Renaissance Action Figure Projects

The Ed-U-Fun Group is designing a line of Renaissance action figures to sell to history teachers and students.  They already have a William Shakespeare doll test figure designed.

You have been hired to design an action figure and write a biography for the package.


Select one Renaissance figure (person) from the list below.  Research the life of that person.  The Ed-U-Fun Group wants you to design and present the following items:

• An action figure.  The figure must include two items it can hold, one in each hand. These must be detachable.  
• An accessory that will come with the figure.  This must be displayed in the package.  This is one thing the Shakespeare figure does not currently have. 
• A 300 word biography of the figure that will go on the back of the packaging.  This biography should include these things:
• A brief passage about the overall life of the figure-- childhood, major events in their life, achievements.  This should be appropriate for 11 to 14-year-old students. Keep it interesting.
• An explanation of the two items and the accessory. This may not be a bullet list, but should be written in an interesting way. 
• A summary of why the figure is important in history and how he or she contributed to the Renaissance. 
• The year of your figures birth and death and their birthplace.
• One good quote from your figure; something important or impressive your figure said or wrote.

Begin your project by selecting a figure from the list below.  Let Mr. Chester know whom you have selected.  The Ed-U-Group wants to see as many Renaissance figure designs as possible.

You will have  Tuesday, May 15 and Thursday, May 16  to research and prepare your rough drafts.  You will have Monday, May 21 and Wednesday, May 23 to type up your paper, create your action figure and prepare your presentation.  We will practice presentations on Tuesday, May 29.   Presentations are scheduled for Thursday, May 31.  There will be no make-ups no late presentations.  If you're not going to be in class on Thursday, May 31, make arrangements with Mr. Chester to present your action figure early.

Speeches must be memorized this time.  Your action figure and the accessories will be your visuals.

Possible Renaissance figures

List A

• Leonardo da Vinci        Jacob     Grace     Yahir
• Michelangelo             Aldo        Sloane   Kayla
• Galileo Galilei              ----       Wolfy    Cristal
• Nicolaus Copernicus     Matt         Revil
• Isabella I of Spain            Larika   ------------
• Elizabeth I of England       Stephanie  McCabe  Jezzel
• Christopher Columbus         Edson       Koto     Joaquin
• Martin Luther               Mikayla          Jose   Nathan
• King Henry VIII           Bryce   James
• Vasco da Gama           Jordan          Diego    Hale
• Ferdinand Magellan         Joseph     Kiana
• Hernan Cortes              Salvador      Isabella     Eduardo
• Isaac Newton       Miranda  Daniel    Teagan
• Titian                   ----        Mason  
• Albrecht Durer     ----  ---------
• Andreas Vesalius     -----  --------
• William Shakespeare    -----     Sneha   Jacob
• Miguel Cervantes        -------   Miquel  Daeshaun

List B

• Catherine de Medici               Karen        Emma         
• Dante Alighieri                  ------  ------   Kevin
• Filippo Brunelleschi           -------  --------
• Sandro Boticelli                 -------  Josh
• Machiavelli                        -------  --------
• Sir Walter Raliegh             Bryden  --------   
• Desiderius Erasmus         --------  ---------
• Pope Leo X             --------      Iman
• John Calvin               -------    Patrick
• Anne Bolyn           Tati      Daisy      Samari
• Francisco Pizarro       J.J.  -----------  Nimsy
• Henry Hudson         Emerson    Jaden  Brady
• Johannes Kepler                 Michael  ------------
• Johannes Gutenberg      -------  --------
• Marco Polo        Deysi   --------    Marquan

List C

• Francisco Petrarch    ----------- ----------
• Donatello             Mayk         Cesar   Annadale
• Girolamo Cardano    --------  ---------
• Lorenzo de Medici        --------  ----------
• Galen                         -------------   Ashleigh
• Pope Clement V         Troy     Jace
• Pope Gregory XI       -------------  ---------
• John Wycliffe           --------  ---------- 
• Jan Hus                     -------------  ---------
• Catherine of Siena     Lexi  -------
• Huldrych Zwingli      -------------   ---------
• William Tyndale      Juliet     -------------
• Queen Mary of England      Ailish      Valeria
• Ignatius Loyola           ---------  ---------
• Prince Henry the Navigator     --------- --------  Ryan
• Pedro Cabral              --------    -------        Jennifer   
• John Cabot          ----------   ------------   Katie
• Giovanni da Verrazano         Hector    -----
• Francis Bacon               ---------      Owen   Kyle
• Antoine van Leeuwenhoek       --------  ----------
• Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit       ---------  ----------
• Artemisia Gentileschi       Julia  ------------
• Isabella d'Este            Rachel   Caitlin
• Lucretia Borgia      Yasmin   ---------            
• Ben Johnson          ----------   Jorge  Nate
• Elisabetti Sirani     Elzie   -------------
• Raphael (Sanzio)  --------  ------------ Karlos 

List D

• Other people you can suggest

Grades will be based on three things: Your speech, your written paper, your action figure.  Each will be work 1/3 of your overall grade.  

This is a 75% assignment.