Beautiful Feet Medieval History - 2017-2018 First Term Review...

Riley finished her first 12 weeks of Beautiful Feet's Intermediate Medieval History today. So far, she has read from the following titles:

Beowulf by Michael Morpurgo
One Thousand and One Arabian Nights by Geraldine McCaughrean
King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table by Roger Lancelyn Green
Queen Eleanor, Independent Spirit of the Medieval World by Polly Brooks
Robin Hood by Roger Lancelyn Green
The European World 400-1450 by Barbara A. Hanawalt

Only select chapters were assigned from Arabian Nights and King Arthur. However, since we decided to stop reading The Once and Future King by T.H. White, which was recommended by Ambleside Online, Riley opted to read King Arthur in its entirety. Also, The European World is a spine book, so select sections are assigned throughout the year. Overall, she has really appreciated the literature, though some of the assigned readings are long, taking well over an hour. Riley mentioned in particular, how helpful it was to read the Queen Eleanor book as background for Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott, which we are also reading per AO.

In addition, Ruben and I have read Beowulf, Arabian Nights and King Arthur as part of his history study. Given the length of the readings, I will not be able to read all of the books suggested in the Medieval guide, but we are planning to keep up with several of the assigned titles. I especially enjoyed Beowulf much more than I could have anticipated, where good versus evil abounds. Ruben was entranced by Arabian Nights. He loved hearing each day's tales. I've also been thinking about the virtue and valor in King Arthur and how as soon as one man broke the code of chivalry, the round table fell apart. When Satan is allowed to creep in, sin destroys us. There were many life lessons and much to think about in that story.

Aside from the reading, Riley has also been completing the suggested assignments in the BF guide. These have included mapwork, vocabulary, and writing prompts. She mentioned a couple of times that there has been more research and writing in this guide than in the BF Ancient History guide she completed last year. One of Riley's complaints has been the lack of drawing or illustrating assignments in the BF Medieval History. She felt the Ancient History guide allowed her more creativity in drawing, which she relishes. She's hopeful, there may be more drawing in future weeks. In the mean time, Riley's been adding in extra drawing where ever she can. Overall, the Medieval study is going well and we plan to continue.

Below are photo samples of Riley's notebooking pages completed thus far...

Thanks Beautiful Feet for giving us the opportunity to review the Intermediate Medieval History guide! Though we were gifted the guide, all opinions expressed are my own sincere thoughts and observations of the program.