More Castle Pictures

A view from inside the back wall.

These are stables and a couple of peasant homes.

This is the church, and next to it are the mew (where the falcons are kept)
and the kennel for the hunting dogs.

Castle Pictures

This view shows the peasant cottages. Near the castle wall there is a field and some sheep.

We've added a flower garden with hedges and fruit trees in front of the keep.

This picture shows the arbor with climbing roses going into the flower garden.

The front of the keep.

Here is the front of the castle. Notice the working drawbridge, portcullis and the banners with the castle's crest. We will add a moat (with alligators) soon.
Here are a few pictures of our castle. It still needs some finishing touches, but thought you might enjoy seeing its progress.

Medieval Castles II

Check out this SlideShare Presentation:

Medieval Castles

View more presentations from alscop.

Medieval Castles

I have been devouring books and web sites about Medieval castles here lately. It's so true, when you teach about something, you learn more than your students do! I am somewhat fascinated by the whole thing, and I'm not sure yet whether it would have been better to live the life of a lady or the life of a peasant...actually, to be the wife of a medieval craftsman may have been the best life at that time for a woman. Your house might have been more comfortable than a castle, and you didn't send your kids off to live with someone else for fear that they might be too spoiled if they stayed with you.

On another note, I don't think I approve of medieval bathing and bathroom habits, and I'm not too fond of rats and fleas. Some of their recipes look a little weird to me as well. I saw one with bone marrow being a major ingredient. I guess I'm pretty spoiled living in this century. I could probably entertain you with a lively melody from the recorder, but my weaving and needlework stink. And don't get me started on wearing those clothes and living in a drafty castle (or thatched shack) during this type of winter! I think I'll keep my geothermal heat pump, warm snow boots and thermal undies thank you very much!

The kids who have been coming to Thursday Brown Bag and Books are really enjoying Crispin and the Cross of Lead, by Avi. The tale takes place during the high middle ages, after many have suffered from the plague. Crispin is known only as son of Asta, till his mother dies and he finds he has a name and there may be more to his identity than he thought. Our first week reading, Crispin encountered a lot of heartache and some of the kids weren't sure, but as the story unfolds, they are making predictions about who he really is and why he has been proclaimed "a wolf's head". (ask your kids what that means) He has been taken in by a troubadour by the name of Bear and is learning to play the recorder and to juggle. You may enjoy reading this book yourself sometime!

Next week we are going to begin constructing a castle and the village surrounding it. If you have any old boxes or other odds and ends that might come in handy, let me know. The dioramas we have been making showing the social structure of feudalism are just about complete. I'll try to post some pictures soon. I'm hoping that they sparked our creative juices...I'm a firm believer that you can make just about anything out of cardboard, construction paper and tape if you use a little imagination!

What a Winter!!

Wow! I remember snowy, snowy winters from my childhood, but I don't ever remember a winter quite like this one! On my sister-in-law's blog about her African (exchange) sons, she says this winter is "showing off". I think we get the point! We are not in control of the weather. Now, can we move on?

Because of all the snow days and late starts, I feel a little disconnected from some of you. My lesson plans keep getting messed up, and I've had to renew a few books and other things from the AEA library :-) Right now I have some really neat medieval costumes checked out and a few of your children have had the fun of trying on some real chain mail and other cool stuff. I'm hoping I can keep it long enough for everyone to get a chance to look at it. We are also starting to construct some dioramas in the room that depict different parts of medieval culture. We'll eventually start building a castle! I guess if the weather slows down construction, well, it will just take a little longer. No problem.

I think I have finally gotten ITBS results back to all of you who tested. If any of you have questions on that, let me know.

One last thing. If you would like to schedule a conference time with me for any reason, I have time on Wednesday February 3 in the morning. I also have other times I could meet with you sprinkled throughout the month. Just give me a call or send me an email if you would like to set up a meeting.

If the Weather Outside is Frightful

I've been listening to the forecast for tonight and tomorrow. Brrr. Not sure I'm ready for blizzardy type of snow. In light of the prediction, I thought I should remind everyone of the snow policy for home school assistance. If the Atlantic Public Schools cancel school, then there will be no home school assistance on that day. If there is a late start, I will also start late. So if you were scheduled to see me at 9:00, but school doesn't start till 10:00, I won't be there yet. We can either skip that week, or reschedule for later in the day, if I have an opening. When in doubt, give me a call:-)

To find out about school cancellations or late starts, listen to one of the local radio stations. KCCI out of Des Moines and WOWT in Omaha both list cancellations and late starts on their early morning broadcast between 6:00-7:00 am or on their websites.

Stay warm!

I'm Gonna Try This Again...

Ok, so I need my kids here with me at work to show me how to put that Advent Conspiracy video clip on my blog!!! Here is a link to the video in case you couldn't open it in my last post :-) I do know how to do that.