Dark Ages Are Lightened Up at Niguel Hills Middle School

More than 400 seventh-graders and 100 parent volunteers went back in time on Thursday at the  Medieval Fair.

Games included "catapult the castle" and , and there was archery, spear tossing and an obstacle course. An appearance by exotic falcons and a Eurasian owl, courtesy of Winged Solution, proved popular.

But the fun and games had an educational element. "This is a culminating activity for our study of the European Middle Ages," said seventh-grade social science teacher Susan Peterson.

The students had been analyzing the geographic, political, economic, religious, and social structures of the civilizations of medieval Europe.

The event organizers included seventh-grade social science teachers Mike Kashima, Erica Lindberg, Kira McNeill and Peterson.  It was sponsored by NHMS ASB and parent donations.