The Awful Ends of the Awfully Famous
This class studies how some of the most famous people in history met their demise. Join us for all 10 weeks or just the ones you find interesting. Either way, this class is sure to not disappoint those with a morbid curiosity!
Christin Martin, M.S. - Certified Educator
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:(6)
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What's included
10 live meetings
7 hrs 30 mins in-class hoursHomework
1 hour per week. At the end of every class, a list of further reading resources will be provided for if the student wishes to research more about the person.Assessment
Each class will feature a Kahoot at the end for students to check their knowledge.Class Experience
Intermediate Level
Over the course of history, men and women have died. It is one of the few certainties of life. However, the method by which they shed their mortal coil can be quite interesting. In this ongoing course, learn about the ways that some of the most famous and influential people in history have kicked the bucket. Each week, we will explore how two famous entities croaked. The lesson will consist of a quick biography of the person, how they died, and other fun facts. Each class will conclude with a Kahoot so that students can test their newfound knowledge of how these famous people turned into earthworm food. For a full list and schedule of the people covered, please refer to the syllabus. Come join us for some slightly morbid (but informative!) fun.
Learning Goals
Students will be able to recognize and name significant historical figures discussed in the course.Students will comprehend the historical and social contexts in which these figures lived and died.
Syllabus
Curriculum
Follows Teacher-Created Curriculum10 Lessons
over 10 WeeksLesson 1:
King Tut & Christopher Columbus
- King Tut died at only 19 years old... but how?
- Columbus died from a lack of something that we take for granted these days. What item could he have discovered to save his life? 45 mins online live lesson
Lesson 2:
Cleopatra & Julius Caesar
- Was it a snake that killed Cleopatra... or something else?
- Caesar survived 50 battles but was brought down by an influencer. 45 mins online live lesson
Lesson 3:
Henry VIII & Elizabeth I
- Henry VIII had six wives, but no one could have prepared him for what brought him down.
- Elizabeth I was so concerned about not losing her head that she forgot to do the one thing needed to keep her life. 45 mins online live lesson
Lesson 4:
Pocahontas & Marie Antoinette
- Pocahontas passed away at around 21 years old, but from what?
- Marie Antoinette is known for her line about letting her people eat cake, but her words were not her downfall. 45 mins online live lesson
Other Details
Parental Guidance
This course is not for everyone. In fact, it is not for anyone that can't handle learning that someone died of odd circumstances. There are a few gross things that will be discussed, including bloodletting, pus, poisoning, insect remedies, various diseases, and murder. Organ preservation is also a key topic in a few of the sessions. It is imperative that parents exercise their right to choose what is appropriate for their child.
Supply List
A list of resources for further study will be provided at the end of each session. Students need to come with an open mind and a sense of fascination!
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Sources
The Mummy by E.A. Wallis Budge
Who Killed King Tut? Using Modern Forensics to Solve a 3,330-Year-Old Mystery by Gregory Cooper and Michael King
The Mysterious Death of Tutankhamun by P.C. Doherty
Julius Caesar: The Life and Times of the People's Dictator by Luciano Canfora
The Assassination of Julius Caesar: A People's History of Ancient Rome by Michael Parenti
Cleopatra: Beyond the Myth by Michel Chauveau
Cleopatra by Michael Grant
The History of Scurvy and Vitamin C by Kenneth Carpenter
The Log of Christopher Columbus by Christopher Columbus
The Last Voyage of Columbus by Martin Dugard
Henry VIII: A Biography by John Bowle
Great Harry by Carolly Erickson
Elizabeth the Great by Elizabeth Jenkins
The Life of Elizabeth I by Alison Weir
History and Geography of the Most Important Diseases by Erwin Ackerknecht
The True Story of Pocahontas by Angela Daniel
Pocahontas: The Life and the Legend by Frances Mossiker
On Giants' Shoulders: Great Scientists and their Discoveries by Melvyn Bragg
Galileo's Mistake by Wade Rowland
Mozart by Peter Gay
Mozart's Last Year by H.C. Robbins Landon
Mozart: A Life by Maynard Solomon
The Private Life of Marie Antoinette by Jeanne Louise Henriette Campan
Last Days of Marie Antoinette by Lord Ronald Gower
His Excellency: George Washington by Joseph J Ellis
The Death of George Washingon: He Died as He Lived by Peter Henriques
Napoleon: The Immortal Emperor by Gerard Gengembre
The Murder of Napoleon by David Hapgood and Ben Weider
Diagnosing Genius: The Life and Death of Beethoven by Francois Martin Mai
Late Beethoven by Maynard Solomon
Poe: A Life Cut Short by Peter Ackroyd
Poe by James Hutchisson
Charles Dickens: An Authentic Account of His Life & Times by Martin Fido
Dickens: A Biography by Fred Kaplan
Dark Horse: The Surprise Election and Political Murder of President James A. Garfield by Kenneth Ackerman
James A. Garfield by Ira Rutkow
The Life of a Tormented Evolutionist: Darwin by Adrian Desmond and James Moore
Why Darwin Matters by Michael Shermer
Madame Curie: A Biography by Eve Curie
Obsessive Genius: The Inner World of Marie Curie by Barbara Goldsmith
Possessing Genius: The Bizarre Odyssey of Einstein's Brain by Carolyn Abraham
The Einstein Almanac by Alice Calaprice
Whitehouse.gov
A Discourse on the Death of William Henry Harrison, President of the United States by Leonard Bacon
How They Croaked by Georgia Bragg
Joined August, 2022
5.0
6reviews
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Teacher expertise and credentials
Florida Teaching Certificate in English/Language Arts
2 Degrees
Master's Degree in English from Southern New Hampshire University
Bachelor's Degree in Education from University of Central Florida
When my stepdaughter was growing up, she was obsessed with the weird deaths of celebrities. We did so much research on a variety of famous deaths, and I thought this would be an interesting platform to share it with other children who may have the same fascination. I also am a certified educator with over 15 years of experience and hold multiple Master's degrees. Reviews
Live Group Course
$15
weekly1x per week, 10 weeks
45 min
Live video meetings
Ages: 12-16
2-10 learners per class
