Age of Discovery—History and Geography of the Renaissance in Europe
This 20-week survey of European History starts with Erasmus and ends with William and Mary, including the monarchs and scholars, artists and writers, and scientists and inventors who made the outstanding achievements of this incredible era.
Francesca G Dixon
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:(32)
What's included
Homework
1-2 hours per week. Each week, students will read and respond to one or two written texts. Assignments are designed to help students engage with the content. The amount of time necessary to complete the assignments will depend on the learner.Assessment
I will provide feedback on all submitted assignments. Completed work can be compiled into a portfolio. If requested I will provide a letter grade and certificate.Grading
includedClass Experience
US Grade 5 - 7
What a piece of work is man. This quote from William Shakespeare epitomizes the humanistic approach of the Renaissance. Starting in Florence and traveling to Rome, Venice, Northern, and Western Europe, we will encounter thinkers such as Erasmus, Machiavelli, and Martin Luther, monarchs such as Queen Isabela, Henry the VIII and Elizabeth I, artists such as Botticelli and Michelangelo, astronomers such as Copernicus and Galileo, conquistadors such as Columbus and Magellan, and above all, the original Renaissance man, Leonardo da Vinci. Part I: The Renaissance in Europe (5 weeks) Erasmus and the Humanist Movement Florence, Rome, and Venice da Vinci and Michelangelo Castiglione and Machiavelli Northern and Western Europe Part II: The Reformation (4 weeks) Gutenberg and his Bible The Rise of Protestantism Copernicus and Galileo The Counter-Reformation Part III: Merchants, Conquistadors, and Missionaries (6 weeks) Spices, Souls, and Plunder Dias, da Gama and Cabral Admiral of the Ocean Sea and New Spain Circumnavigating the Globe and Searching for a Northwest Passage The French Fur Trade and New Netherland The Atlantic World Part IV: England's Golden Age and The Glorious Revolution (5 weeks) Good Queen Bess and Mary Queen of Scots Drake and the Spanish Armada Roundheads, Cavaliers, and the Lord Protector A Merry Monarch and the Immortal Seven The Glorious Revolution and English Bill of Rights Each week students will: • view one or more recorded lessons that introduce the content • view a recorded lesson that demonstrates a reading comprehension skill • independently read and respond to written texts, videos, and images • practice rare-word vocabulary • complete a challenge activity In addition to the prerecorded lessons, I will provide a study exercise for each lesson that focuses on a discreet skill, such as summarizing, taking Cornell Notes, creating a content web, or using question-answer relationships to answer questions about a nonfiction text. My teaching style is one of starting with a question and generating additional questions that often lead to unexpected connections and discoveries. Please note: There are no scheduled live video lessons. Students will be expected to complete the weekly assignments and participate in the padlet activities at their own pace by the end of each week. This course format works well if your learner prefers independent pacing or is uncomfortable with live video classes.
Learning Goals
Students will become familiar with key philosophical movements, events, and elites, as well as the scientific, technological, literary, and artistic achievements of the Renaissance, and gain background knowledge and rare-word vocabulary from a specific domain that will enhance their reading comprehension of nonfiction text.
Syllabus
4 Units
20 Lessons
over 20 WeeksUnit 1: The Renaissance in Europe
Lesson 1:
The New Dawn
What was the Renaissance, and where and when did it take place? And how did the Renaissance change art? mins online live lesson
Lesson 2:
Florence, Rome, and Venice
This lesson will three essential Renaissance city-states: Florence, Rome, and Venice. mins online live lesson
Lesson 3:
Man of all Trades
This lesson introduces two of the most celebrated Renaissance artists, Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo. mins online live lesson
Lesson 4:
Manners and Morals
This lesson will profile two Renaissance thinkers, Machiavelli and Castiglione. mins online live lesson
Other Details
Parental Guidance
Some of the art discussed in this class, such as Michelangelo's David and Botticelli's Birth of Venus, features nudes. I will address this issue with students by explaining that Renaissance artists, like the classical artists they revered, considered the human body to be a thing of beauty. This class will discuss the reformation of the church and the counter-reformation. It will also discuss explorers and conquistadors such as Columbus and Magellan, as well as their treatment of Indigenous Peoples in America, Africa, and Asia. If or when inaccuracies or biases are present in any resources used for this class, I will use them as teachable moments to explain what is inaccurate and how the resource shows bias.
Supply List
All of the resources used for this class are available online at no cost.
Language of Instruction
English
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
- Padlet
- Quizlet
Sources
• From the Renaissance to England's Golden Age, Core Knowledge History and Geography
• The Age of Exploration, Core Knowledge History and Geography
We will make use of the online collections of the National Gallery of Art and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Joined August, 2020
5.0
32reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
3 Degrees
Master's Degree in History from Harvard University
Master's Degree in Education from Trinity Washington University
Bachelor's Degree from University of California Berkeley
I have taught this course for several years as a full-time, certified Elementary and Secondary teacher at the District of Columbia Public Schools. I received an Excellence Award by the Educational Testing Service for Outstanding performance on the PRAXIS II Test for Social Studies Content Knowledge. My unique expertise is in developing and teaching content-rich humanities units that integrate geography, history, literature, science, art, and music. Additionally, I have developed a repertoire of strategies for teaching reading in the content area to intermediate-age students.Reviews
Live Group Class
$360
for 20 weeks20 weeks
Completed by 6 learners
No live video meetings
Ages: 10-12
