Reveling in history

Timberlake students were transported back in time Wednesday as they immersed themselves in the rich history of the Renaissance.

“We’re having fun,” social studies teacher Jennifer Emory said. “We have people dress up. ”

Many teachers and students donned the garb of the ages to march the halls to their classes. 

“My parents got married in a Renaissance wedding, so they had some leftover stuff for me to use,” eighth grader Camden Bradshaw said.

Each class was transformed into a lesson reflecting Renaissance values — in one students made stained glass, in another they created a coat of arms. 

Real Life set up a jousting castle in the gym, students learned to juggle, struggled through a virtual escape room or played chess.

“We are doing kind of like a breadstick today,” full-time sub Jillian Ward said. She led her roughly 90 students in making bread from scratch. 

“They’re learning the background on the science of it, they’re learning some kind of history on it and then we bake or cook,” Ward said. “They had options of whether they wanted to do spices and seasonings or whether they wanted to do them plain.” 

Monday and Tuesday Ward taught her students the basics of yeast, what happens when there’s too much, not enough, and then she sent them to work in the kitchens. She assigned 23 groups of students each to make between 18 and 24 breadsticks. 

“They haven’t worked with yeast before, most of them,” Ward said. “This is their first time and so it’s cool to watch them create, I love it.”

Ward taught the students basic bread making skills as old as the Renaissance like kneading and proofing, but used a modern quick rising recipe so the students can take the skills home and make bread for their families. 

“I used to have a baking business so when they said art class, I said how about culinary art?” Ward said. “We’ve got kitchens and that’s something I can actually add value to for the children.”

The students liked it too. Bella Leone, in seventh grade, loved how her breadsticks turned out. 

In the nearby gym, eighth grade students fought to the top in a bounce jousting competition. 

“I am looking for a champion jouster,” enrichment teacher Charisa Childress said. “Skylar Lombardi literally destroyed everyone in first period. So we are looking for a champion jouster in here, and I hope you’re up for the challenge. It’s going to be very chaotic in here, just so you know.” 

Teacher Chris McDougal was challenged to a jousting match, where he was defeated by students. 

Students and teachers gathered at the sidelines of the bounce house to root for jousters. 

“I love how the community comes out,” Emory said. “And how people come together.” 

Her favorite part of the whole project is getting the different classes and grade levels together in a school wide collaboration. 

“We’ve had so much fun with this Renaissance unit,” Emory said. “I’ve just had so much fun with the art and the music.” 

In the music room, enrichment teacher Megan Bush had students playing chess, and taught them some history of the game. 

“Chess actually started in India in the sixth century,” Bush said. “But during the Renaissance period, they changed the rules for the bishop and the queen, which changed the game completely and made it a lot more strategic. They were able to be more competitive because of the rule change.”

She had her students compete with a bracket system. The student who won the most games across her classes would be crowned the champion. 

But beyond the fierce competitions, students shared in an overall sense revelry. 

    From left, Timberlake enrichment teacher Megan Bush works with Bentlee Jensen and her son Arius Bush Wednesday while they play an interactive chess game online.

   Clockwise from left, Timberlake Junior School seventh graders Kenzie Jezek and Sophia Harrington while Luka Ranca gives Kenzie occasional advice.   

   Eighth graders Lily Thornton bakes breadsticks with her group members Bella Leone, center, and Syles Brown for the Timberlake Junior School Renaissance Faire Wednesday.

    From left, seventh graders Ryker Montes and Khloe Perkle play chess during the Timberlake Junior School renaissance faire Wednesday.

    From left, eighth graders Polina Afichuk and Aleigha Persyn work out their differences in a jousting match at the Timberlake Junior School gym.

    Charisa Childress takes photos of her students Polina Afichuk and Aleigha Persyn before they fight to the finish in a Timberlake Junior School jousting match for the school Renaissance faire.