Renaissance Faire for Middle School

These sites contain resources to help plan a school Renaissance Faire. There is information on daily life in the Renaissance, proper speech, music, food, costume tips and patterns, and more. Included is an eThemes resource on the Renaissance.

Grades

Links

Proper Elizabethan Accents: Learn to speak Elizabethan English with the tools on this website. There is a pronunciation guide with sound files, grammar, drills, and vocabulary. NOTE: This site contains ads.
Alternative Wording: Here is a list of more period appropriate alternative wordings for modern nouns or expressions.
Heralds and Heraldry: This is an in-depth article on arms and heraldry in Elizabethan England. This page includes a link to the arms of the English peerage.
Heraldry Primer: Learn how to create a shield with a coat of arms with the information on this website.
Martin Murphy Middle School Renaissance Faire: Read about and see pictures from one school’s Renaissance Faire.
Eating in the Renaissance: This page has information about food during the Renaissance, cookery, and recipes. Includes information for preparing a wedding feast and a glossary of terms. NOTE: This site includes Google ads.
A Feast for the Eyes: Here is a collection of period images relating to food and eating in the Renaissance. Topics include hunting, cooking, brewing, markets, and more. NOTE: This site links to the Amazon.com bookstore and solicits donations.
Costume Patterns: Here are patterns and instructions for making different types of Renaissance Faire garb.
Elizabethan Fashion: This long article has information about the history of Elizabethan fashion, appropriate fabrics, and techniques for creating period costumes for your Faire. NOTE: This site contains ads and links to an eBay store.
Biggins Cap Pattern: This one-page PDF file contains a pattern for a simple head-covering suitable for men, women, or children.
Muffin Cap Pattern: This one-page PDF file contains a simple pattern for making a women’s cap.
English Flat Cap: This one-page PDF file contains a versatile pattern for making a period hat.
Chemise Pattern: Here is a pattern and instructions for making a chemise that can be worn as part of a man’s or woman’s Renaissance costume. This is a one-page PDF file.
Easy Peasant Skirt: This one-page PDF file contains instructions for making your own peasant skirt.
Bodice Pattern: This one-page PDF file contains instructions for making a peasant woman’s costume bodice.
Peasant Breeches: Here are instructions for making costume breeches. This is a one-page PDF file.
Jerkin Pattern: Here is a pattern and instructions for making a simple jerkin for men or boys. This is a one-page PDF file.
How to Make a Tent: Here is a checklist of considerations for building your own period tent or pavilion for your Faire.
The Elizabethan World: This site contains a wealth of information on many aspects of daily life in Elizabethan England.
Elizabethan England: Here is an index to many articles with background information on life in Elizabethan England, including history, art, and daily life.
Tudor England: This page contains links to various articles about Tudor history, including aspects of daily life such as music and food. Includes sound files and recipes.
eThemes Resource: Renaissance: These websites are about the Renaissance in Europe. Find out about the artwork, inventions, science, and people of the time period. Includes information about the Renaissance in Italy, France, and the Netherlands. Three are videos, games, activities, quizzes, and more. Includes a links to eThemes Resources on Leonardo da Vinci and Shakespeare.