Co-op in Review: May 7, 2015

We did it!  This week was our last co-op meeting of the year!  As our year together is in decline, so is the empire of Rome.  This week, the classes learned about the split of Rome, into eastern and western halves.  And, they learned how the eastern empire prospered as the western empire struggled with poverty, hunger, and attacks from outside groups of barbarians.  The Dialectic/Rhetoric class finished up their Roman architecture projects, and had a time where they showed off their work to the other classes.  The Upper Grammar class made glittery Christian fish symbols.  At a time when Christians were being persecuted for their faith, a Christian would know another Christian by revealing this simple fish shape to one another.  They also played jacks, a game popular in Roman times.  The Lower Grammar class made beautiful stained glass windows, like those in the orthodox churches of the Eastern Roman Empire.  The Five in a Row kids read the book, "Angelo".  It's about Angelo, a man who is restoring a beautiful Roman church and ends up adopting a bird he finds in the rafters.  The kids made beautiful cityscapes of Rome and had a special snack of olive oil and Italian bread.