Medieval Europe - Italian Maritime Republics

The Oxford Illustrated History of the Middle Ages

Discussion:
Major maritime trading cities in Italy and their shipping routes across Asia and Europe
Goods traded
Conflict against each other and with Holy Roman Emperors, Popes

Activity:
History journal
Map study

Astronomy - Solar System - Earth - What Makes Earth Unique

Seven Wonders of the Rocky Planets and Their Moons by Ron Miller
Don't Know Much About the Solar System by Kenneth C. Davis
Earth by Dana Rau Meachen

Discussion:
Life on Earth
Water and Atmosphere
The Moon and Earth - a "double" planet

Activity:
Make a chart listing Earth's unusual features

Astronomy - Solar System - Earth - Orbit

Earth by
The Kingfisher Space Encyclopedia

Discussion:
Time - years and days
Seasons
Actual length of orbit vs. calendar (necessity of leap years)

Activity:
Draw a schematic of Earth's orbit

Medieval Europe - Frederick II

The Crusades by Timothy Levi Biel

Discussion:
Wars with popes/other entities
Centralization of government; efficient state bureaucracy
Crusade accomplishments through diplomacy

Activity:
History journal

Medieval Europe - Art in the 12th-13th Centuries

The Oxford Illustrated History of Medieval Europe
History of Western Art

Discussion:
Developments in style from post-Carolingian era to post-Dante
Symbolic representations in religious art
Recognizing provenance

Activity:
Field trip to the National Gallery of Art

Astronomy - Solar System - Venus - Orbit and Time

Venus by Elaine Landau
Venus by Dana Meachen Rau

Discussion:
Venus' orbit
Days and years on Venus
Distance from Earth, Sun

Activity:
Draw a schematic of Venus' orbit and relative distances from Earth/Sun

Astronomy - Solar System - Venus - Composition and Geology

Venus by Dana Meachen Rau
Venus by Elaine Landau

Discussion:
Mineral composition of Venus, structure
Atmosphere of Venus, geography

Activity:
Draw and label schematic of Venus