Yucaipa Park View Middle School experiences the Renaissance Period
YUCAIPA - Will Wood looks the part and acts the part. He's a living, breathing model of Sir Francis Drake of the Renaissance Period from about 1460 to 1600. The seventh grade students taking part in the Renaissance Faire at Park View Middle School on Thursday were mesmerized by his performance.
"He is great," said seventh grade history teacher Becki Miller, who has coordinated the faire for the past five of the 10 years the school has held the event. "Our next Renaissance unit will be the age of exploration. Sir Francis Drake will be in our unit so when we (study) him they will know about him."
The seventh graders dressed in the attire of kings and queens, princes and princesses, knights and peasants. They moved about to several workshops testing their skill at wheat weaving and face painting. They played a game of Nine Men's Morris and learned about Renaissance weapons and horses.
The 4-H Pass Pioneers American Hoofbeat Drill Team demonstrated jousting as kids watched, wishing they were gallant knights aboard the steeds.
"We're trying to teach them about a knight's life from birth to death, and about Renaissance horses," said Drill Team Leader, Jenny Anderson. "A knight's horse was very expensive and worth about as much as a private jet plane is today."
The students have been studying the Renaissance period for about the last school quarter. The Renaissance Faire brings to life what the students have read and seen in books, said seventh grade teacher, Lauren Trathen.
"They actually get to partake in the activities of that period," he said. "It's hands on, that's what's really good about it."
Cell phones and iPods fill hours of kids' time in today's modern world. But in the Renaissance Period kids had less novel gadgets, entertainment, and games to amuse themselves.
They played simple outdoor games such as rounders that dates back 900 years to England. It's similar to baseball except the pitcher was the King himself. The "pitcher's mound," was called the Castle Rock, and no one except the King was allowed in the infield, which was called the sanctuary. And to record an out, the ball - made from the stomach lining of pigs and filled with sawdust - was tossed at the runner after he struck the ball.
"The ball had to hit below the shoulders and above the belt to (record) an out," said seventh grade science teacher, Doug Marron, who explained the rules of the game to the kids. "The ball was tossed (not thrown hard) at the runner. You do not inflict pain; this was a gentle game."
Other workshops included a lively session with Queen Elizabeth - played by Deidre Sargent dressed in a long flowing gown of lace and ruffles, and a crown of gold set with sparkling gems. And Shelby Bond as "Sansamore Finn," told Renaissance stories.
"I want to tell stories in such a way as to make them feel like they are a part of the (Renaissance Period)," Bond said.
12-year-old Alexis Mejia, dressed as a peasant girl, looked like she could step back in time and live the Renaissance life. She enjoyed all the activities except for one ritual she found appalling.
"The way they beheaded women is shocking," said Alexis. "It discourage them from cheating on their husbands."
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hmm...i'm moving to there soon and will be attending park view it seems like there are nice kids there and that they are pretty creative.
i remember the renaissance fair that was fun i thought it would be boring but it was really hot that day , but now i am going to the 8th grade , i hope the 7th graders have fun at the reaissance fair because i and my friends did