This is our catalog of courses. We will occasionally adjust the course listing to reflect the addition of new courses and the retirement of others.
In this engaging course series, you will gain the advantage of learning history in the context of a great story. Join us in this project-based course and learn about the 1500’s through the remarkable story of Pedro Menéndez of Avile.
Total classes: 6
Prerequisite: None
Suggested grade level: 5th to 8th
Suggested credit: 1/2 semester Literature or History (Register for “The Scarlet Pimpernel: Living History Through Literature” for one full semester.)
Description
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 The Sea Tiger we read about Pedro Menéndez of Aviles, an unfamiliar name to many Americans—and yet in 1565 this remarkable man founded St. Augustine, the oldest continually-inhabited city in North America. Growing up in Asturia, Spain, the young Pedro became a master at handling boats, with an instinctive knowledge of the sea and those who sail upon it.
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 classic art remakes, recreating scenes from the novel (Legos, clay, K’nex, digital drawing, hand-drawing, etc.), building a timeline, mapping, and more.
Outline
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
Materials and Homework
Course Materials: The Sea Tiger: The Story of Pedro Menéndez by Frank Kolars [Bethlehem] (https://bethlehembooks.com/product/the-sea-tiger-the-story-of-pedro-menendez/). Your student will need PowerPoint or Google Slides (free online) to create a project in this course.
Homework: Weekly quizzes and reading assignments. Each week, students will work on one project-based assignment that will culminate in final novel project submission. 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.
