Reading for Gothic

Over the next two weeks you will be reading Cathedral: The Story of Its Construction by David Macaulay.

Be sure to understand the construction process. The construction techniques of the middle ages are still similar today. The main difference is the speed of construction and the advancement of the tools. Review all the different occupations required to construct a BIG building.

Read pages 1-40 this week and finish the book next week.

Be sure to watch the companion video.

Exploring Stained Glass

From Medieval Times by Mark Twain Media

The windows of the Gothic cathedrals of the Middle Ages were pointed, like hands in prayer. There were also round windows called rose windows. The glaziers , or those who set the glass, used translucent glass of many colors to make windows. Each color has a significant meaning.

Blue: heaven, heavenly love, meditation, loyalty, eternity
Red: blood, fire, love, courage, hate
Yellow/ Gold: sun, treasure in heaven, jealousy, treason
Green: spring, hope, victory of life over death
Violet/ Purple: love and truth, passion and truth, passion and suffering, justice, royalty
White: purity, innocence, peace and faith
Black: death, mourning
Gray: ashes, humility, mourning
Brown: death, giving up worldly things
Rainbow: union, God's covenant with humanity

Directions: Create a stained glass window

Materials
Pencil or chalk
Black construction paper
Colored tissue paper or thin paper and markers
Scissors
Tape

Procedure:
Step 1: Draw a design with pencil or chalk on a sheet of black construction paper.

Step 2: Cut out different sections of your design so these areas can be shown in color.

Step 3: On one side, glue the edges of colored tissue paper to the black paper. This will be the back of your window.

Step 4: Tape to your window or hang with a string.

Medieval Stained Glass Science

By Susan K. Lewis

Glassmaking dates back at least as far as the 16th century B.C. In this early epoch, the ancient Assyrians recorded the basic recipe for glass on clay tablets. But craftsmen of the Middle Ages raised the practice to a high art in the era of Gothic cathedral building (A.D. 1150-1500) and developed techniques still used by glassmakers today. In this slide show, see stunning examples of stained glass artistry, and learn about the chemistry behind it.

Click the link below
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/assets/swf/1/gallery/flash-gallery-2007.swf?