Renaissance Fair Project

ASSIGNMENT DESCRIPTION:

Students will:  Create a performance (a short play, a musical piece, a demonstration of a skill or craft, talking to a group in character, etc.) for a particular person/occupation from the Renaissance.

Each assignment will be made up of the following components:  Projects will require research and preparation completed at home and at school.  Some projects will require partners/groups. Students will need to be in the same class/block (even with different teachers), and be able to meet outside of school hours.  In-class work may include grades on: effort, work ethic, productivity, etc. Students will be required to bring ALL project information/materials (in a folder) to class on Fridays, except on May 27th.  A persuasive essay due on Monday, May 16th , for a formal grade.  Artifacts for the faire due on Monday, May 23rd, for a formal grade.  Performance due on Monday, June 6th, for a formal grade.

PERFORMANCE:

Students will create a performance or demonstration of some kind that is related to their person/occupation. The student will become their person/occupation and remain in character for the entirety of the fair. Examples of things that may be done may include: 1. An exhibit of you demonstrating the chosen person/occupation (example: a blacksmith, butcher, etc.). 2. A student speaking to the audience in character and providing autobiographical information about themselves (example: royalty, artists, inventors, etc.). 3. A student creating a musical or artistic demonstration that may have been tied to their person (example: someone playing William Shakespeare putting on a play performance).

Regardless of what form their demonstration/performance takes, students will include all of the following:

 Costume- Students must have a costume that attempts to as accurately as possible portray their person as they would have looked during the Renaissance.

 In Character- The students are expected to take on the role of their character. That means speaking as they would have spoken and acting as they would have acted for the entire time of the Renaissance Fair.

 “Artifacts”- Students will make/purchase/borrow and bring “artifacts” from their person’s/occupation’s life (3-D objects, pictures, maps, charts, timelines, historical information, biographical information, etc.) This information should be ORGANIZED and RELEVANT to your topic. Someone may include ten pictures of little relevance and have points deducted as they were not useful. o Example #1: a student painted a Renaissance-style masterpiece and brought the painting and the tools they would have used to create it. o Example #2: a student brings in herbs and medicinal tools used in practicing medicine. o Each student is required to bring in at least four “artifacts” for their performance. This applies to every student, even those working in pairs or groups.  Overall Performance Appearance- This will be viewed by your teachers, school staff, other students, and other members of the community. It should NOT look sloppy or rushed or in any manner that indicates maximum effort was not taken.

PERSUASIVE ESSAY:

Students will write a five paragraph persuasive essay that seeks to persuade your audience that your person or topic belongs in a Renaissance Fair. Your Persuasive Essay should be formatted as follows:

 1st paragraph- Introduce your topic/person. Provide a small bit of background information on your topic/person (Name, family background, birthdate, birthplace, etc.). Provide an overview of the reasons you will discuss in the body paragraphs.

 2nd paragraph – Body paragraph – Early Years/Training. Provide the following: education, training, apprenticeship, when and where you received your particular skill, etc. Three examples are needed.

 3rd paragraph – Body paragraph - Achievements. Provide the following: what are your three MOST important accomplishments (inventions, scientific discovery, rule a country, wrote a play, etc.). Three examples are needed.

 4th paragraphs- Body paragraph – Renaissance Fair. This paragraph will focus on what you would be doing at the Renaissance Faire (example: “as a knight, I will be participating in the Tournament. I will be jousting………..”; “as a tanner (leather worker), I will be “selling” my leather purses…….”; “as an actor, I will be advertising my play, and then……..”). Three examples are needed.

 5th paragraph- Conclusion. Summarize and re-state your reasons for including this person in your Renaissance Fair Project. End with your best, most persuasive attempt at convincing the reader of their importance

***No paragraph should be less than four sentences!*** Persuasive Essay Rubric – Due Monday, May 16th; by 9:00 a.m.

Introduction Identifies the Identifies the Identifies the Identifies the topic/person and 3 topic/person and 2 topic/person and 1 topic/person, but does reasons why they reasons why they reason why they not provide reasons belong at the Faire belong at the Faire belong at the Faire why they should be at the Faire Paragraph 2 Student provides 3 Student provides 2 Student provides 1 No examples provided examples of their early examples of their early example of their early “training” “training” “training” Paragraph 3 Student provides 3 Student provides 2 Student provides 1 No examples provided examples of their examples of their examples of their achievements achievements achievements Paragraph 4 Student provides 3 Student provides 2 Student provides 1 No examples provided examples of their examples of their examples of their performance at the performance at the performance at the Faire Faire Faire Conclusion Summarizes 3 reasons Summarizes 2 reasons Summarizes 1 reasons Does not summarize they belong at the they belong at the they belong at the Faire Faire Faire Number of Sources 3 2 1 0 On Time YES – May 16th – 9:00 N/A N/A NO a.m. Artifact Rubric – Monday, May 23rd; by 9:00 a.m.

Artifacts 4 3 2 or Less 0 Overall Appearance Neat, well organized, N/A N/A Messy, un-organized, great thought, focused, little thought or effort, etc. etc. On Topic YES – Artifacts are N/A N/A NO – Artifacts are not relevant to the topic relevant to the topic On Time YES – May 23rd – 9:00 N/A N/A NO a.m.

Performance Rubric – Monday, June 6th; by 9:00 a.m.

Performance Student demonstrates, Student demonstrates, Student demonstrates, Student does performs, exhibits performs, exhibits performs, exhibits poorly/does not Excellently Fairly demonstrate, perform, or exhibit In-Character Student does an Student makes a good Student makes some Student does not stay outstanding job at effort at being in attempt at being in in character being in character character character Costume Student wears a very Student wears a Student wears a Student does not wear accurate costume for somewhat accurate costume a costume their topic/person costume that is somewhat appropriate for their character

Royal Court Patrons King Henry VIII of England Cosimo de Medici “the elder” King Ferdinand of Spain Lorenzo de Medici “the magnificent” King Francis I of France Cosimo I de Medici - Grand Duke of Tuscany King Phillip II of Spain Catherine de Medici – Queen of France Queen Elizabeth I of England Beatrice D’Este – Duchess of Bari and Milan Queen Isabella of Spain Alessandro Farnese – Pope Paul III Queen Catherine of Aragon Queen Mary I of England

Masters Actors for Plays William Shakespeare The King’s Men (up to 4 in a group) Johannes Gutenberg Acting Troupe (up to 4 in a group) Leonardo Da Vinci Acting Troupe (up to 4 in a group) Michelangelo Donatello Raphael Dancers Galileo Galilei Group #1 (up to 4) Group #2 (up to 4) Minstrels/Troubadours Group #3 (up to 4) #1 (up to 3) May Pole (have to have 6) #2 (up to 3) #3 (up to 3) #4 (up to 3)

Craftsmen Games #1 (up to 2) #1 (up to 2) Jesters/Jugglers/Acrobats #2 (up to 2) #2 (up to 2) #1 (up to 2) #3 (up to 2) #3 (up to 2) #2 (up to 2) #4 (up to 2) #4 (up to 2) #3 (up to 2) #4 (up to 2)

Tournament Merchants Bracket Style for events “Sell” Food/Crafts/Materials - 10 Students Knights – 12 total Heralds/Squires – 4 total; 1 for every 3 knights Master of Ceremonies – 2 total Dear Parents,

Huzzah! Over the months of April, May, and June, your child will research, prepare and participate in a Sixth Grade Renaissance Faire at Crestdale Middle School.

Students will:  Create a performance (a short play, a musical piece, a demonstration of a skill or craft, talking to a group in character, etc.) for a particular person/occupation from the Renaissance.

Each assignment will be made up of the following components:  Projects will require research and preparation completed at home and at school.  Some projects will require partners/groups. Students will need to be in the same class/block (even with different teachers), and be able to meet outside of school hours.  In-class work may include grades on: effort, work ethic, productivity, etc. Students will be required to bring ALL project information/materials (in a folder) to class on Fridays, except on May 27th.  A persuasive essay due on Monday, May 16th , for a formal grade.  Artifacts for the faire due on Monday, May 23rd, for a formal grade.  Performance due on Monday, June 6th, for a formal grade.

Please sign below indicating you are aware of the project requirements and due dates.

Name: ______Date: ______