To commemorate the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther's launch of the protestant Reformation, our MYP4 students had fun making Playmobil figurines of the great man, as an introduction to their Early Modern History lessons looking at key concepts and causes of the Protestant Reformation.
This term, as part of their MYP History programme, MYP 4 students have been examining the factors that helped bring about the end of medieval Europe: the growth of towns, the impact of Islam and the Black Death, the voyages of discovery and the Renaissance. Martin Luther marks the end point of this investigation.
As well as examining the role of great individuals in history, this was also an opportunity to look at why this small toy became the highest-grossing action figurine in the company's history. The serious question raised by the lesson was 'why have over one million plastic toys of a medieval monk been sold in 2018?'
The answer to this involves a philosophical detour into the long and short-term causes and consequences of the Reformation, as well as an in-depth look at Luther's influence on the modern world, ranging from the right to education for all to religious tolerance.
Next up for MYP4 will be an intensive session of the famous card game 'Top Trumps' Reformation edition and a visit in March to the Geneva International Museum of the Reformation.
Engaging, hands-on learning is definitely what makes History lessons at LCIS so much fun!