Each week we will travel to a different part of the medieval world, discover and discuss what was happening, and then complete a fun art project that goes along with our weekly theme.  

Learners will engage with the stories of the people of the medieval world through viodeo chat and a step by step art project each week.  Classroom discussion will be focussed on the week's historical material and how the art project helped bring the themes to life.  Though the "Middle Ages" primarily relates to Western cultures, we will explore a few other regions during this same time period.

Each week will be it’s own theme, and project:

August:
 Rome After the Fall
 Celts and Christianity

September:
The Bysantine Empire
India in the Middle Ages
The Rise of Islam
China in the Middle Ages

NO CLASS Week of 10/1
October:
The Maori
The Franks
The Vikings

November:
The FirstEnglish Kings
Medieval Castles
Medieval Knights

NO CLASS WEEK OF 11/19

December:
The Crusades 
The Diaspora. 
Japan in the Middle Ages 

No Class the Weeks of December 24th and 31th 

January:
  The Mongols invade the East – we will learn about the geography covered by the Mongols.  Draw a portrait of Ghengis Khan
Marco Polo Goes to China – We will learn about Marco Polo’s 40 year journey to China from Spain.  Then draw a picture of Polo and his trade convoy. 
  The First Russians – We will learn about Ivan the Great, and Ivan the Terrible.  We will draw a Russian cathedral.
  The Ottoman Empire -  We will learn of the fall of the Byzantine Empire as the Ottoman Turks invaded.  We will draw The Lion Gate.
  The Plague in Europe – We will learn about the medieval pandemic that swept Europe.  Draw a plage mask. 

February:
  100 Years War, Joan of Arc - Who fought a war for over 100 years?  We will explore the tension between England and France over the rightful monarchs of each country.  We will  draw Joan of Arc's shield
  Wars of the Roses - Why were there so many people who claimed the right to rule England?  This week's lesson will focus on  the war between cousins over the British throne, and how the winner changed the course of history.  We will draw The Tower of London
  The Kingdoms of Spain and Portugal, The kingdoms that today make up the countries of Spain and Portugal shaped world exploration. We will discuss the political and cultural foundations of these countries, and learn how geography affected their  choices.  We will create a map of this region
  Africa in the Middle Ages - During this period, the world started to get smaller.  Western Europeans begin to explore Africa.  We will discuss the kingdoms of Africa during this time period, and the impact Europe had on Africa. We will draw a caravan in the Sahara Desert

March
 India in the Middle Ages - India was prospering during this period of time. We will learn how the Moghul Empire thrived, and draw a Hindu temple
  Exploring New Worlds - This lesson will discuss the various explorers mainly from Portugal and Spain who traveled the world 
                in search of new routes to the East.  We will draw and paint an explorer's ship

No Class Weeks of March 10th and 17th
 

April
The Maya of Central America - The Maya existed for about 1,750 years, from 250 BCE to 1500 CE.  We will talk about the  historical evidence and oral tradition of the Maya. We will draw Mayan pyramids

  The Renaissance – We will discuss how Europe transitioned out of the “middle ages” and into a new way of thinking about art, science, religion, and more.  We will draw a portrait of Leonardo Da Vinci. 
  Henry VIII - No, he wasn't named Henry the 8th because he had 8 wives, he only had 6!  Who was this man who wasn't 
                supposed to be the king, and how did he change history? We will draw a portrait of Henry VIII
  The Gutenberg press - What does the printing press have to do with religion?  We will discuss the impact of Gutenberg's press 
                on civilization as well as the reformation.  We will draw and paint a stained glass window
 Exploring the Galaxy, Galileo - The world Galileo was born into was heavily controlled by religion.  How did religion play a 
                 part in science?  We will draw and paint Galileo's telescope

May
 Queen Elizabeth of England - Who was this woman who was never supposed to be queen?  We will discuss Elizabeth's 
                 family, and how she eventually took the throne. We will draw a portrait of Queen Elizabeth
 William Shakespeare - This lesson will look at the life and times of The Bard, and how his art continues to influence us today. 
                 We will draw the Globe Theater
 Sir Walter Raleigh - Don't call him a pirate!  He preferred, statesman, soldier, writer, explorer, and a favorite client of the 
                  English regent, Queen Elizabeth I.  We will draw a map to Roanoke
 The Spanish Armada - England wants in on world exploration, but Spain has something to say about that.  We will discuss 
                  the origins of the battle between Spain and Englad, and discuss war tactics used.  We will draw the ocean battle