Duchessina: A Novel of Catherine de' Medici {Young Royals Lit-Based Unit Study}

Catherine de' Medici was orphaned at a young age, raised in a convent, and became a French rule of Italian blood, yet she overcame her obstacles and was one of the longest-reigning queens of the era...

Catherine de' Medici was born to the Medici family of Florence, but both of her parents died shortly after her birth, leaving her as the sole heiress to all of the holdings of the Medici family. When she was only eight years old, the Medici palace in Florence was attacked by an angry mob of Florentines.   Her relatives fled, but left her behind as a hostage.  After the palace was ransacked, she was sent to a convent.

Once the rebellion was ended by Pope Clement VII, a Medici family member, Catherine went to Rome to live with him.  She was betrothed to Henry of Orleans at this time.  He was a second son, and was not intended for the throne, but the dauphin died, leaving him as heir and Catherine destined to be the queen.  The French did not want an Italian queen.

Catherine's husband died in a tournament accident and her eldest son Francis II came to the throne.  In the years that followed, three of her sons served as French kings - Francis, Charles, and Henry.  She served as queen consort alongside them.

Historic References

• Lorenzo de' Medici, also known as Lorenzo the Magnificent, or Il Magnifico, was a magnate, diplomat, politician, the most brilliant of the Medicis, and patron of scholars, artists, and poets. As a patron, he is best known for sponsoring artists such as Botticelli and Michelangelo.
• Michelangelo Buonarroti was an Italian sculptor, painter, architect, and poet of the High Renaissance.  He is best known for his frescoes on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican, which include the iconic depiction of the creation of Adam interpreted from Genesis, and for his sculpture of David.
• The Feast of Corpus Christi is a Roman Catholic holiday that celebrates the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ.  The day also commemorates Christ's washing of the disciples' feet, the institution of the priesthood, and the agony in the Garden of Gethsemane.  Two months before the feast, the institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper is observed on Maundy Thursday before Good Friday. 
• Niccolò Machiavelli was an Italian diplomat, author, philosopher and historian, known primarily for his political ideas.  His two most famous philosophical books, The Prince and the Discourses on Livy, were published after his death.  Machiavelli believed that a ruler must be concerned not only with reputation, but also must be positively willing to act unscrupulously at the right times. 
• The House of Medici was an Italian banking family and political dynasty that came to power during the first half of the 15th century.  This bank was the largest in Europe during the 15th century and facilitated the Medicis' rise to political power in Florence, although they officially remained citizens rather than monarchs until the 16th century.  From the Medici family, there were four Catholic popes, two French queens, and the title of Duke of Florence.  Due to their power and interests, the family created an environment in which art flourished, helping to inspire the Italian Renaissance.
• Some historians assert that, "Although presented as generous benefactors of the arts and models of Renaissance virtue and ideals, the Medici family were, in actuality, proponents of corruption and absolute authority over Florence through their manipulation of Renaissance culture by using art as political propaganda, establishing literal and symbolic religious overtones to their rule, and their undoing of humanist and republican ideals."  (The Malevolently Benign Medici)

Read

• Duchessina: A Novel of Catherine de' Medici
• Young Catherine de' Medici is the sole heiress to the entire fortune of the wealthy Medici family. But her life is far from luxurious. After a childhood spent locked away behind the walls of a convent, she joins the household of the pope, where at last she can be united with her true love. But, all too soon, that love is replaced with an engagement to a boy who is cold and aloof. It soon becomes clear that Catherine will need all the cunning she can muster to command the respect she deserves as one of France's most powerful queens. Includes a family tree.

Watch

• Loire Valley in France (episode 2)
• The Medicis (season 4)

Make / Do

• Trace Catherine's journey through Italy and France
• Listen to St. Bartholomew's Eve
• Read Marguerite Makes a Book and make an illuminated manuscript
• See how Catherine de' Medici and Mary, Queen of Scots connect in the family tree
• Study the Renaissance in-depth with these resources
• Learn how paternosters work
• Tour the Palazzo Medici

Vocabulary

• impertinence
• vespers
• bastard
• catarrh
• repudiate
• siege
• dauphine
• queen consort
• Huguenots
• Nostradamus
• St. Bartholomew

Think

• Was Catherine a strong or weak ruler?  Use examples from the text to justify your answer.
• Do you think Catherine de Medici followed Machiavelli’s recommendations for a “prince?”

Get the entire Young Royals bundle!

Includes seven unit studies covering the entire series. Each unit addresses a historic era from the eyes of a young royal, and these are told in living history format.  Each unit has introductory text, which will give the student basic background information about the topic at hand.

• There are photographs and illustrations, and we have also included primary documents when available.
• After this text, there are featured videos, which augment the background information and help make the topic more accessible for more visual students.
• You will also find a short list of reading books, including a featured novel that the unit builds upon.
• There are vocabulary words, places, and people to identify.
• Reading comprehension, critical thinking questions, and writing assignments are included.
• We add fun with hands-on activities and extra videos to watch that will bring the era to life.

These studies are directed toward upper grades students, but some have resources for younger students so that the whole family can work together. Our family has used unit studies as curriculum for many years, and we hope that your family will enjoy these, too!

Product samples:   Mary, Bloody Mary

Includes:

• Mary, Bloody Mary
• Beware, Princess Elizabeth
• Doomed Queen Anne
• Patience, Princess Catherine
• Duchessina: Catherine De'Medici
• Wild Queen: Mary, Queen of Scots
• Bad Queen: Marie Antoinette

Doomed Queen Anne {Young Royals Lit-Based Unit Study}

One of the most intriguing figures in English history, Anne Boleyn was Queen of England as the second wife of King Henry VIII. She is remembered for her execution by beheading for treason at the start of the English Reformation...but does history get it right?

Historic References from our Novel

• Thomas Cromwell was an English lawyer and statesman who served as chief minister to King Henry VIII.  He helped to engineer an annulment of the king's marriage to Catherine of Aragon so that Henry could lawfully marry Anne Boleyn, and he helped create the Church of England.  He arranged the king's fourth marriage, to Anne of Cleves, which ended poorly.  Cromwell was beheaded on orders of the king, who later decided Cromwell was innocent and blamed false charges for the execution.
• Thomas Wolsey was a Catholic bishop who became the controlling figure in virtually all matters of state during Henry VIII's rule.  The highest political position Wolsey attained was Lord Chancellor, the king's chief adviser.  During this time, he enjoyed great freedom and was often depicted as an "alter rex," "another king."  As with most of the king's closest, he eventually fell out of favor and was stripped of his power.  He was called up on charges of treason, but died of natural causes before he could be executed.
• Jane Seymour was the third wife of King Henry VIII.  She became queen following the execution of Anne Boleyn, but died of postnatal complications less than two weeks after the birth of her only child, the future King Edward VI.  She was the only wife of Henry to receive a queen's funeral or to be buried beside him in St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle.
• Here's a helpful mnemonic:  King Henry VIII had SIX wives.  In order, they were: divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived.

The Medieval Church

Central to the medieval church was Monasticism, an institutionalized religious practice that required a life of service under specific laws and regulations, such as celibacy.  The role of the clergy, including priests, monks, and bishops, were recruited or filled voluntarily by those wanting to dedicate their lives to God.  Many families, particularly wealthy families, often groomed one of their children to join the church.  It was an honor to have a family member become a servant of God, especially if they were well-educated and climbed the church hierarchy.  The higher they climbed, the more powerful they and their families became.  

The medieval church regulated and defined every individual's life from birth until death, going as far as to dictate the afterlife.  The church held immense power over the people.  It had the power to tax, and its laws had to be obeyed.  Those who held contrary ideas were considered heretics and could be subject to various forms of punishment, including execution.  The Church in the Middle Ages was to be feared and obeyed, and its influence spread into every area of society.

Anne's Mysterious Ways

Anne talks about using her feminine wiles at court. If you look up the definition of wile, you'll see it defined as a trick or stratagem intended to ensnare or deceive, a beguiling or playful trick. In a more modern-day context, the 1934 film, It Happened One Night shows Claudette Colbert using ‘feminine wiles’ to call out Clark Gable’s cocksure chauvinism, and we can imagine this is what Anne was doing in her day.

Check out the royalty videos in this Renaissance post!

Read

• Doomed Queen Anne
• Though born without great beauty, wealth, or title, Anne Boleyn blossomed into a captivating woman. She used her wiles to win the heart of England's most powerful man, King Henry VIII, and persuade him to defy everyone--including his own wife—to make her his new queen. But Anne's ambition was her fatal flaw. This is the true story of the girl everyone loved to hate.

Watch

• Anne of the Thousand Days

Make / Do

• Now that you have read each of their stories, compare and contrast the same story from the perspectives of Anne, Catherine, and Mary
• Find out where Anne's ghost has been spotted
• Plan a Fete de Noel vacation
• Explore the sweating sickness & pandemics in history
• Anne says, "For royalty, marriage was about political alliances, just as, for those of us of lesser status, marriage was about wealth and property and rank."  Do you think it is the same for royalty today?  Why or why not?  (You'll need to research a bit.)

Vocabulary

• rapier
• vituperation
• pusillanimous
• changeling
• execution
• varlet
• pious
• acrimony
• heretic
• forbearance

Think

• If it had not been for Anne, would we remember Henry VIII as the tyrant he became?  Would Bloody Mary have gained her reputation?  How might England look different today?
• Does Anne Boleyn deserve the reputation history has given her?  Why or why not?

Get the entire Young Royals bundle!

Includes seven unit studies covering the entire series. Each unit addresses a historic era from the eyes of a young royal, and these are told in living history format.  Each unit has introductory text, which will give the student basic background information about the topic at hand.

• There are photographs and illustrations, and we have also included primary documents when available.
• After this text, there are featured videos, which augment the background information and help make the topic more accessible for more visual students.
• You will also find a short list of reading books, including a featured novel that the unit builds upon.
• There are vocabulary words, places, and people to identify.
• Reading comprehension, critical thinking questions, and writing assignments are included.
• We add fun with hands-on activities and extra videos to watch that will bring the era to life.

These studies are directed toward upper grades students, but some have resources for younger students so that the whole family can work together. Our family has used unit studies as curriculum for many years, and we hope that your family will enjoy these, too!

Product samples:   Mary, Bloody Mary

Includes:

• Mary, Bloody Mary
• Beware, Princess Elizabeth
• Doomed Queen Anne
• Patience, Princess Catherine
• Duchessina: Catherine De'Medici
• Wild Queen: Mary, Queen of Scots
• Bad Queen: Marie Antoinette

Patience, Princess Catherine {Young Royals Lit-Based Unit Study}

Born to the Spanish power couple, Isabella and Ferdinand, Catherine of Aragon went on to change the course of history, potentially kicking off the Protestant Reformation...

As a youth, Catherine witnessed surrender of the Moors in Granada and Columbus' first voyage to the New World  While young, she was betrothed to Arthur, Prince of Wales, in order to keep the peace between two of the most powerful nations of Europe.  They eventually married, but he passed quickly and she later married his brother, who became King Henry VIII.  Catherine and Henry were friends and confidantes.  For the first five years of their marriage, Catherine acted as the Spanish ambassador to England quite successfully on her own.  She even held off a Scottish rebellion in England while King Henry was off to war in France.

As the queen, Catherine gave birth to six children, only one of whom had survived.  Princess Mary, whose story we studied earlier in this series, would later become Queen Mary I of England.  Unfortunately, Henry was obsessed with producing a male heir to the throne in order to continue the Tudor dynasty.  To that end, the marriage was annulled and she lived the rest of her life sequestered and alone.  She was fortunate, however, to not have suffered the same fate as some of Henry VIII's other brides.

Historic References in the Book

• Catherine's first husband, Arthur, was the eldest son of Henry VII.  At the age of eleven, he was formally betrothed to Catherine, when she was only four years old, in an effort to forge an Anglo-Spanish alliance against France.  A mere six months after his marriage, Arthur died of the sweating sickness.  The question over whether Arthur and Catherine had consummated their marriage became a source of contention, and was exploited by Henry VIII as he sought to annul their marriage.  That question became the basis for the separation from the Catholic church and creation of the Church of England.
• The Battle of Bosworth Field was the last major battle in the Wars of the Roses (see more on that here).  Historians consider Bosworth Field to mark the end of the Plantagenet dynasty, ushering in the Tudor dynasty and making it one of the defining moments of English history.  From the 15th to the 18th centuries, the battle was glamourized as a victory of good over evil, such as in the climax of William Shakespeare's play, Richard III.
• Where Blackfriar's Station and St. Paul's Cathedral meet in London today, there was once Baynard's Castle.  It was originally a Norman fort, built by Baynard around 1086, and went through several reconstructions until it was ultimately destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666.  It was the London headquarters for the House of York, and the place where Edward IV ascended to the throne.
• The period before Lent is known as Shrovetide.  It stretches from that Sunday to Fat Tuesday (Mardi Gras), and is the period when Christians contemplate what they will sacrifice for Lent.  Carnival and other festivals are celebrated during this period, before the start of the self-reflective Lenten season.  In some churches they collect the previous year's Holy Week palm branches and burn these palms to make the ashes used on Ash Wednesday.
• St George's Day marks the death of the Patron Saint of England, an early Christian martyr, who is thought to have died around the year 303.  It is celebrated on April 23rd.  Read his folklore in St. George and the Dragon.
• Catherine's parents were Queen Isabella I of Castile and King Ferdinand II of Aragon.  Their marriage unified Spain, and they were known as the Catholic monarchs.  They financed the journey of Christopher Columbus to the New World, which he named Hispaniola.  The colonies Columbus established, and conquests in the Americas in later decades, generated much wealth for Spain, leading it to be the major power of Europe from the end of the sixteenth century until the mid-seventeenth century.  Learn more about Columbus' exploration of Taino territory here.

Read

• Patience, Princess Catherine
• England anxiously awaits Prince Arthur's betrothed—the Spanish princess who will be its future queen. But when Arthur dies not long after the wedding, Catherine of Aragon's fate becomes uncertain. Will the king and Catherine's parents arrange a marriage with Arthur's brother, Henry, or will she return to Spain a widow? Through all this turmoil, the young princess's resolve remains unshaken. She will one day be England's queen . . . no matter how long it takes.
• Royal Diaries: Isabel, Jewel of Castilla

Watch

• The Spanish Princess
• Episode 1 of Six Queens of Henry VIII

Make / Do

• Make a timeline of the significant events in Catherine's life
• 'Dig' into the archaeology at Baynard's Castle
• Make pancakes to celebrate Shrovetide
• Fold an origami paper dragon for St. George's Day
• Map her journey, from Spain to England through the country
• Create jeweled hair combs like Catherine's

Vocabulary

• duenna
• obdurate
• alchemy
• escudo
• nosegay
• palfrey
• dowry
• penury
• conduit

Think

• What do you think would have become of Catherine if Henry VIII had not chosen to marry her?
• During her early years in Spain, Catherine is guided by her mother's words about what is expected of a Spanish princess. How does this advice guide her behavior as princess in England, and then as Queen?

Get the entire Young Royals bundle!

Includes seven unit studies covering the entire series. Each unit addresses a historic era from the eyes of a young royal, and these are told in living history format.  Each unit has introductory text, which will give the student basic background information about the topic at hand.

• There are photographs and illustrations, and we have also included primary documents when available.
• After this text, there are featured videos, which augment the background information and help make the topic more accessible for more visual students.
• You will also find a short list of reading books, including a featured novel that the unit builds upon.
• There are vocabulary words, places, and people to identify.
• Reading comprehension, critical thinking questions, and writing assignments are included.
• We add fun with hands-on activities and extra videos to watch that will bring the era to life.

These studies are directed toward upper grades students, but some have resources for younger students so that the whole family can work together. Our family has used unit studies as curriculum for many years, and we hope that your family will enjoy these, too!

Product samples:   Mary, Bloody Mary

Includes:

• Mary, Bloody Mary
• Beware, Princess Elizabeth
• Doomed Queen Anne
• Patience, Princess Catherine
• Duchessina: Catherine De'Medici
• Wild Queen: Mary, Queen of Scots
• Bad Queen: Marie Antoinette

Beware, Princess Elizabeth {Young Royals Lit-Based Unit Study}

Known as the Virgin Queen, Elizabeth I was the last of the five monarchs in the House of Tudor.  She experienced remarkable upheaval during her youth, finally ascending to the throne, where she ruled England for forty-five years, during it's "Golden Age"...

Elizabeth I ruled as more of a moderate than the other Tudors. She lived by the motto, "video et taceo" (meaning "I see and keep silent"). She was very tolerant (for her time), and avoided persecuting others for religious differences. She did not always agree with the church, which was a struggle of her reign. Through the years, several conspiracies threatened her life, some said to be led by the church. Elizabeth maintained a secret service of spies, which she used for both her own protection and to handle foreign affairs.

While it was expected that Elizabeth would marry and produce an heir, she never did. In time, she was celebrated for her virginity, and she was eventually succeeded by King James VI, son of Mary, Queen of Scots (see her unit). The 'Elizabethan Era' is famous for it's artistry and literature, including pieces by William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe, as well as the Age of Exploration by men such as Sir Francis Drake and Sir Walter Raleigh.

Historic References in Our Story

• Twelfth Night marks the last night of the Twelve Days of Christmas - January 5th - it is also known as Epiphany Eve. Traditions for this night include singing Christmas carols, blessing the house, attending church services, eating rich desserts (like King Cake), and general merriment.
• A coronation ceremony is when the crown is officially placed on to a new monarch’s head. It is an occasion for pageantry and celebration, but it is also a solemn religious ceremony, that has remained essentially the same for over a thousand years. For the last 900 years, the ceremony has taken place at Westminster Abbey, London. The service is conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury, whose task this has almost always been since the Norman Conquest in 1066. The last coronation was of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953, and King Charles III will be coronated in 2023.
• Westminster Abbey is a large, Gothic building in London. It is one of the United Kingdom's most notable religious buildings and a burial site for monarchs. The church was originally part of a Catholic abbey, then served as part of the Diocese until it was restored to the Benedictines by Mary I in 1556, then in 1559 made a royal peculiar—a church responsible directly to the sovereign—by Elizabeth I. Since the coronation of William the Conqueror in 1066, all coronations of English and British monarchs have occurred in Westminster Abbey, as well as sixteen royal weddings.
• Edward VI was crowned in1547 at the age of nine. He was the son of Henry VIII and Jane Seymour, and was the first English monarch to be raised as a Protestant. During his reign, the realm was governed by a regency council because he never reached maturity. It was during Edward's reign that Protestantism was established for the first time in England. In February 1553, at age 15, Edward fell ill. When his sickness was discovered to be terminal, he and his council drew up a "Devise for the Succession" to prevent the country's return to Catholicism. Edward named his first cousin once removed, Lady Jane Grey, as his heir, excluding his half-sisters, Mary and Elizabeth.
• Worth noting: The Succession to the Crown Act (2013) amended the system of succession to end the system of "male primogeniture," when a younger son can displace an elder daughter in the line of succession.

You may also like... Renaissance Resources

Read

• Beware, Princess Elizabeth - Elizabeth Tudor's teenage and young adult years during the turbulent reigns of Edward and then Mary Tudor are hardly those of a fairy-tale princess. Her mother has been beheaded by Elizabeth's own father, Henry VIII; her jealous half sister, Mary, has her locked away in the Tower of London; and her only love interest betrays her in his own quest for the throne. Told in the voice of the young Elizabeth and ending when she is crowned queen, this second novel in the exciting series explores the relationship between two sisters who became mortal enemies. Carolyn Meyer has written an intriguing historical tale that reveals the deep-seated rivalry between a determined girl who became one of England's most powerful monarchs and the sister who tried everything to stop her.
• Elizabeth I, Red Rose of the House of Tudor - Welcome to the bizarre court of Henry VIII, where even a princess fears losing her head like her mother. Elizabeth hides her tenacious personality from everyone, especially her father. Your 21st-century kid will enjoy Elizabeth's "treasonous thoughts" and glimpse the daily life of a young woman who ascended the throne at 25 and went on to rule her country for 45 years.

Watch

• Elizabeth
• Queen Elizabeth's Secret Agents

Make / Do

• Elizabeth I in 21 Activities - create costumes for the queen’s court, including a knight’s helmet, a neck ruff, and a cloak, play and sing a madrigal, create a 3-D map of an Elizabethan town, stitch a blackwork flower, design a family coat of arms, play a game of Nine Men’s Morris, grow a knot garden, and much more
• Bake a Yule Log Cake
• Plan an Epiphany drama for Twelfth Night
• Build a paper Westminster Abbey
• Make some guards to protect the Queen
• An epidemic sweeps through England during our story.  Learn more about Epidemics Throughout History

Vocabulary

• Protestant
• Virgin Queen
• Act of Supremacy
• Act of Uniformity
• royal injunction
• papal opposition
• monastery
• dissolution
• coronation

Think

• Would you have wanted to live in England under Queen Elizabeth’s rule? Explain why or why not.
• What personal qualities made Elizabeth suitable for the role of Queen? How did these compare to other 16th Century queens?
• What does the reluctance of the bishops in anointing Elizabeth, reveal about the relationship between Church and State at this time?  

Get the entire Young Royals bundle!

Includes seven unit studies covering the entire series. Each unit addresses a historic era from the eyes of a young royal, and these are told in living history format.  Each unit has introductory text, which will give the student basic background information about the topic at hand.

• There are photographs and illustrations, and we have also included primary documents when available.
• After this text, there are featured videos, which augment the background information and help make the topic more accessible for more visual students.
• You will also find a short list of reading books, including a featured novel that the unit builds upon.
• There are vocabulary words, places, and people to identify.
• Reading comprehension, critical thinking questions, and writing assignments are included.
• We add fun with hands-on activities and extra videos to watch that will bring the era to life.

These studies are directed toward upper grades students, but some have resources for younger students so that the whole family can work together. Our family has used unit studies as curriculum for many years, and we hope that your family will enjoy these, too!

Product samples:   Mary, Bloody Mary

Includes:

• Mary, Bloody Mary
• Beware, Princess Elizabeth
• Doomed Queen Anne
• Patience, Princess Catherine
• Duchessina: Catherine De'Medici
• Wild Queen: Mary, Queen of Scots
• Bad Queen: Marie Antoinette

Left Brain & Right Brain Learners (and how to transition!)

 Since the 1960s, there's been a theory that people are either left-brained or right-brained, meaning that one side of their brain is dominant. If you’re mostly analytical and methodical in your thinking, the theory says that you’re left-brained. If you tend to be more creative or artistic, you’re right-brained.

This theory is based on the fact that the brain’s two hemispheres function differently. The theory developed after research was conducted on split-brain patients, which most people are not.  Does it hold any validity?

Brain Hemispheres

The left brain is more verbal, analytical, and orderly than the right brain.  It’s sometimes called the digital brain, and is better at things like reading, writing, and computations.  It helps with logic, sequencing, linear thinking, facts, mathematics, and thinking in words.

The right brain is more visual and intuitive.  People sometimes refer to it as the analog brain, and it has a more creative and less organized way of thinking.  It helps with imagination, intuition, arts, rhythm, holistic thinking, feelings, visualization, daydreaming, and nonverbal cues.

We know the two sides of our brain are different, but does this necessarily mean that we have a dominant brain just as we have a dominant hand?

People probably DO have a dominant side, but it's not as strongly dominant as pop culture would have you believe.  Different circumstances also activate different parts of your brain, too.  You might work more from the logical side at one point in the day, but the artistic side later.  To really learn and integrate material you're studying, try to integrate both hemispheres of your brain while studying.

Take these Brain Tests (printable) to determine your dominance.  For best results, take it considering yourself in all circumstances.

To activate your right brain:

• doodle, draw, print
• sing, hum, or joke
• breathe deeply, exhaling deeply
• take a stroll
• lean back, relax, and daydream
• make eye contact with others
• notice colors, aromas, sounds, and emotions
• look for patterns, connections, and a bigger picture
• smile, laugh, or give a hug
• exercise or get moving
• be childlike and play

To activate your left brain:

• set goals and check progress
• organize, create priorities, and take notes
• break problems into smaller parts
• check the time, mentally plan the day
• ask questions, seek answers
• perform calisthenics, counting aloud
• work a crossword puzzle or math problem
• make a list

In recent years, researchers have demonstrated that right-brain/left-brain theory is a myth, yet its popularity persists.  It's important to remember that if you take one of the many left brain/right brain quizzes, they are entirely for fun and you shouldn't place much stock in your results.  The idea seems to have taken on a mind of its own within pop culture.  While over-generalized and overstated by pop psychology and self-help texts, understanding your strengths and weaknesses can help you develop better ways to learn and study. 

When choosing a curriculum for your family, you'll want to consider 'intelligence' and learning styles.  A Genius in Every Seat helps you work through determining these factors...

As a teacher, how do you assess intelligence?  Do  you provide and develop opportunities for students’ intelligences, or instead teach to your own?  These can be hard, thought-provoking questions.  Yet, answering each of these is essential if you are to truly examine your educational practices.  How can you best serve the needs of your students?  This examination begins with an assessment of your students’ intelligences.  This e-book comes with a workbook component for surveying yourself and your students, along with suggestions for putting the results into practice.

Mary, Bloody Mary {Young Royals Lit-Based Unit Study}

Born in 1516, Mary Tudor experienced many hardships during her youth and formative years.  The eldest daughter of Henry VIII, she was staunchly religious and a devoted Catholic.  Her childhood and religious beliefs guided her during her years as Queen...earning her the nickname "Bloody Mary."

Legacy of Mary's Reign & Religious Strife

Mary was born of Catherine of Aragon, Henry VIII's first wife.  She was declared illegitimate in her youth when her father married Anne Boleyn (see Anne's unit).  In her youth, she was shunned, forcibly kept from her mother, and even locked in the Tower of London.  Her younger half-brother, Edward VI, succeeded their father at the age of nine, but died from consumption before he could truly rule.  Upon his death, Lady Jane Grey became Queen for a mere nine days.  Mary gathered the backing of her supporters, of which there were many, and beheaded Lady Jane.  

Mary campaigned for Queen as wanting freedom of religion, but quickly changed her stance.  England had, at one time, been under Catholic rule.  The priests held as much power as, if not more than, the royal family.  King Henry VIII had broken away from that Roman Catholicism, primarily because he wanted a divorce the religion would not grant, and created his own church - the Church of England - with himself at the head.  He punished those who would not convert to Protestantism and accept his rule.  After his death, Mary reverted the country back to Catholicism, and she became famous for killing Protestants who would not convert to Catholicism.  After her death, in 1558, Queen Elizabeth I reversed the religious decree once again.

Betrothals & Royal Marriage

Intermarriage, or the practice of members of ruling dynasties marrying into other reigning families, was very common in the past for political and diplomatic reasons. Put simply, it's hard to go to war with your wife's father. This was the tradition for most of Europe from the medieval era all the way until World War I. Around the world, there is evidence of royal intermarriage as far back as the Bronze Age.  Kinship by marriage could secure an alliance between two ruling powers, hopefully helping to reduce the sense of threat. It could also help to expand a dynasty, through colonization or inheritance.

Royals were often betrothed at a very young age. Parental figures arranged marriages that they hoped would create strong alliances. It was not just young women who were betrothed, and they did not actually married until they reached "adulthood," as defined by the culture. Young Louis XIV and his wife were betrothed as very young children, although they did not get married officially until many years later.

Falconry

When Mary is a young girl, she practices the art of falconry.  Falconry is when you use a raptor, such as a falcon, hawk, or eagle, to pursue live prey (rabbits, squirrels, small birds, etc).  While it is both a sport and a hobby, it is also a bit of a lifestyle, because you must tend to the birds every day, unlike a rifle or bow and arrow, which can both be put away until you are ready to hunt again.  If you are interested in learning more about raptors, see Guide to Raptors.  Want to try it yourself?  Learn how to become a falconer today.

Tower of London

On the north bank of the River Thames in the heart of London is the Tower of London.  Originally known as the White Tower, and built by William the Conqueror after the Norman Conquest, it has been historically known as a prison.  When it was first built, it was a royal residence, but after several periods of expansion in the 12th and 13th centuries, it is now a complex of several buildings set within two concentric rings of defensive walls and a moat.

Over the years, the tower has served as a treasury, armory, home of the Royal Mint, a public records office, and the home of the Crown Jewels.  During the 15th through 17th centuries, the tower was most prominently used as a prison.  Today, you can visit the Tower of London and step through history to see it as it was in each century.  Can't get to England?  Take a video tour.

What came just before this?  Learn more in A Loyal Foe & Wars of the Roses

Read

• Mary, Bloody Mary - The story of Mary Tudor's childhood is a classic fairy tale: A princess who is to inherit the throne of England is separated from her mother; abused by an evil stepmother who has enchanted her father; stripped of her title; and forced to care for her baby stepsister, who inherits Mary's rights to the throne. Believe it or not, it's all true. Told in the voice of the young Mary, this novel explores the history and intrigue of the dramatic rule of Henry VIII, his outrageous affair with and marriage to the bewitching Anne Boleyn, and the consequences of that relationship for his firstborn daughter. This is a historical novel about love and loss, jealousy and fear--and a girl's struggle with forces far beyond her control.
• Tudor Boy Spy - Thomas Snoop is in training to become a spy. Entrusted with a top secret mission by the mysterious Lord Severn, right-hand man to the Tudor king, Thomas must travel to the magnificent Goldenhilt Hall - in the guise of a servant - in order to uncover traitors plotting against the crown. It will take all Thomas's wits and cunning to uncover the traitors lurking at Goldenhilt Hall - and he must do so without being discovered himself... Filled with amazing facts and historical trivia, you won't be able to put this secret diary down!

Watch

• Edward and Mary, the Unknown Tudors

Make / Do

• Make your family tree
• Print the Tudor Family Tree (found in the Young Royals bundle)
• Build the Tower of London
• Make your own Mary Rose warship
• Bake a batch of Tudor Gingerbread
• Download the Tudor Word Map to use with the Young Royals bundle
• Print the Guide to Tudor Clothing to use with the Young Royals bundle
• Complete the Off With Their Heads! activity pack

Vocabulary

• monarch
• armada
• execution
• reign
• vagrancy
• treason
• War of the Roses
• heir
• Tower of London

Think

• What were the long-term consequences of what has been described as "England's Terror"?
• Listen to this primary source document (read aloud).  What did people think of Mary?  Did they want her to be Queen?  Having read the book and studied history, why do you think this is?

Get the entire Young Royals bundle!

Includes seven unit studies covering the entire series. Each unit addresses a historic era from the eyes of a young royal, and these are told in living history format.  Each unit has introductory text, which will give the student basic background information about the topic at hand.

• There are photographs and illustrations, and we have also included primary documents when available.
• After this text, there are featured videos, which augment the background information and help make the topic more accessible for more visual students.
• You will also find a short list of reading books, including a featured novel that the unit builds upon.
• There are vocabulary words, places, and people to identify.
• Reading comprehension, critical thinking questions, and writing assignments are included.
• We add fun with hands-on activities and extra videos to watch that will bring the era to life.

These studies are directed toward upper grades students, but some have resources for younger students so that the whole family can work together. Our family has used unit studies as curriculum for many years, and we hope that your family will enjoy these, too!

Product samples:   Mary, Bloody Mary

Includes:

• Mary, Bloody Mary
• Beware, Princess Elizabeth
• Doomed Queen Anne
• Patience, Princess Catherine
• Duchessina: Catherine De'Medici
• Wild Queen: Mary, Queen of Scots
• Bad Queen: Marie Antoinette

How to Stretch Your Grocery Dollars

Who here is trying to pinch those groceries pennies until they squeal?  For most of today's homeschooling parents, this is the first time they've really felt the economic strains.  It's different when you have a family to care for than when you're living off ramen and scavenged food in the college union....now you have kids, and you want them to eat healthy.  So what's a mom to do?

Drawing from lessons of the past, our grandparents' (or great-grandparents') experiences of the Great Depression and war years, and a little bit of can-do, homesteading spirit, here are some tips for stretching your dollars...

Make a Plan

• If you walk into the store with a plan, you're less likely to impulse shop, or just stand there in front of the dairy aisle going, 'Will I need sour cream this week?'  There are umpteen apps for meal planning, and there's surely one to fit your personal planning style.  
• Make a list of all the meals and snacks you want to prepare that week.  Denote what you already have on hand, and grocery list the rest.  
• Staple items, like canned tomatoes, tomato sauce, spaghetti sauce, canned green beans and corn, raisins, canned fruit, and dry beans, store well and stretch meals, so keep plenty of them on hand. When meal planning, make sure you're stocked up on staples.
• Take it a step further, and organize your list according to the store layout.  This saves time, reduces the temptation to buy foods that are not on your list, and helps you avoid forgetting items.
• It's always a good idea to have an extra freezer meal on hand for crazy nights.  If you don't have one of those, pick one up this week.  
• Keep a cooler in your car for keeping perishable foods safe on the way home, especially in warm weather.

Check your Budget

• How much money do you have to spend on food?  What's on sale this week?  This involves a little math and time, but can save you big.
• Take one month to track what you are currently spending.  Save your receipts and look at trends.  Is the bulk of your money going to fresh produce?  Premade foods?  See where you want to try and trim it down first.  Unless, this is an emergency situation, don't try to do it all at once!
• Check the store brands.  How much cheaper are they than the name brands?  Are they healthier?  Sometimes they are; sometimes they aren't.  You won't know until you check, and can often save big.
• Sales on different categories of items are rotated about every three months.  By stocking up when foods are on sale, you can take advantage of the best prices and shop from your own pantry later.
• Pay in cash.  If you go with a budget, and a set amount of cash, you'll be less likely to throw in an extra thing here or there.  That said, with the way prices go up, you might take cash plus 10% extra to cover any inflationary costs for your list.
• Probably goes without saying, to you mommas, but shop alone if you are able.  You'll save time and the aggravation of explaining twenty times why you won't get something...or finding it in your cart unexpectedly at checkout.

Have the Meats...Sometimes

• Meat can be replaced with dried beans, peas, lentils, tofu, eggs, and other less-expensive protein sources.  You don't have to deprive yourself though.  Budget for an expensive steak dinner by serving a few meatless meals throughout the week.
• Stretch meats, particularly tougher cuts, by using them in sauces or casseroles.
• If you talk with the butcher, ask what time of day meat markdowns are made, and plan your shopping to take advantage of them.
• Cook once, eat twice.  Having leftovers doesn't necessarily mean eating the exact same thing again.  Cook a whole chicken, and then use it for more than one meal.  Have baked chicken one night, and use the leftover in chicken quesadillas the next.
• Find some tasty meatless meals here.

Go Somewhere Else

• Plan to get your non-food items from a discount store.  These are generally marked up at grocery stores, and you are paying for the convenience of shopping in one place.
• Dollar stores may also sell items like canned fruit and snack crackers cheaper than the grocery store.
• Day-Old Bread stores aren't just for bread.  You can find other bread products and packaged treats, too, generally at half-price or less.  These can be frozen for later.
• Buying seasonally generally means fresher produce that will last longer.  You can get these at the store, but for the freshest, hit the farmer's market or a roadside stand.  Toward the end of the day, you can usually bargain with the vendor.  If you're more of a DIY, or want a field trip, visit a U-pick farm.

Step Back in Time

• Cooking from scratch is often healthier for you, since it will mean less fat, sugar, and salt in your food.  If you don't have time to cook from scratch daily, consider once-a-week freezer cooking.
• Grow a Victory Garden.  If you have the room, grow a plot of land with several vegetables.  If you don't, plant items like tomatoes and strawberries in pots on your patio. Beans also can run up a small trellis, and herbs grow well in a flower pot or a windowsill container.
• Access all of our gardening and self-sufficiency information here.
• The most expensive food is the food you throw away.  If you have food that has started to turn, use it for animal fodder.  Use your kitchen scraps for compost or animals, too.
• Learn to make your own bread.  It's fresher, healthier, and tastier.  Here's an easy recipe.

To Coupon or Not to Coupon?

• Check the weekly circulars to see what's on sale, and build your meal planning around that.
• Pay attention to unadvertised specials at the store, and be willing to be flexible with your planning if it's a super deal.  But also pay attention to the expiration dates on those deals.  Sometimes it's too good to be true.
• Common psychological tricks: 
• If a store limits the quantity you're allowed to buy, it generally tempts people to buy more.
• If there is a quantity discount, you don't usually have to buy that many (ie, 6 for $10, you can still get 1 for $1.67).
• Know your store's coupon rules.  Some honor other stores or will price match.  Some will do rain checks.  Some will have double and triple coupon days.  Some do none of the above.  You'll want to learn your store.
• Sign up for the loyalty card.  I know, you don't want one more card, but this one will actually save you money more often than some of the others.

  

A Slow-Cooked Year This book includes : the whats and whys behind crockpot cooking, how-to tips and tricks, safe crockpot guidelines, printable planning sheets, and more than thirty seasonally-appropriate, kid-friendly recipes!

Another Year of Freezer Cooking For anyone who wants to get a leg up on getting healthy meals on the family table, without much fuss...this book includes : the whats and whys behind freezer cooking how-to tips and tricks pantry freezing guidelines, printable planning sheets more than thirty seasonally-appropriate, kid-friendly recipes!

Looking to utilize the crockpot?  Check out a sample from A Slow-Cooked Year here.  If you're more of a freezer cooking mom, check out some samples from Freezer Cooking Through the Year here.