Rehearsal

Today we are having our Dress Rehearsal!

Please meet in the Pathways Room at 9:30am where we will discuss:
- Hall layout
- Order of speeches
- Requirements on the evening

We will have 3 rehearsal sessions:

Time	Class	Class	Class	Class
11:30-12	Senior Literacy- Pink (Rachael C)	Senior Literacy- Purple (Alyce)	Senior Literacy- Yellow (Anna G)	Senior Literacy- Blue (Connie)
12- 12:30	4E	4K	4S	3/4D
12:30-1	Senior Literacy- Green (Malorie)	Senior Literacy- Grey (David B)	Senior Literacy- Red (Helen T)

We will tidy the hall after lunch if we need to.
Good luck and enjoy your rehearsal!

Details for lead up to our performance

Please find following an outline of what will be happening for Night of Notables over the next three weeks - you may like to add some of the below to your diary -  

WEEK ONE
Tuesday
- Ms Richards at school Tuesday only, lesson 9-10am as normal
- Students encouraged to communicate with Ms Richards using email as necessary, checking Night of Notables Blog for details.  

WEEK TWO
Monday
- Hall booked the whole day
- Full dress rehearsal, starting 9:30am, meeting in Pathways room for set up
- Presentation to school, commencing 11.25am
- Timetabled Pathways classes postponed between 9:30am-1pm Tuesday
- Night of Notables lesson 9-10am as normal - focus on following up, reflecting on dress rehearsal  

WEEK THREE
Monday
- Pathways classes timetabled as normal (at this point)
Tuesday
- Night of Notables Lesson 9-10am as normal - focus on following up, preparing for presentation evening
- 2pm: Robotics postponed, Night of Notables students meet to discuss the presentation, last minute preparations
- 5:30pm: Students return to school, prepare for final presentation 
- 6pm: Night of Notables presentation commences 
- 7:30pm: Estimated conclusion 

I hope this helps you understand what we will be doing - don't forget, these plans could change!

Mini Biography Guide

Don't forget you need to send me your mini biography so I may add it to the program! Below is an example of how I would like you to set it out:

Leigh Sales

Performance Note

Student Parent Note - Performance-1

During the holidays: Checklist

 
Here are your priorities for Night of Notables in the Term 3 Holidays (in order):

1. Finish your mini-biography, extended biography, timeline, collection of quotes and ensure I have seen them or they are ready for me to see. 
2. Proofread ALL of your work. The aim is to create a display without any spelling or punctuation errors! 
3. Start writing your speech. If you are ahead, practise your speech for an audience (for example: your family) and ask for their feedback. Attempt to memorise your speech!
4. Make a plan for your display.
5. Make a collection/shopping list for your display.
6. Start making your display!
7. Consider your costume, start organising it.

Q.  I am not sure of what to include in my speech.
A. Read the post below on this blog, there are lots of tips there.

Q. Help! I am nervous about creating a display!
A. Read the post below on this blog, there are some examples and suggestions there.

Q. Will you check your email on the school holidays?
A. Maybe once or twice, but not every day. There will be times when you have to make decisions on your own.

Q. I'm lost and am not sure of where to begin.
A. Go back to the checklist I gave you on the first week of class. If you follow that, and read through this blog, you should be set to get back on track.

During the holidays: Speech

 

The time has come to write, practise and deliver your notable speech. Following are some points that will help you create your Notable's speech!

Q. How long should my speech go for?

A. 2 minutes.

Q. Where should I start?

A. Start by looking at all of the information you have gathered. You are telling a life story. You are including the most interesting and engaging aspects of your notable's life.You should aim to display a deep knowledge and understanding of every aspect of your notable's life - that you know and are able to share as much detail as possible.

Q. How do I talk about my notable?

A. You write about your notable in the first person. You actually become them on presentation day! Your tone should be conversational, like you are sharing a story. Tip: Don't just start your speech with 'I was born...' - see if you can do something a little more creative than that!

Q. Any other tips for the presentation of my speech?

A. You should attempt to memorise your speech, at the very least use palm cards and aim for lots of audience eye contact.

Q. When do you want to see a draft of my speech?

A. At the end of Week 1, Term 4.

Q. There is other work I need to finish first. Should I go on and write my speech anyway?

A. No. Please finish all of your other work and research first, and make sure you have emailed it to me or shown me.

Q. What other things do I need to do?

A. After your speech you will go to your stall and take questions from visitors looking at your display. Your should attempt to anticipate all of the different types of questions you will get and have some answers ready! You can practise this at home with a brother or sister, parent, grandparent or friend!

During the holidays: Creating a display

Isn't it exciting? Here is the moment where you can be creative - take some time to sit back and imagine how you will set up your area for the Night of Notables presentation!

Here are some important points that will help you to make your display:

Q. Should I create a plan for my display?
A. Yes. It will also help you make checklists for items you need to collect and things you need to buy for your presentation.

Q. What is the timeline for my display?
A. I would like you to use the holidays to create your display. At the minimum you should draw a plan, like the one below - I want to see it the first week back after holidays. You should then create a list of items you require (to find or buy) and start collecting them. This is followed by actually creating and constructing your display.

Q. Where will I be making my display?
A. Mostly at home, then bringing it in to school.

Q. Where will I be storing my display at school? 
A. Mainly in your classroom or in the Pathways Room. We try our best to look after the displays for you but we can't guarantee it is 100% safe. The best thing to do is to create a plan and show me, then make your display at home in pieces, bringing it in the week before presentation (So, due at school Term 4, Week 2).

Q. I am ahead of time, can I actually make my display at home over the holidays?
A. Yes. But please be careful, especially of your spelling and punctuation. Please check things with an adult before you take out the glue stick! Perhaps you could use something like blutack to move things around before you finalise exactly how you want your design to be,

Q. What are the items that MUST be included on my display?
A. Biography, timeline, quotes - then other items that are of interest to your notable.

Q. Can I have food on my table that represents my notable?
A. Yes. Please just make sure that you don't include nuts, sesame seeds or anything else that may cause allergies in your snacks.

Q. Does the school pay for display materials?
A. Sorry, no. You need to buy your own materials.

Q. What are the dimensions for my display?
A. You have 3 choices:

1. A 'piece of the stage' in the hall - there are 12 of these available (they will be seperated into 'tables')
Dimensions: 183cm long x 122cm wide by 62cm high (adjustable height)

2. A trestle table from the hall - the ones we use for cake stalls, book stalls etc.
Dimensions: 175cm long by 75cm wide (approx).

3. A school desk from your home room (to be negotiated with your teacher).

Q. What about pinboards / cardboard for behind (or to sit on top of) my display?
A. you need to provide this yourself.

Please note the images and ideas below are not from our school. So they are to be used as a guide only, to help with your ideas. Take some time to read and imagine, then go ahead and create a plan for your notable!

Below is a plan hand drawn by a student - you can use your book or folder to create your own!

 

This student created their plan on a computer.

 

Stuck for ideas, not sure how you want to do your display? Here is a plan below. You do not have to use this plan. This is just to help you should you get stuck. The only comments I would like to add if you would like to use this plan below:

• You are not required to include your bibliography (I check your book for that)
• You must include your extended biography somewhere on your display.

 

Here are some displays for you to consider:

• This Anne Frank display is very easy for the audience to read. I particularly like the pictorial timeline at the bottom!
• The photographs are large and easy to see
• The students name is large and easy to read.

 

This Dr Seuss display has so much information! I enjoy that it is colourful and there are examples of his books included, along with a laptop display.

 

Look to the bottom left of this display on Benjamin Franklin. An actual diorama of his Print Shop has been created! Also an excellent timeline is on display here.

 

I'm not sure about who this table represents but some lovely items are arranged to invite a curious audience over to the table.

Wishing you luck, I hope this post has got your creative juices flowing!

Issue: Using Quotation Marks

Using quotation marks correctly is a very important requirement of Night of Notables.

Education Scotland explains it well:

Speech marks – which are also known as inverted commas – simply separate the words someone in a sentence actually says from the rest of the sentence.

These words are called direct speech. For example:

"I’ll be back home soon," Jim shouted to his mum.

There are some simple rules to follow:

• Put every word that was said inside speech marks.
• Always use a capital letter for the first word of each sentence inside the speech marks:
• "I’m going out now. Is that OK?" he asked.
• Mum said quietly, "Please sit down."
• Separate the direct speech from the rest of the sentence, usually using a comma:
• Mum said quietly, "Please sit down."
• "Please sit down," Mum said quietly.

You can test your knowledge by taking an online quiz here.

Issue: Using capital letters

When I have been proof reading work a key issue has emerged - I need to ask, are you using capital letters properly?

A reminder is below - we use capital letters:

• In the names of people, places, or related words
• At the beginning of a sentence or bullet point
• In the titles of books, films, organisations, competitions etc.
• In abbreviations.

The Oxford Dictionary guide to using capital letters is here.

If you'd like to practise your punctuation you can print out a worksheet here, I will be happy to go back over it with you in class.

 

Quotes, music and catch up

This week in class you will locate important quotes and think of music appropriate for your Notable's display - you may like to bring some headphones to the computer lab with you!

You can write important quotes into your NON workbook/folder or save them on Word document.
Think of how many you will need - you might even like to go back to your mini-biography or timeline and insert them there.

They can be formatted (redesigned using font, colour and pictures) so they can look good on your display - you can even do this in class.

When locating music you may like to use iTunes or Spotify if you have an account - this may be easier to do at home. You may also like to search free programs like soundcloud to find music that might be appropriate.

You might like to play your music at the presentation evening using a laptop or an iPad, or connect your iPod to speakers. You could also use it as background music if you are showing a PowerPoint Presentation at our presentation evening.

You can also use this week as catch up - remember it is your job to become an expert on your Notable - on the evening you will become them, in character! 

Night of Notables displays and speeches around the world!

A Night of Notables Speech - Albert Einstein!
Notice how the student (from St Augustines in Vancouver, Canada) has memorised his speech and only used his palm cards as prompts. He even used Einstein's Accent!



Meet Elvis, his speech is entirely memorised!



This presentation has a lot of good ideas for displaying and showing off information - take a look at how Notables are presenting their work.



Finally, an American student called Anastasia gives a video account of her NON experience!


You can find other Night of Notables videos on YouTube.

What makes someone a notable?

Perhaps an easier way of thinking about this is 'What makes this person so important?'

A good way to start is to make a list or summary of all of the important events or contributions your notable has made - use a new page in your workbook or folder. Use bullet points or headings if you like.

Then elaborate. Start adding details and telling the story of the people, ideas and events that shaped your notable's destiny and made them an incredible human being.

Remember to focus on learning as much as you can about your notable as in a matter of weeks you will be writing a speech to present and preparing yourself for questions from an audience! By researching this deeply, you are preparing for your presentation!

Minimum length: 5 paragraphs
Desired length: 1-1.5 pages

Other tips:

• Use your workbook, typing out your work is optional
• The aim of this piece of writing is to persuade the audience
• Use emotive and descriptive language
• Include an introduction and conclusion

Creating a Timeline

An example of a brief, hand drawn timeline.

A timeline is a visual representation of showing particular dates over a period of time. They can be drawn by hand or a computer may be used. Pictures and graphics can also be included!
In short: a timeline is a list of events in the order that they happened.

I should point out that how you create your timeline is up to you. It can be hand-drawn or you may use a computer. The important thing is that it is easy to read, lists important events, and is eye-catching (even a little creative, perhaps add some pictures too?)

An excellent guide to creating a timeline is here.

Using Microsoft word? Here is a quick guide showing you how to do it.


If PowerPoint is more your thing, take a look at this - a good way to create a timeline if you are using a computer.

Creating a Biography

 After selecting your notable your first task is to create their biography.

A biography is the story of a person's life. The Oxford Dictionary defines it as:

"An account of someone’s life written by someone else."

You can read about creating a biography here - it is very similar to the sheet I gave you in class.

A list of Australian Biographies can be found here - it also includes a list of important indigenous Australians.

Another list can be found here - but remember it is only a start!

When you have written your biography you can email it to me so I can read your work and make further recommendations.

What is Night of Notables?

The Night of Notables project gives students an opportunity to select an eminent figure and become an expert on them!

The project is largely self-directed and involves accumulating, analysing and synthesising material in order to create and present their notable authentically to an audience. It challenges students to develop a deep knowledge and understanding of their notable and in turn, share this with an audience concisely and with creativity.

The program culminates with a single evening presentation called 'Night of Notables.'

Here are some goals of the project:

• Students become an expert on a person and time period in history.
• Students present their notable in front of an audience with clarity and confidence.
• Students create a booth and costume that aids the audience in understanding the time and place from which their person came.

The Night of Notables is a popular project around Australia, and the world! You can view the project at other schools:

• Box Hill High School, Victoria
• St Marys College, Toowoomba, Queensland
• Yarrawarrah Public School, Sydney
• West Pennant Hills Public School, Sydney

Run Sheet

This sheet will help you keep on track with your project's progress, you can use this to print out extra copies.

Night of Notables Run Sheet