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.

Our spine novel for this unit study is Patience, Princess Catherine

Get the entire unit in the 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

Choosing the Best Online Resources for High School

In a post-pandemic world, the trend toward online learning and remote resources has exploded. With so many options, however, how do you choose the best class for your needs? How do you know if online learning is even the right move for your student?

Four Things to Keep in Mind

Technology has glitches

Teens today are pretty comfortable with computers, tablets, phones, and all the apps that accompany them. Teachers tend to be a bit older and may still be learning the technology as they go.  Whether you're using an established program or newer one, expect a hitch here and there along the way.  That doesn’t mean these are poor programs, but the teachers tend to be from a different era. There will be times when a PDF may not download correctly, a glitch will appear in an assignment, or the internet just doesn’t want to work properly. Which leads us to communication, because keeping an open line goes a long way when the student experiences glitches…

Communication is crucial

Online courses put you in contact with potential friends and mentors, but you have to be proactive in forming those relationships.  Many online teachers will have students introduce themselves to the class at the beginning of class. At Sparks Academy, we provide a (monitored) open forum in every class for students to chat amongst themselves and form those connections.  It’s also a good idea to introduce yourself and stay in contact with your teacher, whether through email or a classroom portal-based chat. Communicating promptly whenever you have an illness, question about classwork, or other issues is crucial.

Time management is key

While sitting at a computer, taking a class, it’s easy to get caught up in another page, a notification ping, or a chat thread.  It's the nature of our distraction-filled world. It is the student’s responsibility to find a groove that works for them, learn their best focusing techniques, and develop an organizer / scheduling plan that works.  While we make suggestions at Sparks Academy, ultimately we know that every student is different and must find what works best for them. Procrastination is the number one grade-affecter in the first semester of enrollment, but students typically find a groove by second semester.

Online doesn't equate to an "Easy A"

While it’s true that the classes are more flexible, you still have to put in the time and effort. There are probably ‘pay for play’ classes out there that will give you credit in exchange for money, but those aren't going to pay off in the long run.  After all, what are you really learning in that situation?  Online courses take roughly about the same amount of “work time” as traditional courses to study for and complete. Here are some of the best online class options for middle and high schoolers.

So how do you know which classes are Best for You?

Full Program vs Individual Classes

Are you wanting to take all of your classes in one location, essentially creating a school-at-home scenario? Or are you wanting to pick and choose classes that are tailored to your needs and interests? Do you want to have one sole point of contact, or one contact for each class? (Even with an all-in-one situation, you might still have an array of contacts.)  In the wake of Covid, there are more full program schools than just a few years ago, but you’ll want to research them to get a thorough look at the curricula being used, any ideology being included, and any required testing or data collection that is included with that tuition. (As you would with any school, camp, or program you utilize.)

Synchronous vs Asynchronous

This is one of the biggest factors for students – do they want to take a class that is on a schedule, or work at their own pace? There are pros and cons to each, and not every course will give you the option.  If the course follows a set schedule (synchronous), be prepared to stay on task and caught up with your work. If the course is self-paced, you’ll need to be diligent and responsible for keeping on track.  At Sparks Academy, every course is offered in both a scheduled and self-paced format.

Live vs Threaded

If you’ve opted for synchronous classes, your next question is whether you want video-chat classes that are scheduled at a particular time, or should you take text-based classes that can be streamed at any point within the time frame? Again, it’s a matter of personal preference.  Some people prefer to chat face to face, while others are more comfortable in the online forum.  Sparks Academy provides a combination, with live, face-to-face (via internet) classes each quarter and forum-based classes the rest of the year. This allows students to get to know each other and form connections, but doesn’t commit them to a particular time slot for an entire year.

Accreditation and Certification

Curriculum is not accredited. Homeschools are not accredited. SOME schools (most public schools) are accredited, however not all are.  Accreditation is awarded to schools after so many years of operation, plus completing a lengthy application and submitting a recurring fee.  Most online homeschool providers are not going to be accredited, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t just as good. However, if you are applying for an NCAA scholarship or another program that requires an accredited diploma, you will want to keep this in mind.

Why Sparks Academy?

At Sparks, middle and high school students from around the world come together for language arts, history, and science courses. Students have the option of either self-paced or synchronous class format, and all work is teacher-graded.  Students form connections with each other via class chats and open discussion forums, and have the option of meeting one-on-one with teachers when extra help is needed. Over half of enrollment each year is comprised of returning students from the previous year.

One Sparks Academy parent says, “My son used this last year for HS1 & World History. It was great with teaching him accountability & responsibility. He loved being able to communicate with others using the discussions (he thought it was cool that everyone lived in so many different places and they were all able to communicate with each other). He also enjoyed the live class with Yvie, and I liked it because it kept him on his toes with making sure all his assignments were completed when it was time for that live class in case he was called on to report it. As “mom” I still had to keep on him to make sure he was current and went over his assignments with him, but that’s to be expected. Overall we love it! My son will be using it again this year for HS2, American History, and Science.”

Sparks Academy enrollment for the ’24-’25 synchronous school year is open now. Self-paced classes are open for enrollment year-round.

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

Our spine novel for this unit is Beware, Princess Elizabeth 

Get the entire unit in the 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