Static and Dynamic Characters – In the original nursery rhyme, Humpty Dumpty is a rather simple or static character, having no attributes or action other than falling off a wall. Santat’s story reconstructs (pun intended) Humpty Dumpty into a dynamic character, one with complexity and agency. Engage students in an inquiry about static and dynamic characters in traditional tales. What makes a character dynamic and gives a character complexity and depth? Have students do the same with characters in other genres (e.g., biography, contemporary realistic fiction, fantasy, etc.). After exploring qualities and examples of dynamic characters, challenge students to reconstruct traditional tales to make the main characters more dynamic. You might have them write and illustrate a fractured version of the tale (i.e., a traditional tale that has been modified with an unexpected twist), write and perform a dramatic enactment of the tale, or create a poem or song about the character. Encourage them to employ the mode of representation in which they are strongest so that students can succeed in this activity and see a variety of ways their thinking can be represented. The author’s thesis here is that “After The Fall” of the Berlin Wall there was a trend towards nationalistic and right-wing authoritarian governments in several countries, including eventually as we all know, the United States. When the wall came down it symbolized the victory of democracy. It also unleashed a worldwide torrent of profit-seeking capitalism that increased income inequality and encouraged corruption. After the Fall is a book about a family in crisis. If you enjoy reading family sagas involving current, edgy dilemmas (such as the novels of Jodi Picoult) I really recommend it. Meanwhile, in Texas, the effects of the eruption are lessened - but are severe nonetheless, as Brenda Slayton and her other two children flee to her father's nearby ranch, holding out hope for her husband and eldest daughter's eventual return while turning her immediate attention to survival and preparing for what the future holds. The US leads the nation...in economic growth, unleased capitalism, in a free social media, and in injecting the military into our foreign policies. And we are exporting them...the world is not better for that.

Rhodes doesn't spend much time on dark money, other than recognizing it. (One needs to also read things like 'Dark Money' by Jane Mayer and 'Kochland' by Christopher Leonard.) His skill is in negotiations; working on what's actually brought to the table, not what lurks behind closed doors. But, in discussing table issues with activists in other parts of the world, Rhodes is able to shed light on the similarity of tactics: History of Humpty Dumpty – As a popular nursery rhyme, Humpty Dumpty has a long history in oral folklore. With the help of your school or local librarian to ensure your students locate reputable sources, have students research the history of the nursery rhyme. When is the earliest recording of it? What inspired the rhyme? Who passed it on throughout history, and why? Has the meaning of it changed over the centuries? Some resources to begin the this inquiry, such as this, are listed below in Further Explorations. Have students share their research findings in multimodal ways, such as via drama, art, song, essay, and video. Santat, D. (2014). The adventures of Beekle: An unimaginary friend. New York: Little, Brown. See our Classroom Bookshelf entry here. Think of American capitalism and culture devoid of liberal values and democratic policies, and you'll get something approximating the Chinese Communist Party.Rhodes travels the world, focusing on Hong Kong, Hungary, and Russia. He finds dissidents in each country who speak to their struggles...and Rhodes draws the connections to our own country...All three of these countries have watched and taken lessons from our free-wheeling behavior. They have been turned over to heartless despots who worship power. And these leaders have weaponized their economies, social media, and militaries. Values like equality are no longer the business of governments around the world, they have been left to individuals to defend.~ from After the Fall by Ben Rhodes So, to read about other countries Authoritarian Ways was useful and worth understanding. It was much harder when the author starts explaining our policies in the Middle East. There was such an enormous impact that happened as a result of 9-11. Yet, we decided to enter a war with Iraq that appears to have no way to end. We do business with Saudi Arabia because they are a wealthy country and it benefits our interests. The author does question after 9-11 what was driving our impulses to make The War of Terror out #1 Goal. This also allowed The Patriot Act which gives the government extreme latitude to look into others and shut down dissent. There is not a court or due process occurring here. This is decided and the end result is the same as other countries such as Russia and China doing the exact same thing. Yet, Ben Rhodes says it is hard to swallow, but this did occur. So, was 9-11 a horrible event brought about by radical extremists? Yes, he says and we certainly think they are evil people. However, were there ways to avoid some of this and once it occurred, was the threat as great as it was made out to be? These are questions the author has asked himself and he thinks we have over reached and are behaving in an unjust matter. Certainly, other arguments could be made. Ben Rhodes provides a voice and narrative to the angst, anger, and disorientation of the past 4 years. Through his eyes we benefit from a unique perspective of going outside ourselves and outside our country. What is America actually fighting for? Where does all this radicalization lead? Do we have a national identity outside of what we aren't? Who is truly American? Has the last 4 years shown who America truly is? Resolution Through Action: Humpty Dumpty overcomes his fear by taking action, showing that effects can also be changed by new causes.

History tells a story. If we look at the foot prints left behind, we can often walk our way toward a new future with a better outcome. We need to be brave enough to take that walk though.From listening to him in interviews and panel discussions, Rhodes seems not only pleasant and non-threatening but he also seems to share my skepticism. He's progressive in the sense that many would find more palatable than, say, the moderators for The Young Turks (who can be viewed, not at all legitimately, as "strident").

Thompson, L. A. (2015). Emmanuel’s dream: The true story of Emmanuel Osofu Yeboah. New York: Schwartz & Wade. Dan Santat’s creative, cute, and inspiring story answers everything from: What was Humpty doing up on that wall to begin with? to Where is Humpty Dumpty now? The answers just might make perfect sense!!! And add a layer of character and complete-ness to Humpty Dumpty’s story. Activity: Students could create a diagram mapping out After the Fall’s main causes and effects. This activity enhances understanding of cause and effect relationships and promotes critical thinking.Clear Cause and Effect Relationships: The story presents clear cause and effect relationships, such as Humpty Dumpty's fall (cause) and his fear of heights (effect). Emotional Consequences: The After the Fall book shows how Humpty Dumpty's fall affects him emotionally, teaching students that causes and effects can be non-physical too. There is an oscillation throughout this book of hope and reality of our current state. There is hope, but it will continue to require many MANY people to believe in it, find it, and stand up for it. There is a sad reality of those who live in non-reality and those who seek to exploit these individuals. We must stay vigilant, aware, and not fall prey to cynicism. Like all human beings, we are fallen, able to do both good and evil. ~from After the Fall by Ben Rhodes