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Oak Forest HS American Lit Students Take a Walk on the Wild Side

Oak Forest High School American Literature students got to walk on the wild side at Brookfield Zoo recently after reading and writing Native American origin myths in their English class.  Students read and analyzed the related quote embedded in the Great Bear Wilderness.

The project is the brainchild of Oak Forest High School English teacher Jenny Schanz, who wanted students to experience a place that “inspires creativity and conservationism.”  The class had just finished the novel Flight, written by outspoken Native American author Sherman Alexie. 

The Great Bear Wilderness exhibit “encourages discussion about American identity and ideals, which connect to themes in the course itself,” Schanz said.

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Pictured here are students who participated in the trip with Schanz at the mouth of the Brookfield Zoo entrance.  Top row (l to r):  Joshua Hernandez, Ameer Abdallah, Patrick Quinlan, Samantha McFalls, Hannah Edwards, Liz Arriaga, Caitlin Burke, Ashly Forster, Angelica Gomez, Sabrina Dorencz, Eddie Sifuentez and Mikayla Smith.  Bottom row (l to r):  Joseph Gale, Ally Scott and Yessica Flores.

            

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