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Kerrie
Registered User
(5/21/01 5:58:03 pm)
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Memory...
Well, it's that time of year again. Take Your Children to Work Day at my company and I'm looking for anything related to memory this time. (Last year it was where authors and illustrators get there inspiration.) I'm looking at doing an activity such a memory boxes where the kids can place objects of importance, with possibly a project on story props (aiding the storyteller's story) for the older kids. So what I'm looking for this times is:
A) How do you keep your memories? In a box, on a shelf, button jewelry, collage, scrapbook, sticks and stones, etc.
B) What stories relate to memory in fairy tales, folklore, and mythology? The only 2 I can think of are Mnemosyne (of whom I know little other than she's mom to 9 (count 'em 9!) inspiring women (back to last year?) and the True Bride where the Prince does not remember her.
Another thing I was thinking about including was something for the older kids involving the Lord of the Rings trilogy, since it's going to be so big at my company soon. One crazy thing I was think of was dressing as Arwen and doing an HR kind of thing, interviewing for potential members of a questing party or something. Any other ideas?
Any other input would be most welcomed! You can post or email me
as desired. Thanks again to all who contributed last year! (Midori,
do M&Ms stand for muse *and* memory? j/k) I couldn't have pulled
it off without you!
Soft whispers and dandelion wishes,
Kerrie/KC/Perrina
kerriec@operamail.com
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Lotti
Unregistered User
(5/22/01 11:42:56 am)
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All those memories...
Hi Kerrie,
you really got me searching my memory... I usually try to keep my beloved "souvenirs"(all those rocks and shells and stuff)in pickle-jars. The memorabilia can be seen nicely through the glass, don't collect dust and the glasses come cheap (just eat what's in it) in all sizes and shapes. For the paper-stuff I have all kind of boxes, and the mean-spirited like to ask if I'm moving in or out, what with all these boxes... haha, oh so funny. Sorry, I'm getting carried away - you might like to consider the glasses for your project as they are cheap and easy to get. Depends a little on what you want to put inside, of course. And if the children are not to small, the jars don't break that easily but for small children it might be dangerous.
The other suggestion I want to offer is not from a fairy tale, but from "Kim" by Rudyard Kipling. It is a game or kind of games taken from a passage in the story and known to me as "Kim-games". One version is that you prepare a tray with all kinds of things, for example household items. It is placed in front of the children for some time, say, 5 to 10 Minutes (longer is not necessary or advisable). The tray is taken away then or covered. Now the children have to write down all the things they can remember. This can be "adjusted" in difficulty according to age group by the number of objects, which objects are used and so on. Another version of the game is to take away one or more items that have to be regognized as missing. Other versions, though more into training the senses, are blindfolding the children, and feed them little spoons of sugar, ketchup, pickles, bread, ... and so on and have them recognize the taste. Similar is putting things in a bag or box and have them recognized by touch - wool, keys, and - be prepared for shrieks - a pickled cucumber, cut open.
As for the fairy tales, I think there are several variations on the True bride, like Raduz and Ludmilla, which is from Eastern Europa. I also have a little story lurking on the brink of my memory, but I only remember the basic idea: A little boy is sent to the pharmacy. He doesn't want to forget the name of the medicine, so he continually repeats it to himself. It is not really some medical vocabulary, but some phrase, which offends the first person he meets. That person strongly objects and teaches him to say something else, which the boy faithfully keeps repeating. However, the phrase is again offending to the next, and so on, the phrase being always ad odds with what the boy encounters and making you smile at the absurdity of the situation. Maybe someone else remebers that tale?
Lord of the rings: What about the guessing game between Bilbo and (oops, here goes my memory again) that creature who owned the ring before? I think the ring was the prize in the contest. But then, I think that was out of the hobbit?!
Hope I could be helping a little,
Lotti
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Kerrie
Registered User
(5/22/01 12:50:25 pm)
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Re: All those memories...
Those are great ideas!!!!!!! I've also heard of a game where someone
walks into a room, not beeing obvious or anything, and leaves. Then
you are asked to describe that person in as much detail as you can.
And I absolutely love that riddling game. Maybe it would be a good
challenge to have the older kids come up with obscure riddles.
Thanks for getting the ball rolling!
Soft whispers and dandelion wishes,
Kerrie
Edited by: Kerrie at: 6/26/01 7:11:04 pm
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Laura
Registered User
(5/22/01 6:36:29 pm)
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what fun!
>activity such a memory boxes where the kids can place
>objects of importance
well, when I was in high school we made a "gift" of ourselves -- wrapped a box in gift paper and then decorated it with objects, phrases, or pictures representing ourselves. I still enjoy looking at this 3D snapshot of myself at that stage.
the project is easily simplified to merely taking clippings from a magazine. have the kids use the words as though they were a magnetic poetry kit -- pick words or phrases that evoke memories for them, then discuss the power of language in our minds. are their memories in "words" or "pictures" when they think of them? it may be going too far, but I love _Vanity Fair_ for this purpose -- lots of words, plenty of classy celebrities, and all those ads! of course, this is all dependent on the age of the kids in question.
>A) How do you keep your memories?
heavens! all kinds of ways! in boxes or albums for the bigger things, but lately mainly in writing -- journals and letters that never get sent. my love of fountain pens wars constantly with my appreciation for the ease -- and permanence -- of typing. I can print as many copies as I like for free, and I never have to fear losing the one and only copy.
>B) What stories relate to memory in fairy tales,
>folklore, and mythology?
well, off the top I'd also include The Little Mermaid. The prince doesn't remember the mermaid _ever_ in Andersen's original, but many versions have him remember at the last second. you could talk about the Disney version and how things like sounds, songs, or smells can be triggers for memory.
>involving the Lord of the Rings trilogy
perhaps Aragorn's duty to his heritage? his "inherited" memories, so to speak? how that kind of feeling codes him as a hero, as does Frodo's filial behavior with Bilbo.
Specifics about the ages of the kids and your goals would focus the discussion even more. Hope some of this is helpful! :-)
Laura
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janeyolen
Unregistered User
(5/23/01 1:58:54 am)
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I NEED a memory
I believe one of Odin's two ravens/crows was Memory. But finding it out would involved too much research right now.
Jane
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Kerrie
Registered User
(5/23/01 4:47:59 am)
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Oooops! Ages...
Thanks for the ideas so far! I can't believe I forgot to post info
about the children! There will be about 45 children, a good mix
of boys and girls, between the ages of 7 and 12. Most of them are
on the younger side (7 and 8). Thanks again!
Soft whispers and dandelion wishes,
Kerrie
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Robin
Brock
Registered User
(5/23/01 6:16:54 am)
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Thought and Memory
Jane:
Odhinn's two ravens were named Huginn and Muninn. These names are often translated simply as 'thought' and 'memory', but a more accurate translation would be 'thoughtfulness' and 'mindfulness'. They can be interpreted as speculation and reflection. Oddhinn says that each day Huginn and Muninn fly out over 'battlefield earth' and return each night to tell him what they saw. He fears each day that Huginn won't return, but he fears even more for Muninn.
(I have a vested interest in this stuff, since I'm Asatru!)
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Kerrie
Registered User
(5/25/01 1:14:19 pm)
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Memory and Muse
I just found this yesterday re: "Muse"-
Their name (akin to the Latin mens and English mind) denotes 'memory' or 'a reminder', since in the earliet times poets, having no books to read from, relied on their memories.
www.eliki.com/portals/fan...efine.html
I guess it makes sense since their mother, Mnemosyne,is the goddess
of Memory. But I didn't realize "muse" also meant memory,
though I suppose "to muse over," or to think something
over, requires remembering something to think over. Am I sounding
redundant? I need this long weekend so badly...
Soft whispers and dandelion wishes,
Kerrie
Edited by: Kerrie at: 5/25/01 1:16:25 pm
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Kerrie
Registered User
(6/14/01 9:29:43 am)
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Re: Memory...
I just thought I'd check in to see if anyone had any additional
comments on this topic? The day is fast approaching when I will
be surrounded by 50 children and lots of glue and glitter!
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Kerrie
Registered User
(6/26/01 7:13:02 pm)
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Re: Memory...
Oh my! I just noticed my reply to Lotti sounded horrible! I meant to say "Those are great ideas!" not with a "?" I am sooooo sorry! I'll fix it right now!
::hiding in the corner::
Kerrie
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