Welcome back, y'all! Welcome new Ospreys!
Post-It Brainstorm/Heartstorm: What is the meaning of life? Why are we here?
Each Post-it contains an idea, a question, a quote, a reaction, a verse, what you will…
It doesn’t have to be an answer to the question, but it could be.
It doesn’t have to be your own answer to the question, but it could be.
What other questions fall out of the questions?
Don’t overthink it, or do.
Drawings and metaphors are fine.
Some possible sentence stems:
Some humans believe…
Life is…
What if….
Why….
I wonder….
The Project: Your Life on Earth: Philosophizing Purpose and Place in the #21C
4 Corners:
Everything happens for a reason.
Humans are at the center of the great cosmic mystery.
Pursuing meaning is more important than pursuing happiness.
In order to have a better life, we should focus on the "now."
Any More Post-Its?
Guidelines for the “Your Life on Earth” Journal:
Procure or create a “Your Life on Earth” project journal or composition book. If you are creating an electronic document for this assignment, please give it a title that captures your name and the essence of the project. Example: “Jessica McCallum: My Life on Earth Journal.” Write something similar if you are using a physical journal.
Please number/label each entry clearly.
The prompts are designed to help you think about the bigger questions we will answer in the project. The writing that you do for these prompts could potentially feed your project work directly, so put your deep thoughts into it!
This journal will never be part of any collaborative sharing with peers unless you personally want to share something from it. Express your truth and/or confusion freely.
Feel free to respond to the prompts in out-of-the-box ways. Use figurative language at will. Write poetry or prose. Add images if you are so inspired.
Stay caught up with the entries. Make them up if you miss class.
This journal will be graded on HEART*, without attention to conventions or “correctness.”
*Holistic Evaluation of Authentic Reflective Thinking
Assignments for Work Time (today/tomorrow)
- Read: “The Meaning of Life” by James Rachels
- Annotate for major themes that emerge in each section. Note quotes/ideas that strike you. Jot down questions in the margins.
- First Journal Entry!
Your Life on Earth Journal #1: Initial Thoughts
What is the purpose of your (human?) existence?
What gives your life meaning?
What/who has influenced the meaning-making you have done so far in your life on Earth?