Tuesday, Februray 28th

Today we:

• Finished learning about Martin Behaim and his "Erdapfel"
• Created our "Earth Apples" and learned about what educated Europeans thought the world was like in the 15th Century - boy, were they way off!
• Introduced "Prince Henry the Navigator" - did a play of his life and learned about his part in the Great Age of European Exploration!

Could this be what Dom Henrique looked like?

Monday, February 27th

Our class today:

• Reviewed the 1) Importance of the Columbus Voyage, and 2)How and Why the Great Age of Exploration Began
• Performed a short skit on the development of trade between Europe and the Near East during the Crusades
• Examined Renaissance Art to look for clues to the value Europeans placed upon trade goods from the east.
• Learned what educated Europeans knew of the world in the 15th century - made our own Behaim "ErdApfel"

A classic "stuff" painting by Jan Van Eyck

Friday, February 24th

Agenda for today:

• Reviewed why the Columbus voyage was so important.
• Finished the Decline of Feudalism and the Reemerging of Towns and Trade (as a factor leading to a Great Age of Exploration)
• Continued with the other two factors: The Crusades and The Renaissance
• Watched part of Kingdom of Heaven to show what the Crusades were about

The Siege of Jerusalem 1187 AD

Thursday, February 23rd

Contact with Native Americans - The Great Age of European Exploration!

Wednesday, February 22nd

We welcomed our Lower School friends today! The students shared their stories and had fun! We even watched a clip from "Dances with Wolves" (buffalo hunt scene) since not one of my students had seen this movie or heard about it.

Tuesday, February 21st

Okay, welcome back from the 4 day weekend! Today we finished creating our animated storybooks. Tomorrow we share them with our friends from the lower school.

Thursday, February 16th, 2012

Guest Speaker - Mr. Salerno's visit to the Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota.