Portland Waldorf High School! !

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Christopher Zinn!
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christopher.zinn@portlandwaldorf.org! !
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11th Grade Main Lesson!!

Dec. 1 Dec. 19, 2014!

The Middle Ages!

In this three week main lesson we will study the middle ages, the long period of development between the collapse
of the Roman empire and the beginnings of the European Renaissance. Our study is focused on the transformation
of the ancient world into new forms, institutions, and ways of living which make up the medieval world and
continue to be relevant in our own time. We will examine the decline of Roman rule and the rise of Christianity and
Islam, the growth of monasticism and feudalism, the development of the Holy Roman Empire under Charlemagne,
the origins of the Crusades, movements for social and personal reformation, the revival of city life and of learning,
and the appearance of new forms of art and expression. Our goal is to understand the unique challenges and
accomplishments of people in the middle ages and their connection to our own time.!
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Requirements!

Class Participation (10%) You are expected to participate fully and readily in class discussions and activities. You
should be prepared for class each morning, with reading and writing assignments completed and classroom
materials (books, paper, pen, pencils, readings) ready. You are also expected to conduct yourself in a way that
contributes to a positive learning environment in which each student can contribute and thrive.!

Main lesson book (60%) Your main lesson book is very important. It represents, in both words and images,
what you learn and think about each day over the course of the block. You are expected to prepare your main
lesson book with the greatest care, working on it each day, so that it is well organized, written and illustrated
(you should include drawings, illustrations, maps, and design elements throughout your main lesson book).
You are expected to keep up to date in your main lesson work, to carefully follow the directions given in class,
and to complete each days main lesson book work on time. Your progress will be reviewed and evaluated at
the end of each week, and you will be graded on your weekly progress. Your complete main lesson book will
be due in class on Friday, December 19, at the beginning of class. !

Quizzes (20%) On each Friday of the block, you will be given a quiz on select vocabulary, terms, information, and
ideas presented in class. !

Report (10%) You will research and write a three page report on a select topic in the study of the middle ages. See
handout for further details.!

Deadlines and requirements: You are expected to complete all the requirements for this block and to meet due
dates for all assignments including the timely completion of your main lesson book work for each week and the
timely submission of your complete book on Friday, October 3. You are also expected to be prepared to take each
quiz on the specified day and date. It is very important that all assignments be completed on time. Failure to meet
these requirements will result in a significantly lowered grade. The only exceptions to these requirements are those
outlined in the policy on academic assignments and deadlines, which is quoted below. !
Please complete your work on time!!

Middle Ages!
Syllabus of Topics!

Date

Topic

Mon.
12.1

Introduction: The Roman empire

Tues.
12.2

The rise of Christianity

Wed.
12.3

The origins and spread of Islam

Thur.
12.4

The monastic system

Fri
12.5

Review, quiz, main lesson book check.

Mon.
12.8

Charlemagne, the Holy Roman empire, Spain in the

Golden Age

Tue.
12.9

Feudalism

Wed.
12.10

The Crusades

Thur.
12.11

St. Francis and Thomas Aquinas

Fri.
12.12

Review, quiz, main lesson book check

Mon.
12.15

The medieval world!

Tue..
12.16

The rise of cities and kingdoms !

Wed.
12.17

Florence, Dante, and courtly love

Thur.
12.18

Education and the university

Fri.
12.19

Final quiz. Turn in main lesson book.

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Assignment
Describe the development of Rome from city state to
Christian empire. What were the chief characteristics
of Roman rule? Make a map of the Roman empire
and its provinces at the time of Augustus. Make a
map of the Roman empire and its dioceses at the
time of Constantine.

Assignments, Deadlines, Completion of Work!

The PWHS faculty expects all enrolled students to be capable of meeting the expectations of the high school curriculum. Each
course in the high school will have an up-to-date published syllabus that includes the following information: !

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Teachers preferred contact information.!

Course description explaining the general content of the course and its goals in the curriculum.!
Requirements, major assignments and due dates.!
Grading criteria broken down by percent (i.e. 20% class participation, 25% main lesson book, 15% quizzes, etc.)!
Late homework policy.!

Homework, daily assignments, projects, major assignments, and main lesson books are among the ways in which students
explore subjects and develop their knowledge and skills. Student work is evaluated and graded in order to provide students,
parents, and teachers with an accurate picture of students progress, accomplishments, and challenges. Each student at PWHS
is therefore expected to complete assignments and hand in work on time. Deadlines and other requirements for assignments
and homework are not discretionary or suggested, but requirements that the student is expected to fulfill without exception,
whether it is a daily homework, a major project, or a main lesson book deadline. Information about the assignments and
requirements and deadlines for each class will be described in the syllabus for that class. Failure to meet these deadlines and to
fulfill these requirements will result in lowered or failing grades for the assignment.!

The faculty also recognize that there are instances where external circumstances (family emergency, medical problems) cause a
student to be absent and/or prevent a student from completing an assignment on time. In such cases, there are clear procedures
to follow. If a student is absent and unable to turn in a minor assignment (daily homework), he or she should consult the
course syllabus for directions about handing in assignments and homework late. Be sure to communicate directly and promptly
with the teacher, following the directions on the syllabus. However, late work for major assignments (including but not limited
to longer papers, projects, presentations, main lesson books) will not be accepted without prior permission from the teacher.
Permission must be requested in writing at least 48 hours in advance of the deadline. This permission can not be granted
except for significant reasons including (but not limited to) student illness (with parental notification) or family emergency
(with parental notification). Failure to meet these requirements will result in a lowered or failing grade for the class. If there is
any uncertainty about the policy, it is the students responsibility to ask the teacher for clarity and direction prior to the
deadline.!

All formal requests for extensions will be reported to and reviewed by the students academic advisor and the student assistance
coordinator. If there is a pattern of late and incomplete work, further action to support the student may be called for. !

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