true thoughts and opinions. I know this is only my first presentation of learning this year, but reflecting on this guide, it’s safe to say that I have almost accomplished everything in the growth categories. I have started asking for help when I’m struggling, and I have learned that failing is okay. I have continued to hand things in on time and will continue doing it. I have almost mastered the ways of constructive criticism and not coming off like a mean person, but that’s a department that still needs help. And I have finally started sticking up for myself in group projects, not letting people walk all over me and hand their work to me, and voicing my concerns. More than ever, I have become the learner that I dreamed of being, and setting these goals was like making a checklist of things that were holding me back from it. 

In conclusion, I have demonstrated significant growth as a learner throughout this year. From facing challenges and failures to celebrating accomplishments and successes, I have embraced every opportunity to learn and grow. Through projects like the Winter Exhibition and Frankenstuffie, as well as experiences at Alberts and Loon Lake, I have pushed myself beyond my comfort zone and developed valuable skills in collaboration, creativity, and resilience. Reflecting on my learning plan, I can see the progress I have made in seeking help, meeting deadlines, and advocating for myself. Overall, I am proud of the learner I have become and am excited to continue on this journey of growth and development in the future! Thank you!

A crucial part of all schools is teamwork, which is tested and presented in many ways. Most places will have group projects like PowerPoints and experiments, but PLP is on a whole other level, as they use the most team-reliant type of project, Destination Imagination (DI)! DI is a school-wide event, where people attend a school to witness their families and friends compete for first. There are 4 different challenge topics: Technical, Engineering, Scientific & Fine Arts, each getting a new challenge every year. This year, it was my first year in DI, and I got placed in the technical challenge this year – Pinball Hero! In Pinball Hero’s, each group has to create a working pinball machine, with 3 or more modules. The pinball has to complete one full pinball round where the size three soccer ball interacts with every module to get any points. And this year, we had to make it themed around an action/adventure movie. But, you’re not here to read paragraphs on the rules and regulations, so let me indulge you in the absolutely crazy process of making a pinball machine.

When it was first announced in early January, my mind instantly started brainstorming ideas for potential ideas. I was working on some plans when we were assigned our groups and challenges, and as soon as we did, my group started collaborating. It turned out that I wasn’t the only one with ideas, because our conversations were full of cool and crazy thoughts for modules, art and the story. We bounced things around but eventually ended up with the story idea of Mario. It was a classic, and everyone in my group was familiar with it, so it seemed like the perfect idea. Once we had the basics of the plan, we split up into 2 groups; one from the machine, and the other for the story. 

Jannik, Logan and I worked on the story and script while Magnus and Charlie worked on the actual machine. We stuck to the original elements and stories in Mario but added our twists to it.  We had fun creating it, reminiscing on the joy that Mario brings us, and focusing on the specific ideas we think would fit best. Then, once we had the story, I created the script to bring our story to life. While we did that, our 2 grade 10’s (Charlie and Magnus), worked diligently on the machine and the modules. We all communicated throughout the entire thing, to make sure the story matched the machine and vice versa. Everything and everyone was great and on the same page completely, until the semester change. During February, my group lost touch. We all had conflicting schedules, never agreeing on times to meet up, and having to do all our tasks on our own. I spent that time collecting my costume and making all the necessary props we agreed upon. 

I made fireballs out of whiffle balls, mystery boxes with cardboard, and fire flowers with both. It was stressful enough working together every day in Maker, but not meeting up added a whole new layer of anxiety. But finally, everyone’s schedules cleared up, and we started working again. The 10’s built and assembled the machine, while the rest of us started to paint it, adding more of the Mario feel to it. Before we even knew it, it was March 2nd, Destination Imagination Day! The day was eventful, to say the least. We all met at 8:30 am in our practice rooms and started rehearsing immediately. Hours and hours we practiced, trying to make sure everything was perfect for our 12:45 pm presentation time. In between we had our instant challenge, then lunch, and the next thing we knew, it was time! We grabbed our props, sign, and machine and headed onto the stage.

The presentation went well! We all remember our lines, acted to the best of our abilities, and completed a pinball round. Our group was sure we snatched a place on the podium, but when we talked to the appraisers, that idea was quickly dismissed. Because of some technical problems and actions, we placed last, and I was furious. How dare I put 3 months of hard work into it, just to end up at the bottom?! I didn’t understand, but I kept my anger inside as I congratulated the groups that won. I realized that my group has many things to improve from the art of the machine to the modules themselves. After the day was over, went home and started again from square one, thinking of new ideas to make sure we secure a podium spot for next time. We may have not won, or come close in any way, but we all learned the hard way, that if you want to win, then you need more than a half-finished product and a dream. So until the next teams, may the best and most improved machine win.

If you could create any random animal hybrid, what would you make? I ask this of you, because our most recent project, ‘Rise of the Frankenstuffies’, we all had to use our imagination and semi successful sewing skills to build the hybrid of our dreams. 

We were first approached with the project in the beginning of February right after semester change. We were told to bring old stuffed animals that were ready to be repurposed and destroyed in the name of art. We were given free rein to pick and choose whatever materials we wanted to use for our creations. After scavenging around different tables for stray parts, I found a frog head, lamb body and ears, cat tail, and leopard legs. It was a mishmash of different textures and colors, but somehow it all seemed to come together in a weirdly cohesive way. Over the next two days, I spent every spare moment working on my creation. Sewing, stuffing, and stitching until my fingers were sore and slightly bleeding. But the result was worth it.

Process of Creating Leonid

After the assembling of our stuffies, we moved into 2 separate things at once. We were first given a book to read called “Levithan” by Scott Westerfield. This book was about an alternate world in the midst of war, where there were genetically engineered creatures called ‘Darwinist Beasties’. The creatures in the book were a mix of different animals, just like my creation. At the same time, we were tasked with creating a Hero’s Journey diagram for our stuffies. We had to break down their story into seven different sections, and describe our strange friend. It was a challenging task, but I dove in with enthusiasm. I wrote the entirety of Leonid’s story, bringing him to life with every detail. The combination of reading “Leviathan”, creating my Frankenstuffie, and mapping out his Hero’s Journey had opened up a whole new level of thinking for me, showing me how anything can spark creativity.

Once we our entire story, we had to choose one part to present in our film. I choose 3 parts and simplified them to the length of one, and it was no easy task let me tell you that. I love writing, I do it all the time in and out of school, but having full creative liberties on an assignment can cause writers block for me. So while everyone was writing, I was still plotting the perfect way to share Leonids story, and once I found it, everything fell into place. Words spewing from my brain onto the page instantly, and before I knew it, I arrived at the last part of the entire thing; the video.

This process was the most infuriating and difficult part by far. I realized some of the parts that I wrote about were going to be difficult, so I had to simplify even more while still portraying my story. Once I had my new final draft, I started gathering background photos for editing. But, I couldn’t find any, so I decided it would be more unique if I drew it all by hand. It took me hours and hours of drawing, erasing, redrawing and animating, but I finished it just in the nick of time. Before I handed it it, I added some sound effects and video effects to spice things up, then sent it in!

“How do we as writers make our message clear and engaging to an audience?”This is the driving question, the bigger question around the entirety of this project. The main focus is on how writers can make their message clear and engaging to an audience. The writer suggests drawing inspiration from various sources, incorporating elements that resonate with the audience, and utilizing creative storytelling techniques to make the message more captivating. By being creative, persistent, and innovative, writers can effectively communicate their message and capture the attention of their readers or viewers.

In conclusion, the ‘Rise of the Frankenstuffies’ project pushed me to think outside the box and get creative with my storytelling. From creating my own hybrid stuffed animal to mapping out its Hero’s Journey and bringing it to life in a short film, every step of the process was a challenge that ultimately led to a satisfying result. By immersing myself in the world of ‘Leviathan’ and drawing inspiration from various sources, I was able to craft a story that was engaging and unique. This project taught me the importance of perseverance and innovation in writing, as well as the power of storytelling to captivate an audience. Who knows what odd creature I may create next, but one thing is for sure – the journey of creating it will be just as exciting and rewarding as this one.

Now you, my amazing viewers and teacher, I would like your feedback on my video. After watching my film, click this link, and it will take you to a padlet. There you can give me feedback alongside comments for me to take into consideration. Thank you very much, I’ll see you next blogpost!

Rise of the Frankenstuffies Padlet

In the short time before the semester changed, my PLP 9 class dove into the study of an important individual in Canadian history; Louis Riel. Now, I’m somewhat of a history hater, so when the project was first announced, I was disappointed. I have never felt any interest in historical events such as World Wars or ancient civilizations like my peers, so I was counting on this particular assignment to bore me. Yet, at this moment in time, reflecting on “Let’s Get Riel”, I feel more connected to my country’s past. However, if you aren’t familiar with this Métis legend, let me indulge you in his story, so sit down, get comfortable, and enjoy as I share with you a retelling of Louis Riel and his portrayal in history through my eyes.

For this assignment, we had to create a multi-paragraph composition based on our driving question, “How has the portrayal of Louis Riel changed over time?”. He was portrayed as many different things, but the evolution in itself reminded me of the power of perspective. History is not a fixed entity; it is subjective, shaped by the viewpoints and biases of those who record it. What we believe to be true today may be challenged and reevaluated in the future. It made me realize that our understanding of the past can never be fully comprehensive or objective. Growing up, I was taught a simplified version of history, where the heroes and villains were clearly defined. But as I delved deeper into Riel’s story, I realized that reality is far more complex. The struggles faced by the Métis people were not black and white; they were multifaceted and intertwined with issues of identity, land rights, and cultural preservation. In a way, studying the life of Louis Riel challenged me to question my own assumptions and preconceived notions. It made me realize that history is not just a static collection of dates and events; it is a living, breathing entity that continues to shape the present. 

While I’ve discussed a lot about his story and my thoughts on it, I haven’t talked much about the actual composition. This project was very challenging for me, as I couldn’t put my opinion into it. I’m usually a very opinionated person, you could ask anyone I know, so having to write a piece of literature while staying completely impartial was hard. I wrote drafts and drafts, each one different yet not meeting my personal expectations. Then something clicked, and I knew how I had to write. I wrote like someone who just knew the facts, the evidence given to them, like I knew nothing other than the impartial truth. And after revisions from myself and the teaches, I had a finished product that I was proud of.

So, is this real life, or is it just fantasy? Perhaps it’s a bit of both. The study of Louis Riel allowed me to step out of my historical apathy and explore the vibrant and often untold stories that shaped our nation. It reminded me that history is not just a subject to be endured; it is a lens through which we can better understand ourselves and our country.

Exhibition day is supposed to be the day when you proudly present your finished product to the world, showing it off and reminiscing on the last few months of building, painting, planning, and overall design. But when you have 8 unassembled pieces of a Rube Goldberg machine, a documentary to finish, and 7 hours before people show up, exhibition day is one of the most stressful parts of PLP. Now, before we begin, let me take you back a 2 months, when our project, “Metaphor Machines” was announced.

I was assigned to the Haitian Revolution group as part of a project. Before diving into our specific revolution, we read ‘Animal Farm’ by George Orwell to understand how power can corrupt people and lead to conflict. We analyzed the characters and their actions, relating them to real-life historical events. We had passionate discussions about the characters’ intentions and the manipulation of power. Once we finished the novel, we were given our revolution groups. My group was tasked with researching and analyzing the Haitian revolution. My first job was to create an infographic educating our classmates about the causes, events, and impacts of the revolution. I wasted no time and started working on it immediately. After revising it myself and getting feedback from peers, I handed it in and moved on to the next step, planning.

The planning was probably the easiest part of it all. We first made individual plans, with connections and the metaphorical message behind them. For some, the metaphors proved to be challenging, but I found them easy because we already had the background information for our machines to help guide us. And after completing our ones, we gathered as a group to turn our 7 blueprints into 1 collaborative one.  Once we had a fine design, and it was approved by the teachers, we moved on to the hardest step of it all, the building. 

The building process was hands down the hardest part of the entire project. We all decided to work on our connections, but we also had to work on the design for our room, the supplies and the documentary, so things got out of hand fast. Some people did a lot, some people did nothing, and at points, there were times when I wanted to give up. But as a group, we pushed through and started working together. We made ramps, designed switchbacks, overcame obstacles and did a lot of painting, and in the blink of an eye, it was the day we were all waiting for exhibition day.

This day, on December 21st, the day of the exhibition, was the day that everything went south. While all of our connections worked on their own, which was a miracle, to begin with, when we put them together, nothing seemed to work. We tried moving parts, repositioning them and even scrapping some, but nothing seemed to work. When we took a break for lunch, I wanted nothing more for the day to be over, but by some blessing, we made the 2nd half of the machine work. Our next challenge was the documentary, and because the person in charge of it became ill at the last second, we had to finish it day of. But that didn’t stop us, and when the exhibition was in full swing, we had something to show people, and with our solid presentation, half a documentary and witty charm, which all worked out for the best.

And lastly, to touch on our driving question: How do ideas drive change? Ideas have the remarkable power to ignite change by acting as the fuel that propels revolutions. They are like the metaphoric sparks that set in motion a Rube Goldberg machine, the simple yet effective series of cause and effect. As we collaboratively built our own Goldberg machine, we learned the importance of working together to overcome obstacles in our path. Similarly, when ideas are shared and combined, they become a force that can triumph over any hindrance, driving transformative change in the world. And even though we’ve faced challenges, we learned many valuable lessons, and that I wouldn’t trade for the world.