River Ridge High School sophomores in Ansley Sand’s Honors World History classes recently conducted a Medieval Convention, in which students took on the roles of prominent and average Europeans during the medieval period.  Students selected from figures such as Eleanor of Aquitane, Joan of Arc, Charlemagne and Pope Urban II, as well as an average peasant, a plague victim, a burgher and a Franciscan friar.  After researching their character’s concerns, accomplishments and struggles, students appeared for two minutes each in front of the entire panel to voice their character’s viewpoints and beliefs.  Students then mingled and asked each other questions in order to understand how their character’s needs and frustrations overlapped or clashed.

“Through this type of interactive research, students develop a deeper understanding of the social structures of the time,” Ms. Sand said.  “Listening and speaking are such important components of the new Common Core standards, and having these types of research-based conversations allow our students ample opportunity to synthesize this information into something that feels real rather than theoretical.” 

Students include: Patrick Janda, Ana McCleary, Frieda Hooper-Campos, Dakota Williams, Ian Huff, Kayla Auriemma, Tolulope Babalola, James Daniel, Brandon Dollar, Kashia Kwasniak, Brandt Webster, Cody O’Dell, Nathan Trottier, John Schmidt, Matthew Ainsley, Georgette Roty, Sarah Vaughan, Naomi Diemer, Katie Mohundro, Alexis Pepin and Zach Jamison.