Reveling in the Renaissance

7th Grade History

By Jennifer Jordan 

Seventh grade’s first history unit is the Renaissance, that lovely period of European history in which art, beauty, and classical thinking flourished. What an exciting time to study, as students can engage their senses artistically and aesthetically. We began with learning about why the Renaissance started in Italy, which brought us back to the classical works of Ancient Rome and Greece, topics studied last year. It’s great for the students to make these connections. Students have studied the three most prominent city-states--Florence, Rome, and Venice--and learned their contributions to the Renaissance. As a bonus, we had the opportunity to play with 3-D models of Florentine buildings as they were in the 14th century, through Florence As It Was, a digital art project led by George Bent, Art History professor at my husband’s and my alma mater, Washington and Lee University. We also learned about the construction of il Duomo, Bruneschelli’s amazing accomplishment, the dome of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence, as well as the Pantheon in Rome. The magnitude of these works is astounding. 

Last week, students  took a gallery walk of landscapes and portraits by the most famous Venetian artist, Titian. They viewed the printouts and analyzed the use of color and emotion. We also took a 360 degree online tour of several Venetian buildings constructed during the Renaissance. This week, we delve into the Renaissance’s most famous individuals-- artists, scientists, and inventors-- and learn how they were inspired. Soon, we will begin work on an evaluative project-- the Renaissance Academy Awards. Stay tuned! 

Visit Florence As it Was at http://florenceasitwas.wlu.edu/. There are maps, 3-D models, and art collections in Sketch Fab. It is worth your time!