Medieval Paper Dolls and Foldables

We do lots of writing when we study the middle ages.  This year we made Medieval Paper Dolls representing the people of the middle ages.  We wrote a report in the third person about the life of these people. Then we wrote in the first person from the perspective of a knight, peasant, monk or lady.  We also created foldables to explain the Feudal System.  With twenty-seven castles in the room, it wasn't easy to find a place to work.

Photo #128/365: A Castle Animoto

We wrapped up our study of the middle ages this week, along with our celebration of Core Knowledge. My photo for today is actually more than a hundred photos of all of our castles along with many of the guests that came to see them. I have 28 students in my room. Everyone completed a castle, and none of them look alike. I hope you enjoy them!

Photo #124/365: The Castles

Our castles were due today. Phillips is a Core Knowledge school, and in fourth grade we study Medieval History. The highlight of this unit is our castle project. Students come into fourth grade on the first day of the school year asking when they get to make castles. We spend about three weeks on this project, and the kids and their families always amaze me.




We invite other classes into see them, and we will display them tomorrow night at Core Knowledge Night. Here are just a few of their castles.

Photos 46 thru 49: School Days

Photo #46, for Tuesday, February 15: Music

I took a tour of our combination art/music room. There is a lot that goes on in there. The room is packed with art supplies and musical instruments.





Photo #47: Knights and Castles

In fourth grade we study the middle ages. I wait until later in the year so we have castles on display for Core Knowledge night. Mr. Pugh's class is working on it now. He and his student teacher put up this great display this week.





Photo #48: Star Students

We have lots of students who follow the rules. Each one of these stars bears a student's name.





Photo #49: Jump!

We had great weather this week. We were able to get outside for recess every day. Almost all the snow has melted. The bright sunshiny days really lifted our spirits.

Photo #126: Core Knowledge Night

Tonight was Core Knowledge Night, our big school celebration of all the things we've been learning. For my class, we had our castles on display. We created Giant Medieval Paper Dolls in order to learn about the people of the middle ages. Everyone in the class also created their own Coat of Arms. We had a lot of fun, but the teacher is exhausted.

Photo #116: Giant Paper Dolls

Today was a crazy Monday. Core Knowledge night is coming up in just a week and a half, so we started our Giant Paper Doll project today. The kids signed up for committees to study people from the middle ages. We have committees to study knights, peasants, nuns and monks, the nobility, minstrels and jesters, and the merchant. They will do some writing about how these people lived. Then each committee has to cooperate to create a giant paper doll of their person. They have one member of the committee (usually the smallest person) lay down on the paper. The other committee members trace around them. Then they draw in the clothing and details. I get a kick out of watching them do the tracing part.

After school, I stopped at home briefly to let Zoe and Bailey out, and to give them some dinner. Then I started training for my new part time job at Huntingtons. I'll write more about that later.