Living History Through Literature is a project-based course series offered to 5th through 9th grade students. These courses will weave the study of literature into a meaningful and engaging encounter with a specific era of history. In LHTL: Medieval History 6: Augustine Came to Kent, it is 597 A.D. and young Wolf has journeyed many difficult miles from Rome to the land of his birth.
Living History Through Literature is a project-based course series offered to 5th through 9th grade students. These courses will weave the study of literature into a meaningful and engaging encounter with a specific era of history. In LHTL: Medieval History 6: Augustine Came to Kent, it is 597 A.D. and young Wolf has journeyed many difficult miles from Rome to the land of his birth. He witnesses this historic meeting between the Saxon King of Kent and the man would be known as St. Augustine of Canterbury. Wolf must also face the unknown to see the cross firmly replanted in English soil. Students will study the historical context of the novel and participate in engaging literature discussions. In this project-based course, students will engage in short quizzes and in projects of their choice. Project options will include fiction writing, preparing period-specific food and/or costumes, creating lap books, recreating scenes from the novel (Legos, clay, K’nex, digital drawing, hand-drawing, etc.), building a timeline, mapping, and more.
Class 1: Overview of Historical Context and Novel Introduction
Class 2: Literature Discussion; Project Introduction
Class 3: Literature Discussion; Cultural Overview
Class 4: Literature Discussion; Fiction Writing Tips
Class 5: Literature Discussion; Final Project Instructions
Class 6: Literature Analysis and Historical Connections; Student Project Showcase
Course Materials: Augustine Came to Kent, by Barbara Willard [Bethlehem Books, 1996], ISBN-10: 1883937213 or ISBN-13: 978-1883937218. Your student will need either PowerPoint, Google Slides, or Keynote to create a Final Project. Google Slides and Keynote can be found free online.
Homework: Weekly quizzes and reading assignments. Each week, students will work on one project-based assignment that will culminate in a final novel project submission (due at the end of week 6). Homework (including novel reading) will take 1.5-3 hours per week. Parents are encouraged to support younger students by reading texts aloud and helping with project planning and execution. An answer key is not included with this course, but instructor access is usually available.