Day 1 (10/1): Word of the Day: Humanism - The idea that human concerns are more important than divine or supernatural (God) concerns. Humanist beliefs stress the potential value and goodness of human beings, emphasize common human needs, and seek solely rational (logical) ways of solving human problems.
Students will then answer the questions below the quote:
“My fate is to live among varied and confusing storms. But for you perhaps, if as I hope and wish, you will live long after me, there will follow a better age. When the darkness has been dispersed, our descendants can come again, in the former pure radiance.” – Petrarch
What time period do you think Petrarch lived in? What do you think the quote means? Do you think his hope came true?
Activities: Lecture on how the Renaissance started – students will take notes as the teachers go over a quick PowerPoint or
Students will do the Atlas Activity Europe during the Renaissance and finish the trade routes activity from the day before if they have not already done so.
Closer: What started the Renaissance and what made it so important to Europe?
Day 2 (10/3): Word of the Day: Secularism – the idea that religion and religious ideas are not important.
Warm –up: Teachers can have the student sketch and act out La Pieta or have them look at the picture below and answer the question.
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse by Albrecht Durer.
Explain in your journals how this painting shows the influence of the Renaissance?
Activities: Students will complete a Museum Walk About on the Renaissance. They will look at folders of information, documents and visuals about important people from the Renaissance and answer questions.
Closer: Why were Leonardo Deviance, Albrecht Durer, and Johan Gutenberg important people of the Renaissance?
Day 3 (10/7): Word of the Day: Perspective - The art of drawing solid objects on a two-dimensional surface so as to give the right impression of their height, width, depth, and position in relation to each other when viewed from a particular point.
Warm-Up: What are some examples of the Renaissance that you have seen in modern society?
Activities: Students will complete a Museum Walk About on the Renaissance. They will look at folders of information, documents and visuals about important people from the Renaissance and answer questions.
Renaissance art PowerPoint lecture with fieldtrip! To go over visually the richness of Renaissance art, students will go on a visual tour of VIP art work with commentary by the teacher. Important Art History notes will be written down by the students. – optional video about the Renaissance technique of Frescos - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cej4Ggq5nQI
Students have to create their own Renaissance artwork- Students will use the ideas of Renaissance Art, humanism, and secularism to create their own piece of art!
Optional: Study Guide for the Quiz- students have a quiz next class and may work on the study guide for the quiz during class.
Closer: How was trade important to the Renaissance?
Day 4 (10/9): Word of the Day: Usury – the start of banking, giving loans and charging high interest
Warm-up: Review Renaissance with students. Go over maps, review games, discussion with questions, study guide, etc.
Activities: Renaissance quiz – 30 question quiz on both the Northern and Italian Renaissance.
Corruption in the Church reading and Questions – students will read the short article on corruption in the church before Martin Luther, and will answer questions about the reading. If time – students and the teacher can discuss the reading as well – be sure to go over the idea of Simony with the students.