Giddy up, cowboy!
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Things to think about:
- What is a cowboy?
- What does one look like?
- What do you know about cowgirls?
- Are there any in your country?
- In what ways are cowboys and cowgirls beneficial to society today? If you can't think of anything, tell us why they are obsolete.
Tell us about someone you know or heard of who was reckless. What did they do?
Take a look at the following poem. What does the author feel about being in the countryside? What are some new words for you?
Out Where the West Begins by Arthur Chapman
Out where the handclasp’s a little stronger,
Out where the smile dwells a little longer,
That’s where the West begins;
Out where the sun is a little brighter,
Where the snows that fall are a trifle whiter,
Where the bonds of home are a wee bit tighter,
That’s where the West begins.
Out where the skies are a trifle bluer,
Out where friendship’s a little truer,
That’s where the West begins;
Out where a fresher breeze is blowing,
Where there’s laughter in every streamlet flowing,
Where there’s more of reaping and less of sowing,
That’s where the West begins;
Out where the world is in the making,
Where fewer hearts in despair are aching,
That’s where the West begins;
Where there’s more of singing and less of sighing,
Where there’s more of giving and less of buying,
And a man makes friends without half trying —
That’s where the West begins.
Let's read this short story together.
How technology impacts the cowboy way of life.
Questions:
- What were the problems that the cowboy faced?
- What were the young cowboys posting online, and why?
- Why did the cowboy say at the end of the story, 'Until I come to terms with how they go about doing it, I will take the outside circle and check that country for stray pairs, because I damn sure know there isn’t a good signal over the hill.'?
- How does the cowboy feel about this new way of life and the way the young cowboys are handling things?
- Do you see access to cellphones during work hours as a problem in your field? Why?
- What is Tradio?
- Do you think Tradio would be useful in your parts?
Choose one of the two songs to discuss.
You can check out the lyrics to Amarillo by Morning by George Strait here.
You can check out the lyrics to Cowgirls Don't Cry by Brooks & Dunn feat. Reba McIntyre here.
What do these idioms mean?
What do these idioms mean?
Martha Jane Cannary was both a heroic woman and a legendary myth in cinemas all across the world. She was known for being the tough, gun-toting, fist fighting "girl" wearing men's clothes. It was also said that she had a good head on her shoulders and had a kind heart. Most people knew her by her nickname, Calamity Jane.
Calamity: an event that suddenly occurs and causes a lot of damage; a disaster.
Remember! In English, nicknames can be used to signify a characteristic trait, to be ironic, to be mean to someone, to show endearment, or to be nonsensical. Nicknames can be given to a person or the person can create a nickname for themselves. | Does your culture have a nicknaming process? If so, what are some common nicknames used?
Take a look at the video below where genealogist, Mary Grace Wallace, talks about the true heroine that Calamity Jane was.
Calamity Jane's Grave | Calamity Jane — The Woman, The Legend
- Why was she given the nickname "Calamity Jane"? By whom?
- Do you think it's a good nickname? Why?
- Tell us about one of the unsolved mysteries.
Hollywood painted her as a fun and clever woman that the men swooned over. She was also portrayed as a bit mindless, but also a great singer. Doris Day played her in the musical film, Calamity Jane (1953).
"The Windy City" from Calamity Jane (1953)
- Are you a fan of musicals? Why?
Disney took a stab at the Calamity Jane character when they created Jessie the cowgirl in the Toy Story saga. They even went as far as nicknaming her "Bazooka Jane".
Bazooka: a long, tube-shaped weapon that shoots missiles. If you would like to see some images of it, click here.
Toy Story Woody Meets the Roundup Gang
- Have you seen any of the Toy Story movies?
- Who would you recommend to watch this saga?
REMINDER: This blog will be updated with new exercises, so don't forget to check back for more!
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