At the Georgia Renaissance Festival’s Field Trip Day, students will experience the 16thCentury through reenactments, demonstrations, and a variety of interactive workshops tailored by grade level to meet curriculum standards. Workshops and performances build literacy in a wide variety of subjects: English Language Arts, History/Social Studies, Music, Theatre, Science, and Math. Students encounter 16thC European Explorers and Renaissance genius Leonardo da Vinci, learn about the reign of Henry VIII and the English Reformation, get an introduction to African history and culture, experience Shakespeare’s plays and sonnets and the excitement of a Tournament Joust. Village artisans provide live instructional demonstrations and discussion of period crafts, including Blacksmithing, Glass Blowing, Weaving, Woodworking, and Pottery Spinning. Our Curriculum Enhancement Guide offers suggested activities and resources designed to enhance students’ field trip experience.
- For information and to register online: https://www.garenfest.com/student-day-information
- No minimum or maximum group size. You have the option to pay online with credit card or receive an invoice.
- For questions about Field Trip Day, the registration process, changes to registration numbers or other field trip issues, please contact Dawn Prevete, Education and Outreach Program, by email: dawn@garenfest.comor call or text: 404-307-0302.
Field Trip Day workshops and classes broaden student literacy in the subject areas listed below. Many are interactive and are designed to accommodate different learning styles.
- Reign of Henry VIII and the English Reformation
- European Exploration of the Americas, Impact on Indigenous Peoples (new in 2017)
- African History and Culture, Untold History in 16thC Tudor England (new in 2017)
- British Literature: Shakespeare
- The Emergence of Science and Technology in the Renaissance
- Renaissance Art and Music
- Warfare, Joust, Weaponry Design
- Everyday Life in the 16th Century
- Roots of Modern Words and Expressions
- Falconry, Raptors, Life and Environmental Science
9am to 2:30pm • Fairburn, GA
Our Field Trip Day workshops support and align with
over 150 Education Performance Standards for Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee!
For the complete list of standards, visit www.garenfest.com/student-day-information
Presentations & Demonstrations
BIRDS OF PREY
Your students will thrill to see a falcon in flight as it climbs, folds its wings, and dives toward its prey at speeds over 150 miles per hour. They will experience the effortless soaring of a hawk as it flies over them at the falconer’s command, and strain to hear the quiet rustle of an owl's feathers as it glides through the air. Steve Hoddy, Master Falconer and environmentalist, presents each bird and provides detailed information on their species, their environment, and how we can responsibly interact with nature.
CONVERSATION WITH LEONARDO DA VINCI
Did you know that your pinky finger is the exact length of your nose? Is the Mona Lisa actually smiling? Learn this and much more in this interactive discussion with a true Renaissance man!
LANGUAGE AND MANNERS OF THE 16TH CENTURY
Students will learn the proper way to greet one another, how to bow and curtsy, to escort a lady properly, and why you never, EVER hold hands palm to palm!
THE SIX WIVES OF HENRY VIII
His Royal Majesty King Henry VIII himself will take you through the history of each of his marriages, explaining why each one ended the way it did!
INTERVIEW WITH THE KING AND QUEEN
King Henry VIII and Queen Anne Boleyn will take questions from students on what a typical day might be like for royalty and nobility during the Renaissance. (Sample questions are included in teacher support materials.)
SHAKESPEARE’S GREATEST HITS
Monologues from some of Shakespeare’s most well known and loved plays are brought to life before your eyes! Your students will “die” to be a part of this interactive presentation, sampling the poetry and prose of the Great Bard!
NEW! 16TH CENTURY EXPLORERS
Presented by the North Georgia History Center. The 16th century was the age of exploration and conquest of the “New World”. This presentation examines the material culture of the European explorers – especially
the De Soto Expedition of 1540 which passed close to the area of the Georgia Renaissance Festival grounds.
NEW! TALES FROM AN AFRICAN TRAVELER
Learn about the history and culture of Africa as told through the eyes of a nomadic storyteller. Adetoun Abayomi's unique style will captivate and entertain your students as she retells the folk tales and stories from her culture, as well as her experiences in traveling from her homeland to England.
RENAISSANCE MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
A lively group of musicians straight out of history will demonstrate and perform music of the period on instruments common to the era - some of which are still used today!
THE ROYAL JOUST
A specialized sport popular with nobility in 16th Century England and a favorite of King Henry VIII, who as a young monarch was a highly skilled competitor with lance and shield. The object of the contest between two knights on horseback is to gallop toward the other at high speed attempting to strike the opponent with great force while wielding a lance. A broken lance resulting from a strike to the opponent’s shield or body armor will score points, but the ultimate show of strength is a complete unhorsing sending the opponent into the dirt! Our gallant knights demonstrate the sport of jousting, ground fighting with sword and other weapons of war, and equestrian skills and disciplines during Field Trip Day.
SUPERSTITIONS OF THE 16TH CENTURY
How do you ward off the evil eye? How do you keep fairies out of the barn? This interactive class discusses some of the more common superstitions and the steps needed to protect yourself from harm!
FOOD AND SPICES OF THE RENAISSANCE
No refrigerator? No grocery store? How and where did the people of the 16th century get a bite to eat? And what did they eat? Learn the difference between the food of a pauper and the meal of a king! (And why you would NEVER be seen using a fork in the English court!)
A WEAVER’S TALES OF TRAVEL & INTRIGUE
Maeve Woolton O’Byrne, a quiet woman of distinguished courage and ability, admired for her brave deeds and noble qualities, weaves tales of travel and intrigue. Her stories are steeped in historical accuracy with details of her journey- which may or may not be true!
AFRICAN DRUMMING
Everyone is invited to create beautiful rhythms on African djembe drums. Celebrate music, community and culture through this facilitated drum circle event!
PLUS demonstrations of glassblowing, pottery, weaving, blacksmithing, and more!
For more information, visit our website at
www.garenfest.com/student-day-information
