Objectives (5 - 7 minutes)

1. Understand the historical context of the Renaissance: The teacher must make sure the students understand the historical context in which the Renaissance emerged, focusing on the transition from feudalism to a modern society and the cultural, social and economic changes these transitions brought about.

2. Identify the main characteristics of the Renaissance: Students must be able to identify and describe the main characteristics of the Renaissance period such as the value of man, anthropos-centrism, humanism, reason, appreciation for science and art, etc.

3. Know the main Renaissance artists and thinkers: The teachers must introduce students to the main Renaissance artists and thinkers, their contributions to art, science and humanistic thinking. The students must be able to recognize and describe these contributions.

   • Secondary objectives:

     1. Stimulate critical thinking: The teacher must encourage the students to think about the changes that took place during the Renaissance and to reflect upon their impact on contemporary society.

     2. Promote group research and discussion: The teacher must plan activities that encourage students to do group research and discussion about the Renaissance, enabling them to deepen their knowledge of it and develop teamwork skills.

Introduction (10 - 15 minutes)

1. Review of previous lessons: The teacher must start the lesson by reminding students about the end of the Middle Ages and the state of Europe before the Renaissance. This may be done with a quick quiz or a group discussion to check the students' prior knowledge of it and to clarify any questions they may have. (3-5 minutes)

2. Problem situations:

   • Problem situation 1: The teacher can ask students to think about how they believe art, science and thinking changed during the Renaissance, as well as what the most important contributions of this period to the modern world are.

   • Problem situation 2: The teacher can introduce a hypothetical scenario to students where they become travelers in time, and have to move around Europe during the Renaissance. They must reflect on how life there would be, the main differences and challenges when compared to their current lives. (5 - 7 minutes)

3. Contextualization: The teacher must explain to students the importance of the Renaissance to the formation of the modern world, emphasizing how the ideas and accomplishments of this period still impact our current life, from the value we give scientific and artistic knowledge to the notion of human rights and valuing the individual. (2 - 3 minutes)

4. Captivating the student:

   • Curiosity 1: The teacher can tell the students that during the Renaissance, the city of Florence, in Italy, was one of the main innovation hubs and cultural development in Europe, attracting artists, scientists and thinkers from all over the world. They can then ask the students what they think the reasons for that were and what it reveals about the Renaissance.

   • Curiosity 2: The teacher can mention that Leonardo da Vinci, one of the main Renaissance artists, was known for his extensive knowledge, a polymath, who was talented in many areas. They can then ask students if they can name any other famous polymaths and what they think of the idea of excelling at several things. (5 - 7 minutes)

Development (20 - 25 minutes)

1. Activity 1: "Renaissance play" (10 - 12 minutes)

   Description: The teacher must divide the class into groups of up to 5 students, explaining that each group will be in charge of creating a short play or sketch depicting life during the Renaissance. They must include historical figures, such as artists, scientists, nobles, peasants and highlight this era's main features and changes. The teacher must give students a list of topics they may choose from, such as the invention of printing, the discovery of new continents, trade expansion, how the human's perception of him/her self changed, as well as how he/she perceives the world, etc.

   Required material: Paper, pens, cardboard, simple costumes (optional).

   Step by step: 1. The students must pick a topic from the list and start to do some research. 2. Once they have done the research, they must write a script for their play or sketch including characters, dialogue, and sets. 3. Once the script is ready, they must start to prepare the stage setting and costumes (if they decide to use them). 4. Finally, they should rehearse the play and perform it in front of the class.

2. Activity 2: "Renaissance in color" (7 - 10 minutes)

   Description: The teacher must give the students several printed Renaissance artworks, paintings or sculptures, asking them to closely observe. Next, students are to pick one of the images and recreate the artwork using colored pencils, color pens or watercolor, attempting to preserve Renaissance traits like perspective, realism, light and shadowing, among others.

   Required material: Images of printed Renaissance artworks, colored pencils, color pens, watercolor or tempera paint, brushes, and water (if they choose to use paint).

   Step by step: 1. Students must pick an image to start sketching. 2. While sketching, students must try to mimic techniques that were used by Renaissance artists such as perspective, light and shadowing, proportionality, among others. 3. Once the sketching is complete, they should continue on with the coloring, attempting to use a realistic color palette with a harmonic composition. 4. Finally, students must present their artworks to the class and explain the techniques they tried to mimic, as well as what difficulties they faced.

3. Activity 3: "Renaissance in writing" (3 - 5 minutes)

   Description: The teacher must ask the students to individually create a poem or short lyrical narrative inspired by the Renaissance. Students must try to translate into words the emotions and reflections that came up while studying this period.

   ** Required materials:** paper, pen/pencil

   Step by step: 1. The students must come up with a theme for their poem or lyrical narrative. 2. Then they should start writing their piece using poetic and expressive language. 3. Finally, they must present their piece out loud to the class or if they're more comfortable with the idea, they may give it to the teacher, who will then present it.

Feedback (8 - 10 minutes)

1. Group Discussion (3 - 4 minutes)

   Description: The teacher must organize a group discussion, where each group shares the conclusions they reached and solutions they found while working on the activities. The main objective of this step is to facilitate student-to-student learning, broadening the comprehension about Renaissance from their classmates' perspective.

   Step by step: 1. Each group has up to 3 minutes to perform their plays and/or sketches, explaining the chosen topic and the approach used to portray the Renaissance. After each performance, other students may make comments or ask questions. 2. After, each student has up to 1 minute to present their artwork, explaining how it attempted to mimic the techniques used by Renaissance artists. Once more, other students can make comments and ask questions. 3. Finally, each student has up to 1 minute to read out loud their poems, haikus, or short lyrical narrative. The other students may share their comments about it if they wish.

2. Connecting theory and activities (2 - 3 minutes)

   Description: The teacher must connect the activities carried out during the class with the theory introduced in its beginning. They should emphasize how these activities contributed to a more tangible, playful, and hands-on comprehension about the main features of the Renaissance period, daily life during that era, as well as the contribution made by Renaissance artists and intellectuals.

   Step by step: 1. The teacher must briefly review the main Renaissance features, the period's relevant changes and its artists' and intellectuals' contribution. 2. Next, the teacher should point out the way the activities enabled the students to concretely explore these concepts in an easy-going manner. 3. Finally, they must ask the students about their learning regarding these activities, and also about their role assisting in the understanding of the Renaissance period.

3. Final Reflection (2 - 3 minutes)

   Description: The teacher should have students individually think about what they have learned during class. The teacher will ask questions to instigate critical thinking about concepts and ideas presented throughout the class and evaluate how these link with today's world.

   Step by step:
   1. The teacher will lead the students to think about the questions below: - Which was today's most relevant learning? - Which questions were not answered yet?
   - How do Renaissance concepts and accomplishments connect to the contemporary world? 2. Students reflect for a minute on the topics. 3. Then, the teacher may select some student to share their thoughts and answers to the class if they feel like doing it.

Conclusion (5 - 7 minutes)

1. Content summary (2-3 minutes)

   Description: The teacher must summarize the main concepts discussed throughout the class, reinforcing the Renaissance historical background, its main features, and the contribution made by its artists and intellectuals. This must be done in a concise and straightforward manner, recollecting the main ideas and clarifying doubts that may have risen.

   Step by step: 1. The teacher must recap the main topics discussed throughout the class, emphasizing the Renaissance's historical context, its main features, as well as the contribution of Renaissance artists and thinkers. 2. Next, they must reinforce how these concepts are relevant to comprehending today's world and highlight the impact the Renaissance had on our daily life through its values and principles such as science, art appreciation and the acknowledgment and valuing of human individuality.

2. Connecting Theory and Practice (1 -2 minutes)

   Description: The teacher should clarify how the class was successful in connecting theory and practice. They must highlight how the activities developed in class enabled students to concretely explore and better understand the concepts that had been previously discussed.

   Step by step:
   1. The teacher must review the activities developed throughout the class and explain how students put theory into practice, enabling them to have more concrete and playful experiences.
   2. In the sequel, they must emphasize how it is essential to link theoretical, practical, and applicable elements to ensure meaningful and substantial learning.

3. Complementary Materials (1 - 2 minutes)

   Description: The teacher must provide suggestions of additional materials to the class that may help them enhance their knowledge on Renaissance. Such resources may be books, articles, documentaries, websites, etc. The teacher must give a short description of each material, mentioning how they will contribute to deepening the comprehension about Renaissance.

   Step by step: 1. The teacher provides a few suggestions of complementary resources, shortly describing what each of these contain, and what is the expected contribution to the students' learning about Renaissance.
   2. Besides that, they must also share ways for the students to access these resources, whether it is through the school's library, online, or other sources.

4. The Renaissance's Significance to the Student's Present Life (1 minute)

   Description: In conclusion, the teacher must highlight how the Renaissance is relevant to the students' lives. The teacher must clarify that the Renaissance's ideas, values and achievements still have an impact in many aspects of our lives, ranging from science, arts to the ideas we have of ourselves, our self-worth and our perception about the world.

   Step by step: 1. The teacher must highlight the significance the Renaissance has in the students' daily lives. They should provide clear and objective examples of how the ideas and achievements from the Renaissance are present in different aspects of our daily life, from the technology that is accessible, the art pieces we admire and appreciate to the way how we think and relate with the world and everything that surrounds us.