Renaissance Fair Project
Task: Students will work in pairs or groups of three to create an exhibit to display at the upcoming Renaissance Fair. Groups must conduct research on the subject of their choice, to fit the theme: “humanism and revival of classical culture.” All exhibits must answer completely answer the following questions:
- Who or what is it?
- Where did this event take place? Where did this person contribute to the Renaissance?
- When did this happen?
- Why is it important?
- “How did this aspect contribute to either the rise of humanism, the revival of classical culture, or the impact modern society?”
Topic Choice Examples:
Artists:
-AlbrechtDurer (Germany)- Donatello
-JohnannesVermeer- Filippo Brunelleschi
-Titian- Andrea del Verrocchio
-Pieter Bruegel the Elder- Jan van Eyck
-Leonardo da Vinci - Rogier van der Weyden
-Michelangelo Buonarroti- Quentin Massys
-Raphael Sanzio- Jean Clouet (France)
-SandroBotticel- Han Holbein (England)
-Lucas Cranach the Elder (Germany)- Hieronymus Bosch
-Matthias Grunewald (Germany)
Sculptures and Architecture:
-Cristo dellaMinverva- Burnaloskick
-David - St. Peter’s Basilica
-La Pieta- Sistine Chapel
-St. George - Betrothal of the Virgin
-Hercules and Cacus- School of Athens
-Madonna of Bruges - Liberation of St. Peter
-Jean Goujon (France)
-Moses
Literature and Philosophy:
-Miguel de Cervantes - DesideriusErasmus
-William Shakespeare - Michel de Montaigne
-FrancescoPetarch- BaldassareCastiglione
-Nicolo Machiavelli
-Thomas More
-Johannes Guttenberg and the printing press
Culture:
-Food
-Dress
-Dance
-Inventions
-Music
Exhibit Ideas:
Visual Aid (Poster, Art Gallery, Collage, etc.): Must be created entirely by hand and be a collaboration of all group members’ research. It is entirely up to you how to construct your visual aid. Be sure to include a title, headings, images, quotes/other primary sources, and hand drawn maps. You want your visual image to be a representation of your research and cover all the main points of your thesis.
Exhibit/Model etc.: This option is more of a 3D construction and must be done hand. This can be a re-creation of an invention that occurred during the Renaissance. Examples of Renaissance inventions include the violin and the printing press.
PowerPoint/Prezi: You are required to include at least 6-10 slides for PPT and the Prezi needs to have at least 5-6 panels. If you are using a template in Prezi a lot of this will be structured out for you and you may add paths and panels as you wish. You must include text, images, video clips from YouTube based on your historical topic. Be creative and include quotes and different types of graphics. Limit text to brief statements and phrases. Full paragraphs of information will not be accepted.
Make a Documentary: Create in editing program of your choice. The documentary must be at least 3 minutes in length up to a maximum of 8 minutes Include text, images and other visual expressions, music from the Renaissance and even your OWN VOICE as narrator. All group members must present. A script must be included as well. You must wear Renaissance style costumes!
Create and Perform a play or skit: If you do not want to create a video you have the option of doing a live skit and performance. You can set up your skit in any creative way (News show, Talk Show, SportsCenter, CNN, etc.) to present your topic. All group members must participate, wear Renaissance style costumes, and script must be handed in. It is recommended that the group rehearse the skit before presenting to the class.
Poetry/Song Writing: Each group member must create a poem based on his or her individual area of research. Each poem must be at least 15 lines. Each poem should reflect the accomplishments and importance of your assigned individual topic and include 4 -5 historical points such as people, places, dates, etc. Include a 1 paragraph rationale from each poem.
Newspaper: Create a newspaper with at least 5 different sections summarizing each group’s individual project. You can include an editorial, Breaking News, Arts, Music, Critical Reviews, etc. Each section should be 3 – 5 paragraphs long. Be sure to include pictures, captions, and advertisements for the Renaissance art and inventions.
Food:Make an authentic Renaissance-era food dish. You should make enough for the whole class to have some. When you present your food for tasting, explain not only how it was made, but also who would have eaten this and why.
Renaissance Project - Project/Presentation Rubric and Timeline
Category / Excellent / Above Average / Below Average / UnacceptableProject / Finished product is extremely professional, well researched, and demonstrates outstanding effort.
Final product contains all information goals in a clear and concise manner / Finished product is professional, well researched, and demonstrates above average effort.
Final product contains most of the information goals in a clear concise manner / Finished product is semi-professional and democrats appropriate effort with a fair amount of research.
Final product contains at least half of the information goals in a somewhat clear manner / Finished product lacks professionalism, little research, and demonstrates minimal effort.
Final product contains 2-3 somewhat clear goals.
Content / Shows full understanding of topic. / Shows a good understanding of the topic. / Shows a good understanding of parts of the topic. / Does not seem to understand the topic very well.
Preparedness and Presentation / All group members are completely prepared for presentation / Group seems pretty prepared but may have needed a little more practice. / Group seems somewhat prepared, but it is clear that rehearsal was lacking. / Group does not seem at all prepared to present.
Research Questions / The project fully addresses and answers all of the research questions with project and presentation / The project addresses and answers most of the research questions with project and presentation / The project addresses and answers half of the research questions with project and presentation / The project fails to address and answer most of the research questions with project and presentation.
Thursday - February 6th – Introduce project in class/Research in the library (with Ms. George’s class), Begin Conferences with each group for topic selection and presentation median
Monday - February 10th – BRING YOUR LAPTOPS TO CLASS – In class research, conclude conferences. By the end of today each group should have a topic and presentation median.
Tuesday - February 11 – Library time (with Mr. Vallery’s class)
Wednesday - February 12 – BRING YOUR LAPTOPS AND MATERIALS TO CLASS – This is your last day for research/putting your project together.
Friday - February 14th – Presentation of project in class