Au Revoir! Renaissance-Style...

Students said farewell to the year dressed in Renaissance attire emanating the eminent people they studied for their final project!  Renaissance authors, artists, scientists, church reformers, kings/queens, and explorers came alive as students presented in first person their eminent people and accomplishments!  Classmates enjoyed each other's lively presentations while taking notes evaluating the BEST presentations.  We ended the fun-filled day with a Socratic Seminar, in which students asked each other insightful questions still in character.  For example, Martin Luther--with much fervor--challenged Johann Gutenberg with the question, "Why did you help the Catholic Church print indulgences?" Or, Leonardo da Vinci confronted Michelangelo with why such resentment toward him, while Columbus thanked Queen Isabella for funding his trip West and asked for what she would like him to bring back for her! What a fun way to end the Renaissance Faire Project and the school year--Click here to see the Renaissance Faire in action too!

Sandro Botticelli grabs our attention with a portrait painting reenactment:

Andreas Vesalius shows off his book of sketches of human anatomy:

Vesalius recounts the process of dissections:

Francis Bacon delivers a farewell from his deathbed:

Sir Isaac Newton replays the apple falling on his head to instigate his theory of gravity:

Filippo Brunelleschi describes the process of his Florence Cathedral dome architectural feat:

Nostradamus recites his predictions:

Martin Luther declares his beliefs about the Church:

Galileo amazes us with stories of what is seen through his telescope:

Balboa acts out his first viewing of the Pacific Ocean:

Johann Gutenberg demonstrates moveable type and his printing shop:

Hernan Cortez confidently convinces his audience that his conquest was just:

Dante Aligheri delivers a synopsis of his book The Divine Comedy:

Columbus recounts his trip to the West:

Queen Isabella reenacts the funding of Columbus for his trip West:

Socratic Seminar in action:

Students challenge each other with intriguing questions: