Catapults and jousting competitions; a parade of medieval saints, kings, queens and popes; Holy Day Mass and a banquet feast– this is what Saint Mary of the Annunciation School students in Mundelein will experience at school on Tuesday, November 1 to mark All Saints Day and the culmination of a month of studying about medieval times.
All grades in the preschool through fifth grade are participating in the cross-curriculum unit to learn about saints and life in the Middle Ages. For the past month, many of the school’s lessons in history, science, language, religion, math and art have been tied to the medieval times.
“This phenomenal 21st century inquiry-project based learning unit spans multiple disciplines,” said Principal Eileen Sullivan. “We are meeting the grade-level curriculum requirements across a broad spectrum of classroom subjects in a way that makes learning hands-on. When the first graders are constructing castles out of cardboard boxes, they are actually engaged in team building and collaboration activities that strengthen their communication and problem-solving skills. Fifth graders who give speeches on why they should be elected king, queen or pope are honing writing skills and their public speaking abilities as well as their knowledge of political science,” she added.
St. Mary School faculty has participated in extensive training over the past 18 months in advancing the schools innovative curriculum for the 21st century and has embraced the inquiry -based curriculum and teaching methods. There are currently 43 elementary schools in the archdiocese of Chicago that have adopted the inquiry based curriculum. However, St. Mary of the Annunciation School is the only one to plan and execute the Medieval Times unit. This past spring the faculty be
gan to design and write the Medieval Times-Saints unit.
“It has been a labor of research, creativity and love,” Principal Sullivan stated. “Our faculty has continued to write and develop the curriculum and we’ve had interest in it from principals of other Catholic schools.”
Sister Mary Paul McCaughey, OP, Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Archdiocese of Chicago, remarked, “It is a joy to see the integrity of faith, music, learning, and community outreach at St. Mary of the Annunciation! Congratulations to you, your teachers, and your students for the ingenuity and hard work towards academic excellence with this inquiry unit for the 21st century learning.”
Last year each grade level at St. Mary School explored a cross-curriculum unit in social studies and science. This is the first year that the same unit topic has been implemented PreK through fifth grade that will culminate in a day long project.
The learning unit began in early October when the school students received a letter from either St. Mary of the Annunciation Pastor Father Ron Lewinski, Associate Pastor Father Nathan Payne or Principal Sullivan challenging them to learn about the saints and how they can be role models for Godly living.
Since then, students have been studying and writing about their chosen medieval saint, learning about life in the Middle Ages and making art projects, including stained glass windows, shields, tapestries, and maps to transform their school into a medieval castle. Fifth graders worked in small groups to construct catapults and learn about fulcrums and the mechanics of force. Third graders made dioramas of their saint. Even preschoolers could participate in this activity by learning about St. Francis of Assisi and dressing in period-like costumes. As the Patron Saint of animals the preschoolers will have a favorite stuffed animal at the medieval times celebration blessed by St. Mary’s Pastor Father Lewinski.
During the all-school Holy Day Mass for All Saints Day, a holy day of obligation for Catholics, school children will process into church dressed as their favorite saint from medieval times. Following the Mass, the children will have a parade of saints, friendly competitions adapted from medieval sports and enjoy a banquet meal in the school “castle”.
“By doing this cross-curriculum project, our students are engaged in their learning at a deeper level,” Ms. Sullivan said. “History and religion come alive in a new way that leaves a lasting impact on our children. Plus, we are equipping them with the skill set and moral compass that they will need to be future leaders in our world today.”
The school’s All Saints Day Mass is open to the public and will be held at 9:15 a.m. at St. Mary of the Annunciation Catholic Church in Mundelein. All are invited to attend.
