odysseyextra History, Kid-Friendly Learning, Literature, Philosophy

Crash Course Animations in Literature, Philosophy, Art History, and More

By Crash Course on YouTube

Crash Course is a YouTube channel that was created by The Fault in Our Stars author John Green and his brother, Hank. It features brief (10-20 minute) educational videos accompanied by animations, and has a number of playlists in all kinds of school subjects from physics to media literacy. I’ve linked the ones below which deal with subjects we learn about in Odyssey, but all of them provide relatively easy-to-understand (logically organized, but very fast), educational content accompanied by fun cartoons. While the information may be too fast-moving for very small children, anyone from middle-school to adulthood should be able to enjoy it. If you are interested in Crash Course videos for younger children, they also have a science channel aimed at that audience.

This crash course in literature begins with why we read, and then examines classics like Romeo and Juliet and The Great Gatsby.
Be warned, this series is a little spicier than the US History one (Green “swears” by saying the names of his favorite authors–
Ex: “what the Fitzgerald?”).
Hank Green, who teaches this course, reminds me really strongly of Meghann,
if you’re a current or post Odyssey student, you’ll know what I mean.
This crash course in U.S. history playlist has 48 videos, and starts in the 16th century with Native American history.
odysseyextra Art History

How to revive a neighborhood: with imagination, beauty and art

By Theaster Gates at TED (2015)

“In this passionate talk, Theaster Gates, a potter by training and a social activist by calling, describes his efforts to build a “miniature Versailles” in Chicago, and he shares his fervent belief that culture can be a catalyst for social transformation in any city, anywhere.” -TED YouTube

Pictured to the left is the abandoned residence Gates transformed into the black cinema house.

odysseyextra History, Kid-Friendly Learning

Apple Fritter Recipe from 18th Century America!

Demonstrated on YouTube by Townsends (2014)

Feeling gloomy in the winter cold? No worries! This recipe for apple fritters is over 200 years old, but it still is just as effective at warming one up. It’s easy enough that, if you like, you can try it at home (at your own risk)!

There are only six total ingredients, and some of them are optional. If you want to give it a try, you will need:

  • Flour
  • Ale or cider
  • Chopped apples
  • Currants (optional)
  • Oil for frying
  • Powdered sugar (optional)

The recipe is simple enough that you could add some cinnamon or other spices without hurting anything. It’s interesting to see how stable the stuff people find tasty endures across time; Americans have been frying dough for centuries, and so have many other cultures worldwide! For more information on ingredient quantities, the history of the recipe, and a demonstration, see the video below…but be warned, this channel is unbelievably addictive!

odysseyextra Literature

Poem: “Toxic Masculinity”

By Kennedy Engasser & Scorpio (2019)

Slam poetry is a form of poetry spoken aloud, often in competition with other poets. This performance is from grand finals at the 2019 Brave New Voices International Youth Poetry Festival.

Brave New Voices brings the world’s leading young poets together to slam, dream, and push the edge of artistic expression, creating a global movement.
odysseyextra Literature

Mining Literature for Deeper Meaning

By TED-Ed (2013)

Understanding the deeper meanings present in literature can both give you more to talk about in class, make the text more fun to read, and speed up the paper-writing process. This four-minute video summarizes how to approach a literary text or poem in order to understand its deeper meaning, and gives side by side examples of surface-level and deeper analysis, so you’ll have an idea of what each looks like.

Amy E. Harter offers a few tips on how to read and write more critically and thoughtfully.
Lesson by Amy E. Harter, animation by The Leading Sheep Studios.