Unit Packs / The Renaissance
The Renaissance
Students look at how the Black Death shook late medieval Europe, read humanists, artists, and political writers of the Renaissance in their own words, and follow the debate over church reform that grew out of the new learning.
Unit question: How new was the Renaissance, and how did it change the way Europeans thought about people, art, power, and faith?
Suggested grades: 7, 10 (adaptable 6-12)
Day-by-day calendar
- Day 1
Launch the unit
TimelineWalk the era timeline; students note three turning points.
MapLocate the places in this unit on the source map.
QuestionPost the unit question: How new was the Renaissance, and how did it change the way Europeans thought about people, art, power, and faith? Students write a first-guess answer to revisit on Day 10.
- Day 2
Investigate: How did people explain and respond to the Black Death?
Source setWork through the suggested sequence of 6 sources with the graphic organizers.
Leveled readingsUse grade 4, 7, or 10 versions of key passages next to the original wording for readers who need support.
- Day 3
Lesson: Historian’s Lab: Station Rotation
Teach itRun the lesson kit (copy the Slides and Lesson Plan from the set page).
Quick checkClose with the 5-question Quick check (copy the student Doc; answer key included).
- Day 4
Investigate: What was new about the Renaissance?
Source setWork through the suggested sequence of 10 sources with the graphic organizers.
Leveled readingsUse grade 4, 7, or 10 versions of key passages next to the original wording for readers who need support.
- Day 5
Lesson: Renaissance Stations: Rebirth or Continuity?
Teach itRun the lesson kit (copy the Slides and Lesson Plan from the set page).
Quick checkClose with the 5-question Quick check (copy the student Doc; answer key included).
- Day 6
Investigate: Was the Reformation a needed reform or a dangerous break?
Source setWork through the suggested sequence of 8 sources with the graphic organizers.
Leveled readingsUse grade 4, 7, or 10 versions of key passages next to the original wording for readers who need support.
- Day 7
Lesson: Mock Trial: The Case of the Reformation
Teach itRun the lesson kit (copy the Slides and Lesson Plan from the set page).
Quick checkClose with the 5-question Quick check (copy the student Doc; answer key included).
- Day 8
Corroborate across sets
OrganizersPairs choose one source from each set and complete the Sourcing, Contextualization, Corroboration organizer: where do the sources agree, and where do they differ?
- Day 9
DBQ workshop
DBQ builderBuild a DBQ packet from “How did people explain and respond to the Black Death?”: pick 5 to 7 sources and print.
DBQ builderBuild a DBQ packet from “What was new about the Renaissance?”: pick 5 to 7 sources and print.
DBQ builderBuild a DBQ packet from “Was the Reformation a needed reform or a dangerous break?”: pick 5 to 7 sources and print.
WorkshopStudents annotate the documents and outline an answer.
- Day 10
Final writing task
Writing taskWrite an argument: Was the Renaissance a true rebirth or mainly a continuation of medieval life and ideas? Use at least four sources from at least two sets, and address at least one source that supports the other view.