Idaho Social Studies 9-12.WC.32

Social StudiesGrades 9–12Foundations of Western Civilization

The Standard

Analyze the ideas of Renaissance and Northern humanism.

Idaho Content Standards: K-12 Social Studies · The Renaissance and Reformation (c. 1450 AD – 1600 AD)

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students explain how humanists used Greek and Roman texts to rethink education and human ability. They compare Italian writers' interest in human potential with northern writers' calls for Christian reform.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student can use Pico to explain human choice and Erasmus to explain criticism of church abuses. They can identify a shared interest in learning without claiming Italian humanists rejected Christianity.
Common Misconceptions: Students may think humanism meant rejecting God, or that northern humanists ignored Greek and Roman writing. They may mistake Erasmus's criticism of church abuses for a rejection of Christianity.
How to Assess It: On an exit ticket, ask: "How did Pico and Erasmus use learning for different purposes? Give one idea from each writer and one idea they shared."

Lesson moves

Give pairs printed lines from Pico and Erasmus to sort under human potential, church reform, or both, then defend one choice.
Ask, "Did humanists reject religion?" Have students write two sentences using Pico and Erasmus as evidence.
Play a card match pairing Petrarch, Pico, Erasmus, and More with classical study, human potential, church criticism, and ideal society.
Have students mark literature, history, and language classes on a college course list, then compare those subjects with humanist education.

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