SS8 Wed September 21th

Critical Inquiry Question: What is the Renaissance?

Lesson: Introduction to the Renaissance
Time: 45 minutes
SLOs:
. 8.2.1 appreciate how Renaissance Europe formed the basis for the worldview of
the Western world (C, TCC)
. 8.2.2 demonstrate a willingness to consider differing beliefs, values and
worldviews (C, I)
. 8.2.3 recognize how beliefs and values are shaped by time, geographic location
and societal context (C, TCC, LPP)
8.2.4 examine, critically, the factors that shaped the worldview evolving in
western Europe during the Renaissance by exploring and reflecting upon the
following questions and issues:
. What was the Renaissance? (TCC, LPP)
Lesson Objectives:
Students will...
1. Identify and describe the first parts of the Renaissance asking (who, what, when,
where, and why)
2. Identifying and role-playing members in society and where people stood
(socially) in relation to the feudal system.
3. Outline the differences in class structure and what people could do.
4. If time - Reflect on what life would be like for them during this time.

Key Questions:
What is the European Renaissance?
What were the crusades?
How was feudal society structured?
________________________________________________________________________
Materials:
- Textbooks
- Cards (split the deck see below)
Preparation:
- PowerPoint
- Pull out appropriate cards
Differentiation/ adaptations:
Differentiation types of learning styles
- Role-play
- Group work
- Individual responses

Time
5

10-15

Lesson Procedure:
Introduction
Discussing how different civilizations set the stage for Renaissance
o We talked about one way which is the Silk Road
o ... Next, Islamic Civilization
o Read page 18
The beginning of the Renaissance/ how did it start?
o Read 19-21 on your own
Partner discussion
Social Structure (activity)
o Hand out cards
So we talked about the Silk Road...
This was one way different civilizations set the stage from Renaissance Europe
The other way is the Role of Islamic Civilization
o Read page 18 together
o Summarize for students
Answer: Explain how geographic location of the Islamic Empire
made it a center for learning and discovery from 750-1100. Use the
map of the Silk Road to help
Pages 19-21 on your own

5-8

15-20

Partner discussion/ closure (page 21)

Why was it called the middle ages?
What were key factors that led to the beginning of the Renaissance?
Identify two different ways in which religion affected the worldview at this time?
Social Structure (split deck of cards to have 1 king, 2 jack, 5 (9 and 10s) 7 (7 and 8), 14
(2-6). If Students are missing take away a 2-6 card.
- King Card (King)
o Have King card come up to the front
- Jack card (Higher Clergy)
o Have clergy stand in a group at the front
- 10s cards (Nobles)
o Have nobles stand in a group
- 8/9s (Lesser Nobles/ Knights/ Lower clergy)
o Have Lesser nobles sit in the first rows
- 1-7 (Serfs/peasants)
o Back rows
- Discuss roles of each... See slides!

Closure verbal question: How is this structure different from today?

Sponge 1: Finish map
Sponge 2: work on chapter 1 vocab
Sponge 3: write about how your life would be different/same if you were _____ (your
card) in Middle Age society.
Thursday? Playing cards (index cards) about Fibonacci

Assessment:
Discussion: Formative seeing how students interact with acting as the social system. If
time - Written response seeing how students associate with culture and characteristics at
the time (you were _______ in society, how does this affect your daily life?).
Lesson Reflection:
Side idea: Class hashtag - #justrenaissancethings
- Students create tweets and I tweet them out see if anyone follows along?