A fellow teacher friend is going to Scarby Student Days. She teachers English & was asking about some good questions her kids could ask the cast members. I told her name & occupation but I know you guys (especially current or former casts) can help me with other great questions. Thanks!
One of my favorite (actually got this one from a cast member buddy of mine)
"Do you have to like peanut butter and Ramen Noodles to get a degree in Fine Arts?"
What was school like in the Renaissance? What did kids do for fun then? Were there sports in the Renaissance? What did it take to become a King, knight, queen, nobleman, prince, etc....
Having been on the receiving end of the question and answer thing at Student Days, I can give a few suggestions regarding the whole thing:
- I strongly suggest that the teacher require the student to ask questions of at least three different ranks in terms of social standing (noble, gentry or yeoman, and peasant for instance.
- Questions that aren't yes/no or short sentence questions would probably be more engaging for both students and cast members. Things like "Tell me what your typical morning is like?" and so on.
- Ask about jobs, because everyone has a job, even the nobles.
- Ask world-view questions about things like a woman's place and duties, or how much religion is a part of their life, or have them rank God, King, Country, Family, Self in importance and explain why they give them that particular ranking.
When we are out at faire this weekend, I will ask my friends on cast if they have any ideas for questions and will bring that back and post it here as well.
The real key, I think, is to ask questions that really allow the actor to speak as the character and to bring a personal point of view to things. It lets the students hear a PERSON talk to them rather than a lecturer talking AT them. :)
Take a look at the topics covered in the histroy customer and manners lectures last season they should give you a good starting point
I have asked for input from the folks in SAPA, and will forward any questions that they suggest. Do you know the ages of the students in question?
5th and 6th grade so they'd be about 10-12 years old.
I've written myself a note to ask my son for suggestions. He is a history teacher in NYC at a private K-12 and has classes in that age group (10-12 y.o.) as well as 11-12 graders. His undergrad was done in Medieval History to make things more interesting. He might just have a good perspective to offer some questions to put forth.
Here's what I've gotten from folks so far:
Are you a Catholic, Protestant or something else, and why?
Who is your direct liege lord?
Who is your monarch (king, emperor, etc.)?
What is your favorite song?
Are witches real? What do you know of them?
What has the printing press done for the people of Europe?
Can you read in English? In Latin? Which makes you literate in the eyes of your people?
What do you know of the New World (the Americas)?
What was your father's occupation? Is it different from yours?
What is your favorite book? (Either to read or have read to you)
Why do you do that job or hold that position?
Can you change?
Do you believe in ghost/fairies?
Who is in charge here?
What purpose does this (item) serve?
Your clothes are different from mine. Why are you dressed like that?
Who is head of the church?
What year is this?
Why are you at Scarborough?
How does your station in life affect what you do on a daily basis?
How does being in the "renaissance" affect you?
Questions about clothing are always fun to answer.
What is involved in your occupation?
What are some recent technological advances?
What do you do when you are bored?
What are proper table manners?
What do you eat for breakfast? Other meals? In a normal day?
What is your name?
What is your station?
What do you do here in the village?
What is your favorite food?
What would you say if you curse?
What does your bedroom at home look like?
Do you have a favorite color? Why? Are you allowed to wear it?
Can you ride a horse? Why or why not?
Do you keep pets? what kind and why or why not?
Do you have family here in the village? Children? Brothers? Sisters? How many?
If you could be anyone in 1533, who would you like to be?
Sorry if some of these are repeats, but I was cutting and pasting from several places. I hope this helps, and if I get more I'll pass them along. :)
Got some more potential questions in from cast members. Again, I apologize if any of these are repeats as I am basically just cutting and pasting what they posted. :)
Can you read? who taught you?
What's your job? who taught you?
Do you have children? How many?
Are your parents still living? If not, why did they die?
What is your favorite game? Can you teach me? (Note from Lys: The performing company is actually taught a number of period games during their workshops, so they CAN teach some to the kids. This might be a really fun learning opportunity.)
Do you like the king (queen)?
What religion are you?
Can you play a musical instrument?
How many languages can you speak?
What was your education like?
Note from performer: Things they should stay away from are questions about the future, such as What do you think about Shakespeare? The teacher should make the questions pertinent to our current year (1533) or things that would have happened in our past.
I will second the request from the performer who asked that the teacher be sure to have the kids ask questions pertaining to the correct period. It can be quite frustrating to have to play dumb about who Shakespeare is on a continuing basis throughout the day. And the jokes / comments about Anne Boleyn dying are equally as frustrating. Believe me, we've heard them all before and as far as our characters are concerned, Anne Boleyn is the woman that Henry will grow old with, whether the characters like her or not. :)
I'll post more if I get 'em!
Dang... Forgot to ask the boy about some questions he might have, but looking at the list Lys came up with, that should keep them pretty busy. I'd like to be there for that myself! Nice job, Lys.