Co-op in Review: August 27, 2015

This week, we contented to study life after the fall of the Roman Empire.  The main character in our studies this week was the extraordinary king of the Franks, Charles the Great, who is best known by his Latin title, Charlemagne.  During Charlemagne's long reign, he ruled much of what we know as western Europe today.  He was a Christian emperor and had a close relationship with the Pope.  Charlemagne had a deep love for Christianity and learning.  The Rhetoric class had in-depth discussions about the rule and reign of Charlemagne.  The approached difficult topics like how involved should our rulers and churches be with each other.  The Dialectic class started a three week long project--making life-like Viking Axes.  They cut out the axe blades this week and are looking forward to a vicious final product.  The Upper Grammar class made coats-of-arms, in celebration of the system of feudalism and manor houses.  The Lower Grammar class made replicas of jumping jacks--a popular medieval-era toy.  The Five in a Row class read the book, "Blueberries for Sal."  It's the story of Little Sal and her mother, who meet a bear and cub while out picking blueberries.  The kids then had a ton of fun doing a variety of blueberry crafts and activities!

Co-op in Review: August 20, 2015

This week, our history classes switched gears a bit and took a whole week to learn about the religion Islam.  They learned about Mohammad, the man whom Muslims believe is a prophet and who founded the religion.  They learned about the 5 pillars of Islam, and what each of these pillars include.  They also learned that Islam is a works-based religion, and that the Muslims are a lost people, trying desperately and failing to please God, and that they need our prayers and they need Jesus.  The Rhetoric class spent their time discussing the theology of the Muslims, and some of the passages in the Quran.  The Dialectic class finished up their three-week-long castle project.  They put their castle pieces together and were able to see their final product.  It was huge and came to gather so well.  The Upper Grammar classes learned about Arab culture by creating models of an Arab marketplace.  They turned out great!  The Lower Grammar kids turned boxes, paper towel rolls, and sugar cones into models of a Mosque--the house of worship for those practicing Islam.  In Five in a Row, the kids stayed on topic with the rest of the classes, and they read the book, "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves."  In this classic Arab tale, Ali Baba discovers treasure, but doesn't turn greedy!  The kids then made treasure boxes of their own!

Co-op in Review: August 13, 2015

This week, our Tapestry classes learned all about the culture, geography and religion of the Byzantine Empire, or what was formerly the Eastern Roman Empire.  They also learned about monasticism in western Europe, the Great Schism--a break in the Christian Church between the Catholic church under the Pope in Rome and the Eastern Orthodox church based in Constantinople.  The Rhetoric class discussed these issues and more, in-depth.  They also previewed and got their assignments for their upcoming "Dateline" news production on the Crusades.  The Dialectic class continued to make great progress on their castle project.  Instead of making individual castles, they decided to make a gigantic "class" castle by joining all of their parts together.  Great teamwork, class!  The Upper Grammar kids made gorgeous stained glass art, like the windows in the great cathedrals of the time.  They also practiced illuminated manuscript, like the monks would have used when hand copying books.  The Lower Grammar class learned about a Byzantine art form--the mosaic.  They then made fabulous mosaics out of little pieces of paper.  They turned out great!  Our Five in a Row class read the book, "Caedmon's Song".   The book tells the story of the first known Anglo poet, Caedmon, a cow herder, and how he struggles to even write a song!  The kids made adorable cow faces.  Mooooo!