Welcome to Down Home, San Luis Obispo Classical Academy’s blog! We are a classical school offering several options to make our education work for families with infants through high schoolers. Our signature hybrid program, which is part-time classroom and part-time home instruction, provides an engaging education for preschool through middle school (with full time options available). We also have a university model high school. This blog is meant to support and encourage on the home front because, in so many ways, the heart of what happens at SLO Classical Academy happens down home.

Semper discentes—always learning together.

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King Arthur + The Islamic Expansion

Happy Monday!

Last week, we transitioned into learning about Muhammad and the beginnings of Islam. In our classrooms this week, we will continue to talk about how the Islamic Empire came to be a large and powerful presence as well as it’s expansion across Arabia and beyond.

We’ve also started the exciting story of King Arthur! John Arthur, author of Arthur of Albion, along with illustrator Pavel Tatarnikov, have done an excellent job conveying this story for our Primary and Intermediate students. Meanwhile, in the Middle School world, Sword in the Stone has us hooked! Is it just us or have you also found yourselves laughing within the first couple of chapters? T.H. White sure knew how to engage his audience! It is not an easy read but we encourage you to have fun with your middle schoolers at home as you read aloud together.

F¯æle, [lords] by reason of [ladies], [let’s] rêada in…

(what we mean is: Well, lords and ladies, let’s read on…)

knight in the middle ages — {photo by PxHere}

Resource Links:

Gregorian Chants | Listen to an audio sample.

King Arthur for Kids | Read all about the great British hero.

Parts of an Armor | Explore the parts of an armor with this coloring page.

Main Division in Islam | An article on the differences between Sunni and the Shiite Muslims (with accompanying below under videos).

Movie Suggestions:

(you may check the local libraries or rent these titles. parents, please always preview first prior to sharing with your students.)

Camelot (1967) G | The three-hour musical many of you may remember | Description: A majestic romance set in the days of yore starring Richard Harris as King Arthur with Vanessa Redgrave as the beautiful Queen.Franco Nero co-stars as Lancelot, the classic knight in shining armor.
Quest for Camelot (1998) G | Animated | Description: A strong-willed girl sets out on a dangerous quest to retrieve King Arthur’s magical sword, save Camelot, and earn her place among the Knights of the Round Table
The Secret of the Kells (2009) TV-PG | Animated | Description: When Vikings attack an Irish abbey, the young nephew of an abbott must brave an enchanted forest to complete work on a legendary book. (May be scary for younger children.)
The Knights of the Round Table (1953) NR | Description: The legend of King Arthur comes alive in this Oscar-nominated picture starring Ava Gardner as Lady Guinevere, Robert Taylor as Sir Lancelot and Mel Ferrer as the noble King Arthur.
The Princess Bride (1987) PG | Definitely a favorite family movie to watch for this time period! | Description: Based on William Goldman’s novel of the same name, The Princess Bride is staged as a book read by grandfather (Peter Falk) to his ill grandson (Fred Savage). Falk’s character assures a romance-weary Savage that the book has much more to deliver than a simpering love story, including but not limited to fencing, fighting, torture, death, true love, giants, and pirates.
Monty Python and The Holy Grail (1975) PG | Of course no collection of Middle Ages movies would be complete without this classic. Here is the entire movie broken into parts on YouTube, but parents, you might want to just search for specific funny scenes you remember to show younger kids.