So, we re-enacted the battle between the Ottoman Turks and the city of Constantinople today in my basement. This was the PERFECT lesson for a class of 12 boys – they loved it! I was on for teaching today, and Kory helped me with a wonderful book called Great Battles. It gave details of the battle tactics, weapons, commanders, ships, and forts.

I had already outlined a map of Turkey, Constantinople, and Greece with electrical tape on the basement carpet. The boys’ wooden blocks served as the wall and buildings of the city. (I’m sure you recognize the Hagia Sophia there in the middle!) We used triangular blocks as ships and a handful of pencils to show how Mohammed II literally rolled his ships across land in order to completely surround the city.
We learned about the HUGE cannon that he had built, which could shoot a one ton cannonball over a mile, and that the Muslims had the advantage of not only gunpowder, but soldiers outnumbering the Christians by 10 to 1. And then, the boys were split into small teams and given a set of materials form which to construct their own siege weapon. Later, with mini marshmallow ammo they demonstrated the power of their designs.

Last week, we learned about John Wycliffe and John Huss. For homework the boys wrote an essay on the Bible, and its power to instruct, teach, bring joy, light our path, etc. They each also memorized a verse and recited it aloud today. I was so amazed at their insight and it was wonderful to hear them quoting the verses they had studied. And I myself feel that I am being educated for the first time!