Since the start of the term, Class 7 have been absorbed in the vibrant world of the Renaissance. They are themselves as adolescents undergoing a process of ‘rebirth’; they no longer just receive the world but fight to make sense of it. This process of taking information in, digesting it and expressing it with new meaning, relevant to their own lives, is mirrored by the transformation of the Medieval world with its fixed theological mindset into the time of the Renaissance. A time of liberty and of humanism, where every person is worthy and has the potential for greatness.

The essence of this Main Lesson is to bring the students to see the world with a vision that is positive and constructive, with which they can create a future of goodness, truth and beauty. In striving towards this we have explored works of art and philosophy, written letters as runaway serfs seeking a better future, re-told the story of King John and the Magna Carta and delved deeply into the experiences of Crusaders, the de Medici family, Michaelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and many other key figures of the age. Next week, the students will be researching their choice of Renaissance astronomer, architect, artist or scientist and creating a pamphlet to present to the class.

Mary-Jo Masmanian

Class 7 Teacher