Welcome!
The idea behind “The HUM update” is to let parents know what we’re doing in the humanistic subjects at school.
We don’t assign homework at this school. However, sometimes it’s nice for parents to check what their kids are learning. From my experience as a dad, kids don’t volunteer this information themselves. Also, some learning has to be based on repetition and memorization. The more you know by heart, the more time and energy you have to expend on creativity. I am hoping “The HUM update” will offer some pointers on what to discuss, if desired.
This week.
We will focus on the Middle Ages in History in the coming weeks, so we’re kicking off with the fall of Rome.
In the Roman Empire, people in Britain ate bread made from grain from present-day Tunisia, drank wine from present-day Provence, and used weapons forged from metals mined in Iberia. And in all these places, people could communicate in the same language.
Just some generations later, the same people subsisted on food farmed close to where they lived and spoke in almost only local languages.
I find this mind-blowing.
The date for the Fall of Rome is conventionally given as 476. This is the date I’ll ask the children to remember, even though it’s not entirely correct. But it’s easier to remember than “between 376 and 550”.
As you might know, the kids are free to choose if they want to attend what we call the teachers’ “capsules”, and can study on their own instead. I am in the process of creating some material relevant to the capsules, that can be used by all.
And one last thing: If you have any books that might be even vaguely relevant to the topics we focus on at school, feel free to bring them. They don’t have to be age-appropriate. Often, just a couple of pictures might trigger interest.