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Eighth Grade Renaissance Digital Unit Study Kit Guide Written By Rachael Freed

"For everything that was written in the past was written to

teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the

Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might

have hope." (Romans 15:4)

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Introduction

The Ministry of Education has recently changed the learning standards and

competencies for the Province of British Columbia. This kit is designed with these

standards in mind. Each activity in this Unit Study addresses the competencies of the

new BCEd Plan, and is marked with the following labels:

For further information on the pedagogy behind the kits please check out the context in

this document. It will help give background to the new BC curriculum and our inclusion

of these new learning standards in our Unit Study Kits.

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Big Ideas “Big ideas are statements that are central to one’s understanding in an area of learning.

A big idea is broad and abstract.” (CT) Big ideas represent the overarching theme of

each unit.

Contacts and conflicts between peoples stimulated significant cultural, social, political

change.

Human and environmental factors shape changes in population and living standards.

Exploration, expansion, and colonization had varying consequences for different

groups.

Changing ideas about the world created tension between people wanting to adopt new

ideas and those wanting to preserve established traditions.

Content Content refers to the topics that will be investigated throughout the unit. The key

questions serve as a guide as you and your child explore the content. Throughout this

unit the key questions will be the starting point for learning.

● social, political, and economic systems and structures (including those of at least

one indigenous civilization)

● scientific and technological innovations

● philosophical and cultural shifts

● interactions and exchanges of resources, ideas, arts, and culture between and

among different civilizations

● exploration, expansion, and colonization

● changes in population and living standards

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Unit At-a-Glance

Pre-Reading:

● Great Ideas of the Renaissance by Trudee Romanek Novel Study Options:

● The Shakespeare Stealer by Gary Blackwood (Sequel: Shakespeare’s Scribe)

● A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park

● The Trumpeter of Krakow by Eric P. Kelly

● The Second Mrs. Giaconda by E.L. Konigsburg

Printable Novel Study Guide Found Here

Ongoing Project: Your student will be creating a website portfolio containing all of their work during the course of this unit. Students will be practicing using the Question Formulation Technique to ask questions and conduct research. Detailed information about project creation can be found starting on page 8 of this document. Detailed information about the Question Formulation Technique can be found here.

We encourage your child to share all of their work with their teacher.

An assessment rubric for teacher or parent use can be found here. A reflection rubric for students can be found here.

The following chart shows basic information about each of the Exploration Sections in

the Unit, and the page numbers for you to locate each section and its detailed information including thinking questions, the procedure to follow, information about

conducting research, and project possibilities.

Exploration Theme

Videos to Watch Research Tools Pages

Introductory

Activity--Leonardo

Da Vinci

Leonardo Da Vinci:

Influential Artists

Renaissance Man

Explora

World Book Student

11-16

Government,

Trade, Conflict &

Connections

The Renaissance

The Great Age of

Exploration

Explora

World Book Student

16-20

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Exploring the

Renaissance

World Exploration During

the Renaissance

Religion Christianity During the

Renaissance

All About the

Renaissance

The Humanist Movement

The Byzantine Legacy

Explora

World Book Student

21-25

Philosophy &

Culture

Renaissance Thinkers,

An Introduction to the

Renaissance

Great Minds of the

Renaissance

Renaissance Writers

The Philosophy of the

Renaissance

Exploring the

Renaissance

Explora

World Book Student

25-29

Science &

Technology

Science in the

Renaissance

Galileo: Renaissance

Scientist

Science During the

Renaissance

Explora

World Book Student

29-34

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Art, Music,

Theatre and

Writing

The Art of the

Renaissance

Renaissance Art

The High Renaissance

Renaissance

Architecture

Renaissance Writers

Renaissance Versus

Baroque Music

Medieval and

Renaissance Music

Music of the

Renaissance

Renaissance Theatre-

William Shakespeare,

Michelangelo: Influential

Artists

Painters of the

Renaissance

Explora

World Book Student

34-38

How to Use This Kit and the Question Formulation

Technique

The Ministry of Education is in the final stages of overhauling curriculum, learning

strategies, and learning goals for students in the Province of British Columbia. This kit is

designed with those goals in mind.

This kit has been designed to engage students in compiling their own portfolio of work.

Students will design their own website, and then as they work through the unit, they will

upload their work to their website. The primary goal of this kit is to begin helping

students to develop the skills they will need to thrive and flourish in grades 10-12 and

beyond. The kit will have a focus on asking strong questions, researching,

organizing information, design, creating unique products to showcase work,

using technology to enhance and support learning, reading and viewing critically,

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and taking personal responsibility for learning. Students will have opportunities to

make decisions regarding their work, and how it is completed.

Students will be making heavy use of the Question Formulation Technique. This

technique is outlined in detail in this document. We encourage you to read through

the document prior to beginning the unit, and discuss the procedure with your

child. At the beginning of the unit, there will be an opportunity to practice using the

Question Formulation Technique before diving into the rest of the unit.

Each section of the unit will have books to read from the HCS Overdrive E-Library, (if

you do not have your client code & pin, please contact Shandra Wiebe at

swiebe@onlineschool.ca), videos to watch, and activities to enhance your learning. As

in previous units, each set of activities will have icons (as seen on page 2) showing

which goals of the BCEd Plan the activity addresses.

It is our hope that our redesigned format will allow for flexibility, individual preference,

and student-centered learning. When selecting activities to complete with your child we

recommend selecting a variety of activities to ensure that you touch on each BCEd Plan

goal throughout the unit.

Quest for the Renaissance: Major Project Introduction

Website Designer: In this unit you will be creating an incredible treasure trove of your

learning--a website of your own creation where you will be storing all of the work you

complete throughout the unit. As you work on your website, you will be able to share the

work you complete in the HCOS Ning with your peers. This is a wonderful opportunity to

connect with friends your own age from all over British Columbia.

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● To create your website, you will be using one of two programs--Wix or Weebly.

Both are user-friendly tools for creating a free, dynamic, and engaging website.

You do not need to have any understanding of coding to build a Wix or Weebly

page. It is completely up to you which program you choose to use.

● Spend some time exploring both Wix and Weebly. Choose the program that

appeals to you the most.

● Then, spend some time watching either the Wix Tutorial or the Weebly Tutorial.

● After viewing the tutorial, spend some time playing with the program you have

chosen--don’t be afraid to make mistakes--this is just for practice! Have fun and

experiment!

● Once you feel confident using the program of your choice, you will begin creating

your own website. Your website needs the following:

○ A welcome page with a title and two or more pictures

○ A menu at the top of your welcome page with the following categories:

■ Home

■ Government, Trade, Conflict and Connections

■ Religion

■ Philosophy and Culture

■ Science and Technology

■ Art, Music, Theatre and Writing

■ Novel Study

○ Your website should use backgrounds, images, and text boxes.

Experiment with adding buttons, videos, and other features to your

website. Make it your own and have fun, this is your opportunity to

showcase your work!

○ When you set up your website, it is important to consider readability and

visual appeal. Choose a font for your writing that is easy to read (Arial

works best), and choose a font colour that can be seen against your

backdrop. Do not use a black background with a white font, as this can be

very difficult to read.

○ Once you have your basic website setup, you are ready to begin working

through the exploration modules further down in this kit. The work you

complete in your exploration modules will be placed on your website. As

you work on building your website and work, you can share your ongoing

project in the Ning!

○ We have created a sample website for you to explore. Click on the

image below to access the website.

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Novel Study

Over the course of this unit you will be completing one required novel study. The work

you do for your novel study will be placed on your website. For whichever novel you

choose, you will be using the following printable novel study guide. To start, choose one

of the following novels:

The Second Mrs. Giaconda by E.L. Konigsburg

“Why did Leonardo da Vinci lavish three years on painting the second

wife of an unimportant merchant when all the nobles of Europe were

begging for a portrait by his hand? In E. L. Konigsburg's intriguing

novel, the answer lies with the complex relationship between the

genius, his morally questionable young apprentice, and a young

duchess whose plain features belie the sensitivity of her soul.”

The Trumpeter of Krakow by Eric P. Kelly

“There was something about the Great Tarnov Crystal....Wise men

spoke of it in hushed tones. Others were ready to kill for it. Now a

murderous Tartar chief is bent on possessing it. But young Joseph

Charnetski was bound by an ancient oath to protect the jewel at all

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costs. When Joseph and his family seek refuge in Krakow, they are caught up in the

plots and intrigues of alchemists, hypnotists, and a dark messenger of evil. Will Joseph

be able to protect the crystal, and the city, from the plundering

Tartars?”

A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park

“In this Newbery Medal-winning book set in 12th century Korea,

Tree-ear, a 13-year-old orphan, lives under a bridge in Ch'ulp'o, a

potters' village famed for delicate celadon ware. He has become

fascinated with the potter's craft; he wants nothing more than to

watch master potter Min at work, and he dreams of making a pot of

his own someday. When Min takes Tree-ear on as his helper,

Tree-ear is elated — until he finds obstacles in his path: the

backbreaking labor of digging and hauling clay, Min's irascible temper, and his own

ignorance. But Tree-ear is determined to prove himself — even if it means taking a long,

solitary journey on foot to present Min's work in the hope of a royal commission . . .

even if it means arriving at the royal court with nothing to show but a single celadon

shard.”

The Shakespeare Stealer by Gary Blackwood (Sequel:

Shakespeare’s Scribe)

“Widge is an orphan with a rare talent for shorthand. His fearsome

master has just one demand: steal Shakespeare's play "Hamlet"—

or else. Widge has no choice but to follow orders, so he works his

way into the heart of the Globe Theatre, where Shakespeare's

players perform. As full of twists and turns as a London alleyway,

this entertaining novel is rich in period details, colorful characters,

villainy, and drama.”

Books to Read

The book contained in this section serve as a fabulous introduction to the Renaissance It is recommended that you read this book in order to have a thorough understanding of the time period you are exploring. We recommend reading prior to starting the

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exploration section. This will provide your with important background knowledge. Set your own pace for reading, and enjoy!

Great Ideas of the Renaissance by Trudee Romanek “Great Ideas of the Renaissance surveys the major advances

that were made in art, architecture, sculpture, science, medicine,

transportation, and culture. Merchants, monarchs, and religious

leaders all promoted and encouraged creativity, and artists,

scientists, and great thinkers pushed back the frontiers of

philosophy, the arts, mathematics, and technology.”

Exploration Topics

For this section you will need the website portfolio you have created. You will be

reading, viewing, questioning, researching and creating your own projects and

mini-projects. Once you work through the exploration topics you will have

compiled an amazing portfolio of your work to showcase!

You will complete one mini-project for each of the exploration topics below.

It is important to keep your projects to a manageable size. You don’t want to

spend more than one week (five-six days) working on any one project. If you think

your question might be too big to answer in five-six days, consider changing the

wording, or picking a different question. Conducting research can be

overwhelming at times. If you need help, never hesitate to ask your parents, your

support teacher, or your teacher-librarian, Pippa Davies

(pdavies@onlineschool.ca)

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Introductory Activity--Leonardo Da Vinci

You will be using this activity to practice using the Question Formulation Technique.

Your finished product can be included in the “Religion” section of your website. As this

is a practice activity, try not to spend more than 1-3 days working on it. Have fun!

Question Focus: Have you heard of Leonardo Da Vinci? What do you know about

him? For this section of the unit, you will be practicing using the Question Formulation

Technique to learn more about Leonardo Da Vinci. To start, spend time watching

Leonardo Da Vinci: Influential Artists and explore the Renaissance Man interactive from

Discovery Education.

Question Period: Ask as many questions as you can in 5 minutes (think about who,

what, where, and why questions). Remember our Question Focus is Leonardo Da Vinci

and his work. Your questions could relate to his art, his amazing inventions, or to who

he was as a person. Try to generate at least 25 questions if you can. Do not stop to

judge, discuss, edit, or answer any question. If you need some help, please see below

this section for some ideas. It is better to come up with your own questions first, if

possible, so that you are not influenced by someone else’s questions, thus limiting what

could be explored in the research section.

Change any statements into questions. Try to use WHY and HOW questions, or WHO,

WHAT, and WHEN, so long as the question can’t be answered with a few words.

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Work with closed and open-ended questions:

● Label the questions you have made with a “C” for closed-ended questions, and

with an “O” for open-ended questions. (Closed-ended questions are those

which can be answered by a simple "yes" or "no," while open-ended questions

are those which require more thought and more than a simple one-word answer).

● A close-ended question sounds like: “Is the cat in the garden?” An open-ended

question sounds like: “What is your favourite memory from childhood?” or “Why

did the Ancient Egyptians build the pyramids?”

● Reflect on the advantages and disadvantages of both closed and open-ended

questions.

● Practice making a statement into a question.

Prioritize (Choose) Questions:

● Find connections between questions. For example “Are hurricanes different from

tornadoes?” could be made into “Why are hurricanes different from tornadoes?”

The second question is far more open, and leaves much more room for

exploration.

● Choose your top three open-ended questions.

Here are some examples of questions:

● Which of Leonardo Da Vinci’s inventions was the most important/influential and

why?

● What impact has Leonardo Da Vinci had on modern society?

● How could the design of one of Leonardo Da Vinci’s inventions be improved

upon?

● Why was Leonardo Da Vinci interested in capturing the “perfect” human form?

Research & Reflect: Spend some time analyzing your own questions, brainstorming

and changing questions, and thinking about how you will use your questions to shape

your research process. Follow the research guidelines on this page, and use this chart

to plan out and execute your research. After you are finished your project, you will use

the reflection questions at the end of the chart.

Use Explora and/or World Book Student to research the three questions you crafted. If

you cannot find enough information to answer your questions, you can use Advanced

Google. Remember to record where you gather your information as you will need to

create a bibliography to accompany the project you create. If you are having difficulty

with your research you can always contact your teacher-librarian Pippa Davies at

pdavies@onlineschool.ca.

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Show What You Know/Reflect: Now that you have conducted your research, you can

choose how you will present what you know. We suggest choosing a different product

for each of the sections in this unit. That way you will get to find a style of creating that

works best for you, and learn a variety of different tools and techniques. Each of the

products listed below will enable you to demonstrate your learning in a unique way. You

may choose one of the following products (OR, design a product of your own):

Product Description

Build an Invention

In this section of the unit, you have a fabulous opportunity to show what you know through building a model of one of Leonardo Da Vinci’s amazing inventions and creating a video showcasing it. A great place to start is Amazing Leonardo Da Vinci Inventions You Can Build Yourself. If you prefer, you can create your own design prototype using what you learned while conducting your research--if you want to create something that improves upon one of Da Vinci’s designs, feel free to do so! In your video showcasing your creation, you can also explain the answer you came up with after researching.

Essay

An essay is the “classic” way of showing what you know. Essay writing is a fabulous way to develop your confidence with the English language. Your essay can present the information you gathered in your research, AND present your personal point of view. An essay has a minimum of five paragraphs. The first paragraph should state your main points or arguments. The middle paragraphs should explain what you have learned and provide interesting details. The final paragraph should summarize your main points and draw a conclusion. You can read more about essay writing from Purdue OWL.

Canva

Canva is a fantastic digital tool that you can use to make brochures, posters, presentations and graphics. Click on the image to access the Canva site. Share images of what you created on your website.

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Padlet

Padlet is a fantastic collage tool. It will allow you to create an interactive collage using words and images to describe the findings from your research. Padlet is a great choice if you want your product to be highly visual and a somewhat artsy. Click on the image to access the Padlet site.

Video

A video is a fantastic way to share your knowledge. The video you create might be you explaining what you learned, it could be created using stop-motion animation or other software, or you could have your friend interview you about what you learned. Have fun and be creative!

Poem/Song

Do you enjoy writing poems or songs? This is your opportunity to connect something you love with the fantastic research you have conducted in this section of the unit. Your poem or song should outline what you learned in your research. You can record your song/poem to share on your website, or you can share the lyrics.

Artwork

Artwork is a fabulous way to share your learning! Create a piece of artwork that tells about what you learned when conducting your research. You will need to write a brief paragraph telling about what you learned to accompany your artwork.

Storybird

Turn your research into a fabulous children’s story! This is your opportunity to create a fascinating nonfiction book sharing what you learned. You can use the storybird tool, a word processing program, or pencil and paper. Be creative and have fun! To access Storybird, click on the image. Share photos of your story on your website.

Presentation Create a presentation about what you learned using Prezi, PowerPoint, Keynote or Google Slides. Share your presentation on your

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website.

Diorama

A diorama can be a fun way to show what you have learned. You could create a scene from a Medieval village, design and build a castle, showcase a scene from a church, a battle--whatever captures your interest and excitement! Try to incorporate the details of what you learned from your research as thoroughly as you can. You will need to write one or two paragraphs explaining what you learned to accompany your diorama. You could also consider using Minecraft to make your diorama. Take photographs and type a description of your diorama for your website.

Skit/Play

Do you enjoy writing, directing, and performing in plays and skits? A fantastic way of sharing what you have learned is by writing a play or a skit sharing the information you discovered. Consider having friends and family members perform in your play--be certain to video record it. You can share the recording of your play on your website, or your original skit.

Newspaper

Consider creating an engaging newspaper using articles, advertisements, interviews, and images to share what you learned while conducting your research. The digital tool Issuu is a fantastic way to create a newspaper. Share pictures of your newspaper on your website.

Infographic

Use Canva to create a fabulous infographic sharing what you learned from your research. Share your infographic on your website.

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___________________________________________________________

Government, Trade, Conflict & Connections

Question Focus: What role does government play in your life each day? Can you give

some examples? What are some of the conflicts taking place in the world right now?

What are they? What are some of the ways that Canada is connected to other

countries? Can you give some examples? Do you know of any countries with which

Canada trades goods and materials? How did government work in the Renaissance?

Trade? Conflict? How were countries connected to one another? Spend some time

watching The Renaissance and The Great Age of Exploration (Renaissance) before

diving into the rest of this section. Then, use the QFT Method to create questions about

government, trade, conflict, and connections (exploration or relationships between

countries) during the Renaissance. You can also draw upon what you learned in Great

Ideas of the Renaissance by Trudee Romanek.

Question Period: Write down as many questions as you can think of using the

Question Formulation Technique:

1. Ask as many questions as you can.

2. Do not stop to judge, discuss, edit, or answer any question

3. Write down every question exactly as it was asked

4. Label the questions you have made with a “C” for closed-ended questions, and

with an “O” for open-ended questions. (Closed-ended questions are those

which can be answered by a simple "yes" or "no," while open-ended questions

are those which require more thought and more than a simple one-word answer).

5. Change any statements into questions.

Use the Question Formulation Technique to refine your questions. Once you have your

list of questions, select your top three questions to analyze and research.

Reading & Viewing: The HCOS Digital Library has several fabulous resources that

might help you begin your research. For this section of the kit, Renaissance by Patrick

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Hotle is a terrific place to start. You can also spend some time watching Exploring the

Renaissance and World Exploration During the Renaissance. (we encourage families

to preview all videos prior to sharing them with their child in order to ensure that

they are a good fit)

Reflect & Research: Spend some time analyzing questions, brainstorming and

changing questions, and thinking about how you will use your questions to shape your

research process. Follow the research guidelines on this page, and use this chart to

plan out and execute your research. After you are finished your project, you will use the

reflection questions at the end of the chart.

Use Explora and/or World Book Student to research the three questions you crafted. If

you cannot find enough information to answer your questions, you can use Advanced

Google. Remember to record where you gather your information, you will need to create

a bibliography to accompany the project you create. If you are having difficulty with your

research you can always contact your teacher-librarian Pippa Davies at

pdavies@onlineschool.ca.

Show What You Know/Reflect: Now that you have conducted your research, you can

choose how you will present what you know. We suggest choosing a different product

for each of the sections in this unit. That way you will get to find a style of creating that

works best for you, and learn a variety of different tools and techniques. Each of the

products listed below will enable you to demonstrate your learning in a unique way. You

may choose one of the following products (OR, design a product of your own):

Product Description

Essay

An essay is the “classic” way of showing what you know. Essay writing is a fabulous way to develop your confidence with the English language. Your essay can present the information you gathered in your research, AND present your personal point of view. An essay has a minimum of five paragraphs. The first paragraph should state your main points or arguments. The middle paragraphs should explain what you have learned and provide interesting details. The final paragraph should summarize your main points and draw a conclusion. You can read more about essay writing from Purdue OWL.

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Canva

Canva is a fantastic digital tool that you can use to make brochures, posters, presentations and graphics. Click on the image to access the Canva site. Share images of what you created on your website.

Padlet

Padlet is a fantastic collage tool. It will allow you to create an interactive collage using words and images to describe the findings from your research. Padlet is a great choice if you want your product to be highly visual and a somewhat artsy. Click on the image to access the Padlet site.

Video

A video is a fantastic way to share your knowledge. The video you create might be you explaining what you learned, it could be created using stop-motion animation or other software, or you could have your friend interview you about what you learned. Have fun and be creative!

Poem/Song

Do you enjoy writing poems or songs? This is your opportunity to connect something you love with the fantastic research you have conducted in this section of the unit. Your poem or song should outline what you learned in your research. You can record your song/poem to share on your website, or you can share the lyrics.

Artwork

Artwork is a fabulous way to share your learning! Create a piece of artwork that tells about what you learned when conducting your research. You will need to write a brief paragraph telling about what you learned to accompany your artwork.

Storybird

Turn your research into a fabulous children’s story! This is your opportunity to create a fascinating nonfiction book sharing what you learned. You can use the storybird tool, a word processing program, or pencil and paper. Be creative and have fun! To access Storybird,

SW 12/14/2017 20

click on the image. Share photos of your story on your website.

Presentation

Create a presentation about what you learned using Prezi, PowerPoint, Keynote or Google Slides. Share your presentation on your website.

Diorama

A diorama can be a fun way to show what you have learned. You could create a scene from a Medieval village, design and build a castle, showcase a scene from a church, a battle--whatever captures your interest and excitement! Try to incorporate the details of what you learned from your research as thoroughly as you can. You will need to write one or two paragraphs explaining what you learned to accompany your diorama. You could also consider using Minecraft to make your diorama. Take photographs and type a description of your diorama for your website.

Skit/Play

Do you enjoy writing, directing, and performing in plays and skits? A fantastic way of sharing what you have learned is by writing a play or a skit sharing the information you discovered. Consider having friends and family members perform in your play--be certain to video record it. You can share the recording of your play on your website, or your original skit.

Newspaper

Consider creating an engaging newspaper using articles, advertisements, interviews, and images to share what you learned while conducting your research. The digital tool Issuu is a fantastic way to create a newspaper. Share pictures of your newspaper on your website.

Infographic

Use Canva to create a fabulous infographic sharing what you learned from your research. Share your infographic on your website.

SW 12/14/2017 21

__________________________________________________________

Religion

Question Focus: What role does faith/religion play in your life? What role do you think

faith/religion plays in Canadian society? Do you think this role has changed over time?

Explain your thinking. What role did faith/religion play in the Renaissance? How was

faith/religion different than it is today? How was it similar? How did the publication of the

Gutenberg bible change the church? Was religion the same? How has the Christian

church changed since the Renaissance? Watch Christianity During the Renaissance

before diving into the rest of this section. Then, use the QFT Method to create questions

about religion and faith during the Renaissance. You can draw upon what you learned

in Great Ideas of the Renaissance by Trudee Romanek.

Question Period: Write down as many questions as you can think of using the

Question Formulation Technique:

1. Ask as many questions as you can.

2. Do not stop to judge, discuss, edit, or answer any question

3. Write down every question exactly as it was asked

4. Label the questions you have made with a “C” for closed-ended questions, and

with an “O” for open-ended questions. (Closed-ended questions are those

which can be answered by a simple "yes" or "no," while open-ended questions

are those which require more thought and more than a simple one-word answer).

5. Change any statements into questions.

Use the Question Formulation Technique to refine your questions. Once you have your

list of questions, select your top three questions to analyze and research.

Reading & Viewing: The HCOS Digital Library has several fabulous resources that

might help you begin your research. For this section of the kit, Renaissance by Patrick

Hotle is a terrific place to start. You can also spend some time watching All About the

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Renaissance, The Humanist Movement, and The Byzantine Legacy. (we encourage

families to preview all videos prior to sharing them with their child in order to

ensure that they are a good fit)

Reflect & Research: Spend some time analyzing questions, brainstorming and

changing questions, and thinking about how you will use your questions to shape your

research process. Follow the research guidelines on this page, and use this chart to

plan out and execute your research. After you are finished your project, you will use the

reflection questions at the end of the chart.

Use Explora and/or World Book Student to research the three questions you crafted. If

you cannot find enough information to answer your questions, you can use Advanced

Google. Remember to record where you gather your information, you will need to create

a bibliography to accompany the project you create. If you are having difficulty with your

research you can always contact your teacher-librarian Pippa Davies at

pdavies@onlineschool.ca.

Show What You Know: Now that you have conducted your research, you can choose

how you will present what you know. We suggest choosing a different product for each

of the sections in this unit. That way you will get to find a style of creating that works

best for you, and learn a variety of different tools and techniques. Each of the products

listed below will enable you to demonstrate your learning in a unique way. You may

choose one of the following products (OR, design a product of your own):

Product Description

Essay

An essay is the “classic” way of showing what you know. Essay writing is a fabulous way to develop your confidence with the English language. Your essay can present the information you gathered in your research, AND present your personal point of view. An essay has a minimum of five paragraphs. The first paragraph should state your main points or arguments. The middle paragraphs should explain what you have learned and provide interesting details. The final paragraph should summarize your main points and draw a conclusion. You can read more about essay writing from Purdue OWL.

Canva Canva is a fantastic digital tool that you can

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use to make brochures, posters, presentations and graphics. Click on the image to access the Canva site. Share images of what you created on your website.

Padlet

Padlet is a fantastic collage tool. It will allow you to create an interactive collage using words and images to describe the findings from your research. Padlet is a great choice if you want your product to be highly visual and a somewhat artsy. Click on the image to access the Padlet site.

Video

A video is a fantastic way to share your knowledge. The video you create might be you explaining what you learned, it could be created using stop-motion animation or other software, or you could have your friend interview you about what you learned. Have fun and be creative!

Poem/Song

Do you enjoy writing poems or songs? This is your opportunity to connect something you love with the fantastic research you have conducted in this section of the unit. Your poem or song should outline what you learned in your research. You can record your song/poem to share on your website, or you can share the lyrics.

Artwork

Artwork is a fabulous way to share your learning! Create a piece of artwork that tells about what you learned when conducting your research. You will need to write a brief paragraph telling about what you learned to accompany your artwork.

Storybird Turn your research into a fabulous children’s story! This is your opportunity to create a fascinating nonfiction book sharing what you

SW 12/14/2017 24

learned. You can use the storybird tool, a word processing program, or pencil and paper. Be creative and have fun! To access Storybird, click on the image. Share photos of your story on your website.

Presentation

Create a presentation about what you learned using Prezi, PowerPoint, Keynote or Google Slides. Share your presentation on your website

Diorama

A diorama can be a fun way to show what you have learned. You could create a scene from a Medieval village, design and build a castle, showcase a scene from a church, a battle--whatever captures your interest and excitement! Try to incorporate the details of what you learned from your research as thoroughly as you can. You will need to write one or two paragraphs explaining what you learned to accompany your diorama. You could also consider using Minecraft to make your diorama. Take photographs and type a description of your diorama for your website.

Skit/Play

Do you enjoy writing, directing, and performing in plays and skits? A fantastic way of sharing what you have learned is by writing a play or a skit sharing the information you discovered. Consider having friends and family members perform in your play--be certain to video record it. You can share the recording of your play on your website, or your original skit.

Newspaper

Consider creating an engaging newspaper using articles, advertisements, interviews, and images to share what you learned while conducting your research. The digital tool Issuu is a fantastic way to create a newspaper. Share pictures of your newspaper on your website.

Infographic Use Canva to create a fabulous infographic sharing what you learned from your research.

SW 12/14/2017 25

Share your infographic on your website.

__________________________________________________________________

Philosophy & Culture

Question Focus: What is philosophy? What is culture? How do you think philosophy

has changed over time? Do you think that people’s values and ideas have changed

over time? Can you give some examples? What do you think philosophy and culture

were like during the Renaissance? Spend some time watching Renaissance Thinkers,

and An Introduction to the Renaissance. Then, use the QFT Method to create questions

about philosophy and culture during the Renaissance. You can draw upon what you

learned in Great Ideas of the Renaissance by Trudee Romanek.

Question Period: Write down as many questions as you can think of using the

Question Formulation Technique:

1. Ask as many questions as you can.

2. Do not stop to judge, discuss, edit, or answer any question

3. Write down every question exactly as it was asked

4. Label the questions you have made with a “C” for closed-ended questions, and

with an “O” for open-ended questions. (Closed-ended questions are those

which can be answered by a simple "yes" or "no," while open-ended questions

are those which require more thought and more than a simple one-word answer).

5. Change any statements into questions.

SW 12/14/2017 26

Use the Question Formulation Technique to refine your questions. Once you have your

list of questions, select your top three questions to analyze and research.

Reading & Viewing: Spend some time watching Great Minds of the Renaissance,

Renaissance Writers, The Philosophy of the Renaissance, and Exploring the

Renaissance to learn more about this fascinating time in history. (we encourage

families to preview all videos prior to sharing them with their child in order to

ensure that they are a good fit)

Reflect & Research: Spend some time analyzing questions, brainstorming and

changing questions, and thinking about how you will use your questions to shape your

research process. Follow the research guidelines on this page, and use this chart to

plan out and execute your research. After you are finished your project, you will use the

reflection questions at the end of the chart.

Use Explora and/or World Book Student to research the three questions you crafted. If

you cannot find enough information to answer your questions, you can use Advanced

Google. Remember to record where you gather your information, you will need to create

a bibliography to accompany the project you create. If you are having difficulty with your

research you can always contact your teacher-librarian Pippa Davies at

pdavies@onlineschool.ca.

Show What You Know: Now that you have conducted your research, you can choose

how you will present what you know. We suggest choosing a different product for each

of the sections in this unit. That way you will get to find a style of creating that works

best for you, and learn a variety of different tools and techniques. Each of the products

listed below will enable you to demonstrate your learning in a unique way. You may

choose one of the following products:

Product Description

Essay

An essay is the “classic” way of showing what you know. Essay writing is a fabulous way to develop your confidence with the English language. Your essay can present the information you gathered in your research, AND present your personal point of view. An essay has a minimum of five paragraphs. The first paragraph should state your main points or arguments. The middle paragraphs should

SW 12/14/2017 27

explain what you have learned and provide interesting details. The final paragraph should summarize your main points and draw a conclusion. You can read more about essay writing from Purdue OWL.

Canva

Canva is a fantastic digital tool that you can use to make brochures, posters, presentations and graphics. Click on the image to access the Canva site. Share images of what you created on your website.

Padlet

Padlet is a fantastic collage tool. It will allow you to create an interactive collage using words and images to describe the findings from your research. Padlet is a great choice if you want your product to be highly visual and a somewhat artsy. Click on the image to access the Padlet site.

Video

A video is a fantastic way to share your knowledge. The video you create might be you explaining what you learned, it could be created using stop-motion animation or other software, or you could have your friend interview you about what you learned. Have fun and be creative!

Poem/Song

Do you enjoy writing poems or songs? This is your opportunity to connect something you love with the fantastic research you have conducted in this section of the unit. Your poem or song should outline what you learned in your research. You can record your song/poem to share on your website, or you can share the lyrics.

Artwork

Artwork is a fabulous way to share your learning! Create a piece of artwork that tells about what you learned when conducting your research. You will need to write a brief paragraph telling about what you learned to

SW 12/14/2017 28

accompany your artwork.

Storybird

Turn your research into a fabulous children’s story! This is your opportunity to create a fascinating nonfiction book sharing what you learned. You can use the storybird tool, a word processing program, or pencil and paper. Be creative and have fun! To access Storybird, click on the image. Share photos of your story on your website.

Presentation

Create a presentation about what you learned using Prezi, PowerPoint, Keynote or Google Slides. Share your presentation on your website.

Diorama

A diorama can be a fun way to show what you have learned. You could create a scene from a Medieval village, design and build a castle, showcase a scene from a church, a battle--whatever captures your interest and excitement! Try to incorporate the details of what you learned from your research as thoroughly as you can. You will need to write one or two paragraphs explaining what you learned to accompany your diorama. You could also consider using Minecraft to make your diorama. Take photographs and type a description of your diorama to for your website.

Skit/Play

Do you enjoy writing, directing, and performing in plays and skits? A fantastic way of sharing what you have learned is by writing a play or a skit sharing the information you discovered. Consider having friends and family members perform in your play--be certain to video record it. You can share the recording of your play on your website, or your original skit.

Newspaper

Consider creating an engaging newspaper using articles, advertisements, interviews, and images to share what you learned while conducting your research. The digital tool Issuu is a fantastic way to create a newspaper. Share

SW 12/14/2017 29

pictures of your newspaper on your website.

Infographic

Use Canva to create a fabulous infographic sharing what you learned from your research. Share your infographic on your website.

___________________________________________________________

Science & Technology

Question Focus: How do you think science has changed over time? How do you think

technology has changed over time? What are some of the technologies that you enjoy

using on a daily basis? How do you imagine life without them would be? To start, watch

Science in the Renaissance. Then, use the QFT Method to create questions about

science and technology during the Renaissance. You can draw upon what you learned

in Great Ideas of the Renaissance by Trudee Romanek.

Question Period: Write down as many questions as you can think of using the

Question Formulation Technique:

1. Ask as many questions as you can.

2. Do not stop to judge, discuss, edit, or answer any question

3. Write down every question exactly as it was asked

4. Label the questions you have made with a “C” for closed-ended questions, and

with an “O” for open-ended questions. (Closed-ended questions are those

which can be answered by a simple "yes" or "no," while open-ended questions

are those which require more thought and more than a simple one-word answer).

5. Change any statements into questions.

SW 12/14/2017 30

Use the Question Formulation Technique to refine your questions. Once you have your

list of questions, select your top three questions to analyze and research.

Reading & Viewing: The HCOS Digital Library has many wonderful resources to

explore. For this section of the unit, Scientists and Inventors of the Renaissance is a

wonderful place to start. You may also enjoy reading Starry Messenger by Peter Sis,

Galileo’s Leaning Tower Experiment, and, Who Was Galileo?. Spend some time

watching Galileo: Renaissance Scientist and Science During the Renaissance. (we

encourage families to preview all videos prior to sharing them with their child in

order to ensure that they are a good fit)

Reflect & Research: Spend some time analyzing questions, brainstorming and

changing questions, and thinking about how you will use your questions to shape your

research process. Use Explora and/or World Book Student to research the three

questions you crafted. If you cannot find enough information to answer your questions,

you can use Advanced Google. Remember to record where you gather your

information, you will need to create a bibliography to accompany the project you create.

If you are having difficulty with your research you can always contact your teacher-

librarian Pippa Davies at pdavies@onlineschool.ca.

Show What You Know: Now that you have conducted your research, you can choose

how you will present what you know. We suggest choosing a different product for each

of the sections in this unit. That way you will get to find a style of creating that works

best for you, and learn a variety of different tools and techniques. Each of the products

listed below will enable you to demonstrate your learning in a unique way. You may

choose one of the following products:

Product Description

Essay

An essay is the “classic” way of showing what you know. Essay writing is a fabulous way to develop your confidence with the English language. Your essay can present the information you gathered in your research, AND present your personal point of view. An essay has a minimum of five paragraphs. The first paragraph should state your main points or arguments. The middle paragraphs should explain what you have learned and provide interesting details. The final paragraph should summarize your main points and draw a

SW 12/14/2017 31

conclusion. You can read more about essay writing from Purdue OWL.

Canva

Canva is a fantastic digital tool that you can use to make brochures, posters, presentations and graphics. Click on the image to access the Canva site. Share images of what you created on your website.

Padlet

Padlet is a fantastic collage tool. It will allow you to create an interactive collage using words and images to describe the findings from your research. Padlet is a great choice if you want your product to be highly visual and a somewhat artsy. Click on the image to access the Padlet site.

Video

A video is a fantastic way to share your knowledge. The video you create might be you explaining what you learned, it could be created using stop-motion animation or other software, or you could have your friend interview you about what you learned. Have fun and be creative!

Poem/Song

Do you enjoy writing poems or songs? This is your opportunity to connect something you love with the fantastic research you have conducted in this section of the unit. Your poem or song should outline what you learned in your research. You can record your song/poem to share on your website, or you can share the lyrics.

Artwork

Artwork is a fabulous way to share your learning! Create a piece of artwork that tells about what you learned when conducting your research. You will need to write a brief paragraph telling about what you learned to accompany your artwork.

SW 12/14/2017 32

Storybird

Turn your research into a fabulous children’s story! This is your opportunity to create a fascinating nonfiction book sharing what you learned. You can use the storybird tool, a word processing program, or pencil and paper. Be creative and have fun! To access Storybird, click on the image. Share photos of your story on your website.

Presentation

Create a presentation about what you learned using Prezi, PowerPoint, Keynote or Google Slides. Share your presentation on your website

Diorama

A diorama can be a fun way to show what you have learned. You could create a scene from a Medieval village, design and build a castle, showcase a scene from a church, a battle--whatever captures your interest and excitement! Try to incorporate the details of what you learned from your research as thoroughly as you can. You will need to write one or two paragraphs explaining what you learned to accompany your diorama. You could also consider using Minecraft to make your diorama. Take photographs and type a description of your diorama for your website.

Skit/Play

Do you enjoy writing, directing, and performing in plays and skits? A fantastic way of sharing what you have learned is by writing a play or a skit sharing the information you discovered. Consider having friends and family members perform in your play--be certain to video record it. You can share the recording of your play on your website, or your original skit.

Newspaper

Consider creating an engaging newspaper using articles, advertisements, interviews, and images to share what you learned while conducting your research. The digital tool Issuu is a fantastic way to create a newspaper. Share pictures of your newspaper on your website.

SW 12/14/2017 33

Infographic

Use Canva to create a fabulous infographic sharing what you learned from your research. Share your infographic on your website.

______________________________________________________________________

Art, Music, Theatre, and Writing

Question Focus: Do you enjoy music? Do you enjoy art? Do you enjoy theatre and

reading? How do you think art and music have changed over time? How do you think

theatre and writing have changed over time? To start, watch The Art of the

Renaissance. Then, use the QFT Method to create questions about art, music, theatre,

and writing during the Renaissance. You can draw upon what you learned in Great

Ideas of the Renaissance by Trudee Romanek.

Question Period: Write down as many questions as you can think of using the

Question Formulation Technique:

1. Ask as many questions as you can.

2. Do not stop to judge, discuss, edit, or answer any question

3. Write down every question exactly as it was asked

4. Label the questions you have made with a “C” for closed-ended questions, and

with an “O” for open-ended questions. (Closed-ended questions are those

which can be answered by a simple "yes" or "no," while open-ended questions

are those which require more thought and more than a simple one-word answer).

5. Change any statements into questions.

SW 12/14/2017 34

Use the Question Formulation Technique to refine your questions. Once you have your

list of questions, select your top three questions to analyze and research.

Viewing: During the Renaissance art flourished throughout Europe. It was an incredible

time for creative souls to express themselves. Spend some time watching videos about

this fascinating period in the history of art. Renaissance Art, The High Renaissance,

Renaissance Architecture, Renaissance Writers, Renaissance Versus Baroque Music,

Medieval and Renaissance Music, Music of the Renaissance, Renaissance Theatre-

William Shakespeare, and Michelangelo: Influential Artists. You can also enjoy Painters

of the Renaissance from the HCOS Digital Library. (we encourage families to

preview all videos prior to sharing them with their child in order to ensure that

they are a good fit)

Reflect & Research: Spend some time analyzing questions, brainstorming and

changing questions, and thinking about how you will use your questions to shape your

research process. Use Explora and/or World Book Student to research the three

questions you crafted. If you cannot find enough information to answer your questions,

you can use Advanced Google. Remember to record where you gather your

information, you will need to create a bibliography to accompany the project you create.

If you are having difficulty with your research you can always contact your teacher-

librarian Pippa Davies at pdavies@onlineschool.ca.

Show What You Know: Now that you have conducted your research, you can choose

how you will present what you know. We suggest choosing a different product for each

of the sections in this unit. That way you will get to find a style of creating that works

best for you, and learn a variety of different tools and techniques. Each of the products

listed below will enable you to demonstrate your learning in a unique way. You may

choose one of the following products:

Product Description

Essay

An essay is the “classic” way of showing what you know. Essay writing is a fabulous way to develop your confidence with the English language. Your essay can present the information you gathered in your research, AND present your personal point of view. An essay has a minimum of five paragraphs. The first paragraph should state your main points or arguments. The middle paragraphs should

SW 12/14/2017 35

explain what you have learned and provide interesting details. The final paragraph should summarize your main points and draw a conclusion. You can read more about essay writing from Purdue OWL.

Canva

Canva is a fantastic digital tool that you can use to make brochures, posters, presentations and graphics. Click on the image to access the Canva site. Share images of what you created on your website.

Padlet

Padlet is a fantastic collage tool. It will allow you to create an interactive collage using words and images to describe the findings from your research. Padlet is a great choice if you want your product to be highly visual and a somewhat artsy. Click on the image to access the Padlet site.

Video

A video is a fantastic way to share your knowledge. The video you create might be you explaining what you learned, it could be created using stop-motion animation or other software, or you could have your friend interview you about what you learned. Have fun and be creative!

Poem/Song

Do you enjoy writing poems or songs? This is your opportunity to connect something you love with the fantastic research you have conducted in this section of the unit. Your poem or song should outline what you learned in your research. You can record your song/poem to share on your website, or you can share the lyrics.

Artwork

Artwork is a fabulous way to share your learning! Create a piece of artwork that tells about what you learned when conducting your research. You will need to write a brief paragraph telling about what you learned to accompany your artwork.

Storybird Turn your research into a fabulous children’s

SW 12/14/2017 36

story! This is your opportunity to create a fascinating nonfiction book sharing what you learned. You can use the storybird tool, a word processing program, or pencil and paper. Be creative and have fun! To access Storybird, click on the image. Share photos of your story on your website.

Presentation

Create a presentation about what you learned using Prezi, PowerPoint, Keynote or Google Slides. Share your presentation on your website.

Diorama

A diorama can be a fun way to show what you have learned. You could create a scene from a Medieval village, design and build a castle, showcase a scene from a church, a battle--whatever captures your interest and excitement! Try to incorporate the details of what you learned from your research as thoroughly as you can. You will need to write one or two paragraphs explaining what you learned to accompany your diorama. You could also consider using Minecraft to make your diorama. Take photographs and type a description of your diorama to share on your website.

Skit/Play

Do you enjoy writing, directing, and performing in plays and skits? A fantastic way of sharing what you have learned is by writing a play or a skit sharing the information you discovered. Consider having friends and family members perform in your play--be certain to video record it. You can share the recording of your play on your website, or your original skit.

Newspaper

Consider creating an engaging newspaper using articles, advertisements, interviews, and images to share what you learned while conducting your research. The digital tool Issuu is a fantastic way to create a newspaper. Share pictures of your newspaper on your website.

SW 12/14/2017 37

Infographic

Use Canva to create a fabulous infographic sharing what you learned from your research. Share your infographic on your website.

Curricular Competencies “Competency represents the combined skills, processes, behaviours and habits of mind

that learners use to make sense of the world.” (CT)

Social Studies Use Social Studies inquiry processes and skills to ask questions; gather, interpret, and

analyze ideas; and communicate findings and decisions

Assess the significance of people, places, events, or developments at particular times

and places (significance)

Identify what the creators of accounts, narratives, maps, or texts have determined is

significant (significance)

Assess the credibility of multiple sources and the adequacy of evidence used to justify

conclusions (evidence)

Characterize different time periods in history, including periods of progress and decline,

and identify key turning points that mark periods of change (continuity and change)

Determine which causes most influenced particular decisions, actions, or events, and

assess their short-and long-term consequences (cause and consequence)

SW 12/14/2017 38

Explain different perspectives on past or present people, places, issues, or events, and

compare the values, worldviews, and beliefs of human cultures and societies in different

times and places (perspective)

Make ethical judgments about past events, decisions, or actions, and assess the

limitations of drawing direct lessons from the past (ethical judgment)

Language Arts Apply appropriate strategies to comprehend written, oral, and visual texts, guide inquiry,

and extend thinking

Construct meaningful personal connections between self, text, and world

Respond to text in personal, creative, and critical ways

Use writing and design processes to plan, develop, and create engaging and

meaningful literary and informational texts for a variety of purposes and audiences

Transform ideas and information to create original texts