Illuminated Manuscript Page
Each student was to create their own illuminated manuscript page, which includes a border, decorated letter, an inspirational quote, and an illustration about the quote. The decorated letter is the first letter of the chosen quote.
Helpful hints:
Helpful hints:
- I introduced the lesson by first talking about the history of illuminated manuscripts. The students were simultaneously learning about the Middle Ages and the Renaissance in Social Studies.
- I provided packets with examples of decorated letters.
- We engaged in discussions about how the printing press changed the way we make and read books, characteristics of hand-made versus mass produced items, and the significant of decorated text in our visual culture. These discussions were a good way to relate the lesson to 21st century values.
- These 8th graders used brown watercolor paint to stain their pages, but next time I will have the students use tea because brown watercolor paint becomes dark very quickly.
- Students enjoyed picking their own inspirational quote from a favorite song, movie, poem, etc. I provided a whole packet of quotes from various sources to give the students ideas. If a student did not bring in their quote for homework, they were to use a quote from the packet I provided.
- Templates are helpful for students to map out their compositions. Using specific template measurements is also a good opportunity for students to practice measuring with a ruler, which is something that many children still struggle with.
- This lesson is certainly adaptable to high school students. For high school students, I would probably make the template composition more flexible.
Student Examples
from Morton Middle School, Fall River, Ma.
illuminated Manuscript Page Lesson PDF | |
File Size: | 80 kb |
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Illuminated Manuscript Page Rubric | |
File Size: | 54 kb |
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