You all have mail! Due to the rain, we need to postpone once again to Wednesday. We will be at the Bull Run Library in Manassas. Please email me to let me know if you will or will not be attending so that I can have a head count. My email is melyssawebb@yahoo.com
Hope to hear from you soon!
Monday, May 4, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
MEDIEVAL FAIRE POSTPONED!
Due to inclement weather we are postponing the Medieval Faire which was originally scheduled for tomorrow.
The next scheduled date is Tuesday, May 4th 10-noon at my home in Manassas. Should the weather work against us for that day, we will have it on Wednesday, May 5th 10 - noon at the Bull Run Library Community Room.
So, once again, there will be NO faire tomorrow. Have a great weekend! Hopefully the weather will clear up for next week so we can be outside. :)
The next scheduled date is Tuesday, May 4th 10-noon at my home in Manassas. Should the weather work against us for that day, we will have it on Wednesday, May 5th 10 - noon at the Bull Run Library Community Room.
So, once again, there will be NO faire tomorrow. Have a great weekend! Hopefully the weather will clear up for next week so we can be outside. :)
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Cathedrals, Luminary Letters and Diseases!
One of these things is not like the other. One of these things doesn't belong! LOL The title just covers some of the things we discussed in class today. It is by no means meant to say that Cathedrals and Diseases go hand in hand!
We did a brief overview of Chaucer and his work The Canterbury Tales. We watched a short clip of one of the Tales. (The Nun's Priest's Tale)
Today we did a review of various things we learned throughout our six weeks together studying the Medieval Times. We reviewed William the Conqueror and the Battle of Hastings. We discussed castles and how they were built. We went on to discuss the plague and various other ailments that "plagued" the people of the middle ages. Ask your student what disease he/she had! (Audrey -- pregnancy is NOT a disease! I promise! LOL) We then looked at photographs and diagrams of what these things were, ie. Ring Worm, Lice, Tapeworm etc.
Kirk shows us his luminary letter.
The girls continue to work on their castle.
Pomanders work as an airfreshener.
We did a brief overview of Chaucer and his work The Canterbury Tales. We watched a short clip of one of the Tales. (The Nun's Priest's Tale)
We reviewed the feudal system by giving each student a place in society and they had to decide where in the pyramid he/she stood.
Today we were introduced to cathedrals. I played a sample of a Gregorian Chant for them. We decorated our own Luminary Letter(s). We looked at a slide show of cathedrals and compared the Romanesque Cathedrals to the Gothic Cathedrals. A final film was shown about Cathedrals and their history. I will try and hyperlink that film to this site.
Students finished their castles and shields today. Please remember to bring them with you to the final faire on Thursday.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Rules for Nine Men's Morris
Nine Men's Morris
History. Nine Men's Morris, or Mill (Mühle), is one of the oldest board games known. The board pattern has been found on ancient Egyptian roofing tiles, Roman and Greek buildings, an English wall dating from 1200, and even choir stalls in old English cathedrals. The game has been and continues to be popular in many countries. It is the best of the so-called row-of-three games, the simplest of which is, of course, Tic-Tac-Toe.
Placing. The board begins empty, and the two players each use nine stones of their own color. They take turns placing one stone at a time on the intersections of the board. The objective is to get three stones of one's own color in a line on any three adjoining spots, vertically or horizontally. The three diagonal spots at the corners do not count as a row because they are not connected by lines.
Capturing. Whenever a player forms a row of three, called a "Mill," that player removes one of the opponent's stones from the board, provided that a stone may not be taken from a Mill.
Moving. Once all the stones have been placed, the players take turns moving one of their stones along the lines to an adjacent open spot. Anytime a player manages to close a Mill (form a row of three), the player removes an opponent stone. A Mill which is opened and then closed again on a later turn is considered a new row. Players may not pass a turn; a stone must be moved, even if it is to the player's disadvantage.
Jumping. When one player has only 3 stones left on the board, that player may jump to any open spot on the board, instead of moving to an adjacent spot. This freedom gives the player greater mobility to block the other player from forming a Mill.
Winning. The player who first is reduced to only two stones remaining, or who cannot move any stone on the board, loses the game.
Strategy. Blocking the opponent from getting three in a row by placing a stone in the opponent's line is the most direct approach. Forming combinations where you can get a Mill in two different directions such that your opponent can block only one of them is a little more subtle. And maneuvering to block in all of the opponent's pieces is the most devious way to win. The most powerful spots are the middle spots of the second square, because they are the entry points for moving to the inner or outer square.
History. Nine Men's Morris, or Mill (Mühle), is one of the oldest board games known. The board pattern has been found on ancient Egyptian roofing tiles, Roman and Greek buildings, an English wall dating from 1200, and even choir stalls in old English cathedrals. The game has been and continues to be popular in many countries. It is the best of the so-called row-of-three games, the simplest of which is, of course, Tic-Tac-Toe.
Placing. The board begins empty, and the two players each use nine stones of their own color. They take turns placing one stone at a time on the intersections of the board. The objective is to get three stones of one's own color in a line on any three adjoining spots, vertically or horizontally. The three diagonal spots at the corners do not count as a row because they are not connected by lines.
Capturing. Whenever a player forms a row of three, called a "Mill," that player removes one of the opponent's stones from the board, provided that a stone may not be taken from a Mill.
Moving. Once all the stones have been placed, the players take turns moving one of their stones along the lines to an adjacent open spot. Anytime a player manages to close a Mill (form a row of three), the player removes an opponent stone. A Mill which is opened and then closed again on a later turn is considered a new row. Players may not pass a turn; a stone must be moved, even if it is to the player's disadvantage.
Jumping. When one player has only 3 stones left on the board, that player may jump to any open spot on the board, instead of moving to an adjacent spot. This freedom gives the player greater mobility to block the other player from forming a Mill.
Winning. The player who first is reduced to only two stones remaining, or who cannot move any stone on the board, loses the game.
Strategy. Blocking the opponent from getting three in a row by placing a stone in the opponent's line is the most direct approach. Forming combinations where you can get a Mill in two different directions such that your opponent can block only one of them is a little more subtle. And maneuvering to block in all of the opponent's pieces is the most devious way to win. The most powerful spots are the middle spots of the second square, because they are the entry points for moving to the inner or outer square.
Castles!
Last week we worked on castles! We watched video clips and discussed the various types of castles (from Motte and Bailey to Concentric castles). We learned how they were built, how they were defended and how they were attacked. We discussed life within a castle and the various jobs of the workers there.
It was great watching the kids design and build their castles. They were very intent on their projects and are excited to show them off. Please bring your castles and shields to class this week! We will finish our castles and our shields and prepare for our faire which will be Thursday.
We also played Medieval Games. Some of the games were checkers, chess and nine men's morris. Outdoor games include Blind Man's Bluff and Bocce.
It was great watching the kids design and build their castles. They were very intent on their projects and are excited to show them off. Please bring your castles and shields to class this week! We will finish our castles and our shields and prepare for our faire which will be Thursday.
We also played Medieval Games. Some of the games were checkers, chess and nine men's morris. Outdoor games include Blind Man's Bluff and Bocce.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Tuesday's Class Will Be At the Bowling Alley
The weather forecast shows that Tuesday may have rain. So, on Tuesday we will be at the bowling alley.
PLEASE READ THE WHAT TO BRING LIST IN THE SIDEBAR. We are working on Castles tomorrow. Don't let your team down! Bring your castle plans and what your team decided to have you bring. We are building tomorrow during class!!!!
Sorry, I haven't posted abt last Tuesday yet, or the field trip, but I've been sick in bed. I'll post soon.
PLEASE READ THE WHAT TO BRING LIST IN THE SIDEBAR. We are working on Castles tomorrow. Don't let your team down! Bring your castle plans and what your team decided to have you bring. We are building tomorrow during class!!!!
Sorry, I haven't posted abt last Tuesday yet, or the field trip, but I've been sick in bed. I'll post soon.
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