Coat of arms activity- I failed to give an example of how exactly I wanted it done so several of them took it as a writing assignment and just wrote words.
Shishkabob Catapult- The premise was nice. The construction was not strong enough to actually apply any physics to hitting premade targets. So when in doubt- just throw the ammo (marshmallows) One kid invented the cross bow with his and it was plenty effective. Then he held it up and said "Look, it looks like a cross." And I said "hence the name...." A light bulb went on.
Winners-
Using runes to code the notes for class and having them decode them. One student said "it made my brain tired but I liked it."
Transcribing compositions using a feather quill pen and a bottle of ink. One said "this is a disaster waiting to happen." To which I repliied, "Yes, Mrs. Terry, Danger is my middle name." No disaster yet. A little ink on the back of a chair- barely there. They were completely engaged AND asking questions about medieval times. "What exactly is a monk?" "What did they do?" "That's all?" "didn't they have to copy books?" (yes- remember that part in our notes about the church holding all cultural and academic knowledge!" "I can see why it took all day."
Next week a little more on daily life with costumed paper dolls, a game of Nim, a game of chess culminating in the making of the knight's helmet. Meanwhile their ears are being acclimated to the sound of medieval sacred and secular music. My guess is they will easily be able to tell the difference by the time the two weeks are finished.
1 comment:
Once again, I wish I was in your class.
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