Cathedrals

Tuesday, March 21

What took the gothic builders about 100 years to build, we tried to conquer the basics of in 90 minutes with a pile of recyclable items! Students cut, glued, taped, and shaped cardboard boxes into the basic shapes of their cathedrals. Thank you to everyone who brought in the great collection of boxes and containers for us to use!

ASSIGNMENTS

-Students MUST BRING IN their cardboard Cathedral they built last week in class
-Print off and bring in detailed PHOTOs of the outside of your cathedral, that capture any architectural details such as spires, towers, carvings, arches, etc.
-Please bring in any toothpicks, long pasta (such as spaghetti, linguine) or flat pasta shapes, and yarn. 

Arms & Armor - Projectile Weapons

March 21, 2017

Projectile weapons include any objects that use force to throw an item at an opponent. 

Recurved bows made of thin strips of wood stiffened with strips of horn and strengthened with glued-on layers of cattle sinew were the first major improvement in bow technology. The development of the crossbow started in ancient times but was perfected in the Middle Ages.  Interestingly, it was the English longbow, introduced to European battlefields in the 14th century, that truly made the arrow a formidable battlefield projectile. 

In class activities:

• Briefly overviewed the importance of music in communication and instilling fear during battle, so much so that instruments such as drums and bagpipes have often been banned entirely
• Enjoyed a bagpipe song played by a classmate, and discussed what such a song (Amazing Grace) could tell warriors on the battlefield
• Discussed multiple projectile weapons including the atlatl, bow, and crossbow
• Diagrammed the Bodkin point and learned about why it was so feared
• Listened to a classmate explain the parts of a bow & viewed a modern bow
• Discussed the advantages of longbows vs. crossbows
• Began constructing our own bows
• Completed our own arrows

Assignment:

• Choose which kind of siege engine you will be building for our tournament
• Practice your timeline

Arms & Armor - Bladed Weapons

March 7, 2017

Throughout history, the sword has been one of the most beautiful, and deadly of all weapons.  Though its material make-up and style has evolved over time, the use of a blade for slicing and stabbing remained an important element of warfare until the modern age.  

In class activities:

• Learned about the history of metal
• Looked at blades discovered through archaeology from various time periods
• Detailed the differences between knives, daggers, and swords
• Discussed the advantages of both single and double bladed swords
• Examined the parts of a bladed weapon
• Made our own paper and duct tape swords

Assignment:

• Define the words catapult and trebuchet.  (optional: submit written answers to be added to your notebook) 
• Need source materials to better understand these words?  Read about the difference, and watch a seige machines in action at http://cooltrebuchets.weebly.com/trebuchets-vs-catapults.html

ART: Cathedrals

Why were Cathedrals always built West to East? It is believed this was based on the Jewish tradition of praying facing the East. You would enter the Cathedral at the West end entrance, so once inside, you would be facing East as you worshipped.

Today in class we looked at the BLUEPRINT of our cathedrals. Most of these floor plans are very similar- all are based on a large rectangle shape as they are meant to hold a large group of people. Cathedrals were not only places of worship, but also served as town meeting halls and even marketplaces. A large percent of Cathedral blueprints were based on a cross shape, following the tradition of incorporating Christian symbols and measurements.

In the period when the cathedrals were built, the blueprints were drawn on wet cement. A powder was then spread across the cement slab, filling in the crevices of the drawing; the powder was blown off, leaving a clear image of the blueprint.

Students sketched out the blueprint of their personal cathedral today on the prepared art scratch paper we had made in the previous class. Our appreciation for architecture and all the fine lines certainly grew!

ASSIGNMENTS

- Each Student needs to print off and bring in exterior photos of their Cathedral from all sides: front, rear, and sides. (If students already have these images printed off, please just be sure to have their Cathedral Folder with them!)

-BOXES! We need lots of boxes! Here are specifically some we are looking for:

       -Small Shoe Box size boxes

       -Pasta boxes, particularly the long spaghetti size boxes

       -Seltzer/Soda boxes

       -Oatmeal Boxes

       -Toilet Paper Tubes/ Paper Towel Tubes

       -Coffee Cans

-Hot Glue Guns for use in next weeks class.

ART: Cathedrals

Tuesday, February 21 Class

Soooo... who exactly paid for these massive Cathedrals? It was usually the Bishop of the church who decided he wanted a cathedral built (it was actually a big competition for many!); so the bishop would often put a percentage of his money toward the building of his cathedral. But from there the financing could come from many areas:

- On rare occasion the Head Church would sponsor a portion, if they deemed the current church in need of renovation.

- Other workers in the church (from priests, monks, to even janitors) would be fined a fee if tardy, sloppy in dress, etc...

-Rich citizen's would donate funds to the building, often in exchange for a say in the design or even a statue put in the cathedral in their honor

- Citizens of the city could offer free labor as penance for their sins

- Holy Relics could be viewed or were taken on tour for a fee

-Any local trade could be taxed for a portion of funds

Masons (Stone Workers) probably made up the largest portion of a Cathedral's work force. Often on each stone that a mason would cut and place, they would mark with their own special mason's mark. This was not for pride in their work; it was to insure that they got paid for each stone they placed. 

Students made their own stone and Mason's Mark in class.

ASSIGNMENTS

-Bring in a Ruler

-Find and Print off the BLUEPRINT of your Cathedral

-Find and Print off all outside views of your Cathedral (front, rear, sides)

-Bring in box/boxes that fit the basic style of your cathedral structure (square, rectangle, etc). Nothing needs to be done to the boxes yet.

Arms & Armor - Staff Weapons

February 21, 2017

A staff weapon, or polearm, is a close combat weapon in which the main fighting part of the weapon is fitted to the end of a long shaft, typically of wood, thereby extending the user's effective range. Typical defense against these weapons in the early European Middle Ages were round shields with light, non-splitting wood like linden, fir, alder or poplar, usually reinforced with leather on one or both sides and occasionally metal rims, encircling a central metal boss. 

In class activities:

• Listed many different forms of staff weapons
• Discussed the importance of soldiers working together, in particular the Greek Phalynx formation
• Examined the use of horses in warfare & discussed lances
• Labeled the various parts of a halberd
• Made our own foam and duct-tape shields
  

FAITH Timeline - ALL Elements

This video contains ALL elements of the FAITH timeline: ancients to modern. Happy practicing!