This is a Clilstore unit. You can link all words to dictionaries.

GOTHIC ART: GOTHIC CATHEDRALS

 

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Time needed: two sessions

1.2 Aims of the task: Become familiar whit specific vocabulary about Gothic Art.

1.3 Justification: This subject is focus on fourth ESO students. It is an introduction to the Gothic Art, specially its architecture, through its most important buildings: gothic cathedrals.

1.4 Main materials: video link, historic map link.

Video link: in this web page you can find a 6 minutes video about “Gothic cathedrals”.

Video number 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkfmK-CLvcc

Historic map: in this web page you can find a list and a map of “10 important Gothic cathedrals in Europe”.

Text number 1 (with interactive map):

http://www.touropia.com/gothic-cathedrals/

1.5 Additional materials:

“Gothic architecture: an introduction”: a text which can be found in this link:

Text number 2:

https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/medieval-world/latin-western-europe/gothic1/a/gothic-architecture-an-introduction

“Birth of the Gothic: Abbot Suger and the ambulatory at St. Denis”: a video which can be found in this link:

Video number 2:

Birth of the Gothic: Abbot Suger and the ambulatory at St. Denis: Ambulatory, Basilica of Saint Denis, Paris, 1140-44. Speakers: Dr. Beth Harris and Dr. Steven Zucker

2. OBJECTIVES

Distinguish Gothic Art from others art styles.

Learn about the relation between religion and art in this time.

Understand the cathedral as a symbol of power.

Obtain geographical information about most important Gothic cathedrals in Europe.

Distinguish the materials that are used in building cathedrals versus houses.

3. CONTENTS

Middle Age: introduction

Religion: the power of monasteries

The cathedral: meaning, symbolism

Construction: structure, materials

Paintings and sculptures

4. METHODOLOGY

Active learning

Use of videos, pictures and maps

Work in pairs or groups

5. ACTIVITY PLANNING

5.1 BEFORE YOU WATCH THE VIDEO NUMBER 1, ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

1- What do you know about Middle Age?

2- Do you know cathedrals?

3- What is the different between a church and a cathedral?

4- Who built cathedrals?

5- What were the social groups like?

5.2 NOW WATCH THE VIDEO NUMBER 1 AND COMPLETE THE NEXT TASKS.

1) It is a quiz. You have to say if these sentences are true or false

  1. Suger wanted the God’s light brought into the church, so he invented the stained glass window.
  2. Cathedrals are built with traditionally supports and roof
  3. The load-bearing columns are called peers
  4. Churches buildings grew taller and closer to the heavens
  5. Flying buttresses are pillars in the interior of gothic churches and cathedrals
  6. Initially Gothic builders were not entirely sure about their new breakthrough

2) In a second view of video number 1, the recording will be stopped after each question and you can discuss into groups which should be the correct answer.

5.3 LOOK FOR TEXT NUMBER 1 AND HIS INTERACTIVE MAP AND COMPLETE THE NEXT TASKS.

1) Fill in the gaps the words below:

Words: Gothic (2 times), verticality, Western, demonstrate, 16th, clustered light, buttresses, ribbed.

The Gothic style emphasizes __________ and _________. This appearance was achieved by the development of certain architectural features such as the ________ columns, ______ vaults and flying ________. Although the architecture is used in many castles, palaces and town halls it is the magnificent Cathedrals of Europe that really ________ the beauty of ______ architecture. _________ architecture spread to all of __________ Europe and continued to evolve until well into the _________ century.

 2) Now see the interactive map in the web page. Write the name of the 10 Gothic cathedrals, the city and the country where they are.

Number

Name

City

Country

1

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

3

 

 

 

4

 

 

 

5

 

 

 

6

 

 

 

7

 

 

 

8

 

 

 

9

 

 

 

10

 

 

 

 6. MAIN STRUCTURES OF A GOTHIC CATHEDRAL

Here you have some necessary vocabulary to understand this unit.

Pointed arch:

 

Ribbed Vault, Flying buttress, Pillars, Pinnacles

Storeys:

Latin Cross floor plan

Rose window

 

7. ADDITIONAL TASKS

7.1 READ THE TEXT NUMBER 2 AND COMPLETE THE NEXT TASKS

1) Make a little glossary with the words you do not know and look for the definition in a dictionary.

2) Make a 100 words summary of this text.

7.2 WHACHT THE VIDEO NUMBER 2 AND COMPLETE THE NEXT TASKS

1) In pairs, explain to your partner what a Gothic cathedral is and what its main parts are.

2) In groups of 4-5, choose one of the cathedrals you have seen in this lesson and make your opinion about it.

Then one student of each group will explain to the class the conversation they have had.

You can use the next expressions:

 

8. DISCUSSION

Now it is your turn to think about these images.

Sculptures: What can be the meaning?

Paintings: Colour and materials

Cathedral of Valencia: Have you seen it?

 

9. EVALUATION

1) Collaborative work: evaluation of peers:

- Students interchange quiz and fill in the gap activities with a partner. They evaluate his peer and discuss solutions.

- The teacher gives feedback after discussions

2) Oral expression:

- Teacher helps in oral interaction, evaluates the level of learning and gives feedback.

3) Writing expression:

- Teacher evaluates the writings students have made and gives feedback.

 

 

Short url:   http://multidict.net/cs/3762