History Study: Middle Ages and Renaissance (High School)-Pulling it all together

I have written a detailed post on how to create a study no matter what age your child(ren) is/are.  This is specific to a high school level.  You may see some books that you would normally think is only for younger student.  But do not 'poo-poo' those choices. Everyone needs a brain break in the midst of a multitude of more challenging literature.  I try to mingle in a few of those "no brainer" books to keep it lively and fun.  That also includes adding in art projects, field trips and other activities to stave off the mental exhaustion.

So far we have covered a good many eras through out his schooling. Search this blog for more detailed reviews of noted programs. I have covered them as best possible.

We have already completed the Early U.S. History  (I have the old version, there is a new edition available) for his upper elementary studies. Then we covered the Western Expansion [all by Beautiful Feet Book guides] and a bit more U.S. history from the Intermediate level and some cherry-picked sections from the California History guide. Next up was Creation to Christ [by Heart of Dakota]. For two years, we have been working through the Sonlight Eastern Hemisphere program. Again, I have the older version but there was no need to repurchase it. I slowed this one down due to a family death and because I wanted to work through it while doing our World Geography study.  Look for posts on this as well. We just finished that guide at the end of January. But we are continuing on with a variety of books (I found via the library) relating to the history of, and about important peeps from the different continents/countries we are currently studying. For his science, we have been working through the BFB History of Science, which of course goes under this category too.

So now we needed to decide where to go next.  I could have gone back to U.S. and World history.  But I prefer to hold off on that until the student is in 11/12th grade.  It's a pretty deep and thorough unit to cover so maturity really helps here.  I could have chosen to revisit and beef up the Ancient time span.  Or visit the Medieval/Renaissance/Reformation era.  Looking over what he has had a lot less of-it was a no brainer.  The later is the choice. I have (basically) the BFB Medieval Intermediate  but my guide is listed as "A Literature Approach to Medieval, Renaissance and Reformation History".  It denotes that it has study notes for grades 7/8 and 9/10-so the new ones are a tad different. It looks like she separated the two into Jr and Sr high levels.  I suggest visiting her site to see if this study interests you. No matter for us though, this outdated one will be our backbone.  I frankly would love to get the newer versions, as they seem like they deleted and added some things that would make it less overwhelming than the originals.  But alas-since he is our last kiddo, so it's not going to happen. I will just create and modify.

I have noted below what I have strewn together so far.  I have followed my "how to list" (noted here) as best as I can at this point.  I am still in the hunt down and gather stage. I found lots of new books and ideas from combing the BFB site and using blogs/YouTube and Pinterest to guide me.  I will probably find more between now and when we start.  But this is a good foundation.

Books:

I own these:

These are a part of the BFB curriculum:

*Magna Charta  (James Dougherty)

*Ivanhoe (Sir Walter Scott) -this is not an easy read...we'll see how it goes

*Otto of the Silver Hand (Howard Pyle)

*Adam of the Road (Elizabeth Gray)

*The Door in the Wall (Marguerite De Angeli)

*In Freedom's Cause (G.A. Hentry)

*The Morning Star of Reformation (Andy Thompson)

*Canterbury Tales (Geoffrey Chaucer)

*Joan of Arc (Nancy Ross) not by Mark Twain as listed in guide

*The World of Columbus and Sons (Genevieve Foster)

*Martin Luther Hero of Faith (Frederick Nohl)  different than suggested in guide

*Martin Luther The Great Reformer (J. A. Morrison) different than suggested and an extra 

*The Hawk That Dare Not Hunt by Day (Scott O'Dell)

*Fine Print (Joann Burch)

*The Story of Liberty (Charles Coffin)

 I also have these to add in when needed:
*Martin Luther A Man Who Changed the World (Paul Maier) 

*The Apple and the Arrow: The Legend of of William Tell (Mary and Conrad Buff)

*Renaissance (Francene Sabin)

*Medieval Feast (Aliki)

*Marco Polo A Journey Through China (Fiona Macdonald)

*Miss Frizzle's Adventures:  Medieval Castle (Joanna Cole) I mean who doesn't love the Frizz? We are not giving her up no matter how old we get :)

*The Usborne Book of World History Dates

*Usborne Internet-linked Encyclopedia of World History Dates

*Usborne Book of Living Long Ago: Everyday life through the ages

From the Library:

 

These are recommended for the new BFB guide so we will cover them too.

*Crispin:  The Cross of Lead (Avi)

*The Trumpeter of Krakow (Eric Kelly)

*The Kite Rider (Geraldine McCaughrean)

*Queen Eleanor Independent Spirit of the Medieval World

 (Polly Schoyer Brooks)
*Robin Hood (Howard Pyle)
 diff. author than suggested but we own so we will use it

**there are a couple other books I am still trying to find or waiting on from the library. If I cannot find them I am not going to purchase them though. We have enough to keep us busy.

I was able to secure [from the library] the Story of the World Vol. 2 by Susan Wise Bauer (yah cool right?).  I am just gleaning a few nuggets of info I haven't seen/read before regarding the Viking history. I can then refer to my notes as needed.  

*King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table (Roger Green) - in guide just I do not own it
*Castle, Cathedral (David Macaulay) these are two separate books- do not own them but need for study
*Westward Ho! (Charles Kingsley) noted in guide, just do not own

*DKs Medieval Life (Andrew Langley), Eyewitness Knight (Christopher Gravett) and Stephen Biesty's Cross Sections: Castle

*Knights and Castles -Kaleidoscope Kids book (Philip Dixon)

*You Wouldn't Want to be a Medieval Knight! (Fiona Macdonald)

*The Middle Ages (Giovanni Caselli) 

*Knights and Castles [50 hands-on activities] (Avery Hart and Paul Mantell)

*Usborne Official Knight's Handbook (Sam Taplin)

*Manners and Customs of the Middle Ages (Marsha Groves)

*Science and Technology in the Middle Ages (Marsha Groves and Joanne Findon)

*How Would You Survive the Middle Ages (Fiona Macdonald)

*Famous Men of the Middle Ages (A.B. Poland)

*William the Conqueror (Robert Green) combined with book below-will just take bullet point notes to add into study

*Exploring the Past: The Middle Ages (Marshall Cavendish) 

They recommend some Shakespeare plays about King John and Henry VIII. My boy is not interested in this.  I see they have a book with both in it-for less than $5.  I may splurge for this-but am waiting to see if I can find via the library first.

I want to cover a bit more Viking history so we will add in a few books to cover it.  I am still hunting down some more options: (I have Lief the Lucky by D'Aulairess from the early history study .  I may have him reread it)

*D'Aulaire's Book of Norse Myths

*Beorn the Proud (Madeleine Polland)

*Raiders from the Sea (Lois Johnson)

OH, and I want to add in a wee bit of pirate history since it was going on way back then...so that is another area I need to look into.

Activities:

I am still working on this section but I do have :

*Viking Voyages Game from Ellen McHenry's Basement Workshop

*Usborne Cut Out Model:  Make this Model Medieval Castle

*Catapult (we built this a long time ago)

*Notebooking and some lapbook components from internet

*Building a castle model

*Creating his Coat of Arms

*perhaps going to the Renaissance Festival (Maybe-it is expensive and they seem to play up the stupidity that the only thing the Renaissance was about was accosting women and acting like drunken baffoons-so IDK.) We debated this when my daughter was studying this.  Our area festival is well-known for the above play acting and I just am not sure.  

That is what I have so far.  I have all spring and summer to complete this. Once I do-I can post an update.  Let me know if you have any other activity ideas and hands-on projects.  I also plan on printing up some pictures from our trip to Portugal.  We visited 3 castles from different times and those will be fun to have about.  Plus I will pull out of storage, his Playmobil castle set that will go onto a shelf to sort of 'set the mood' for the study. I mean we paid good money for it-might as well resurrect it to add to the ambiance.

I will do a separate post on the artists and art projects we will cover.  :) But that won't be until this summer.  I need to focus on the books right now.


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