On January 14, 1997, The CAVE held its first Renaissance Faire. The sixty-seven ninth grade "villagers" displayed such an impressive mastery of Elizabethan society that the faire has since evolved into a bi-annual presentation of integrated curriculum and alternative assessment.
The Renaissance Faire will take place on a Thursday at the end of the second semester. In order to earn a grade the student will be responsible for setting up, taking down and disposing of all parts of his or her display. The five hour Renaissance Faire will serve as 75% of the student's semester exam. After the Faire, each student will write an essay, in diary format, which will explain his or her character's impression of life on the day of the Faire. This essay will comprise the remaining 25% of the exam grade. In order to earn an examination grade, each student will be required to "live" the life of his or her Renaissance character in every respect. This will include, but not be limited to:
| a. | wearing appropriate dress | 25% |
| b. | speaking Elizabethan English | 25% |
| c. | being an active participant in village life | 25% |
| d. | demonstrating his or her craft or trade and correctly using the necessary implements | 25% |
Each student will create and play a character in the Renaissance Faire. Portrayal of this character will include, but not be limited to, speaking and writing the proper language, preparing a suitable costume and appropriate props as well as constructing a setting within which the character will exist. Refer to the following rubric for further details.
A six to ten page, typed, MLA-formatted research paper will accompany this activity and be included in the student's quarter grade. The student must submit two copies of the paper in order to receive credit in both English and history. Minimun requirements, in order obtain a passing grade on the paper include (but are not limited to) the following:
1. The paper must be a full 6 pages of text in length.
2. The paper must have a Works Cited page with a minimum of 10 entries.
3. The paper must have at least 2 internal citations for each entry on the Works Cited page.
4. The paper must present adequate information on the assigned topic as it relates to 14th-16th century life in England.
Objective: To provide each student with the opportunity to experience
what life was like in a past age.
1. On a date to be determined (approximately one week before the actual Faire) each student will present all of his implements for grading. The number and type of implements will vary depending on the role being played. A single grade will be given based on the following criteria:
| a. | craftsmanship | 20% |
| b. | appearance | 30% |
| c. | durability and use | 20% |
| d. | historical accuracy and research | 30% |
2. On the day before the actual Faire each student or group of students will set up and display their dwelling or shop. If the students are in a group, they will share equally in a group grade. Each student will be graded on their dwelling based on the following criteria:
| a. | craftsmanship | 25% |
| b. | appearance | 25% |
| c. | historical accuracy and research | 25% |
| d. | attention to detail | 25% |
IMPORTANT: All projects are to be set up in The CAVE by 6:00 PM on the eve of the Faire. Any student whose completed project is not in the classroom by the aforementioned time will receive a failing grade for the project. The student may still participate in the Faire so long as he or she is in full costume and has his or her appropriate props.
3. Students will prepare a three-five minute oral presentation, demonstrating their proficiency in Elizabethan English, to be performed on Faire day. On a date to be determined (approximately one week before the actual Faire) students must submit a complete script of the exhibition. This assignment will be scored as follows:
| a. | grammar | 33.3% |
| b. | presentation | 33.3% |
| c. | vocabulary | 33.3% |