Testimonials
Here is what people are saying about the Knights in the Classroom:
"I highly recommend the Hands-On-History workshop. It was fantastic! My grade 3/4 class was engaged the whole time! The presenters paced the lessons perfectly. Large group lessons were quickly followed up by creative and active games and activities that the students loved. This team has a wealth of knowledge, resources and skills that are unsurpassed!"
Robin Filtsos, Ballantrae P.S.
"It was a pleasure to have the Knights in the Classroom at Featherston Drive. They engaged our students and staff in drumming, dance, painting, and puppetry! Each workshop integrated one of our regular steam classrooms with one of our classrooms for students with Autism. The instructors accommodated the diverse needs of our students and kept the focus on fun and learning. Thank you for an incredible day!"
Nicola Powadiuk, Vice Principal, Featherston Drive P.S.
"The Knights in the Classroom was an exceptional learning experience for our grades 3-5 students. The knowledge that students gained from their visit went far beyond what could have been learned from inside the classroom. The Knights had students engage in real life, hands on experiences that had them excited from the start of the day straight through to the end. The kids participated in everything from art to ancient games, singing to drama performances. And the best part? It was all curriculum based and perfectly geared to our students! Having a chance to see, feel, actively participate and immerse themselves in the learning for the day was beyond any field trip we could have taken them on. When we asked kids for feedback at the end of the day, they were all smiles, telling us all of the facts that they had learned that day. We are already hopeful for a booking again next year. We will be telling everyone about this fantastic, curriculum based, super exciting learning experience. Thank you Knights in the Classroom!"
Heather Horsley, Harry Bowes P.S.
"Thank you so much for visiting the Meaford Public Library and sharing your Battle Ready! demonstration for our community! This was an incredible experience and one that was enjoyed by participants of all ages! The session was energetic, exciting, educational, and so much fun! The team was engaging, friendly, knowledgeable, and made the session a great time for everyone! We are so thankful that we had this incredible opportunity! We would absolutely recommend a visit from Knights in the Classroom and hope to host a visit again soon!"
Lori Pearce, Meaford Public Library
"I want to thank you so much for coming to our school! All the classes really enjoyed the historical dance workshop. I heard great things from every class and teacher. The students thought the dances were fun to try out and learned about many different cultures. Each student seemed to have their favourite dance!!! The sport "angle" got the kids engaged from the start. Well done!"
Robin Filtsos, Ballantrae P.S.
"We had the pleasure of having Matthew and Andrea present to our group of grade 6-8 students. They were knowledgeable about the sport of fencing, engaging in their delivery of their presentation, and enthusiastic when interacting with the students. This showed in the way our students reacted to the workshop, as every student who participated enjoyed their time and came away with a newfound understanding and respect for the sport. I would happily recommend this workshop!"
Paolo Sacchetti, St. Stephen C.S.
"We were so thrilled to have Knight in the Classroom return to our school! This was an excellent opportunity for our students in grades 3-5 to watch history come to life before their very eyes! Throughout the Hand-On History half day program, Matthew, Andrea and Adam packed in an extraordinary amount of learning that far surpassed what the children would have learned in class. Their extent of knowledge for this time period allowed them to drop fascinating facts about history throughout the presentation such that, the teachers also learned something new! The children eagerly participated in a wide range of activities including identifying Canadian animal pelts, Viking Chess, historical games, using a slingshot, testing out a bow and arrow and the culminating activity - a battle reenactment! What an exciting way to interact with history in a very real way. We recommend Knights in the Classroom to any classroom teacher wishing to spark a love of history in their students! And we hope that we are lucky enough to have them return to Harry Bowes Public School next year!"
Jennifer Dare, Harry Bowes P.S.
"Our library patrons, young and old, absolutely LOVED the 'Battle Ready' presentation. Matt is a fantastic speaker and the whole team did an excellent job keeping everyone engaged throughout the show. This battle is not staged! It truly felt like we were watching a live, combat event. Thanks so much - looking forward to seeing you again!"
Stephanie Perkins, Children and Youth Services Librarian, Hanover Public Library
"Engaging! Authentic! Informative! My class was so impressed with Sir Matthew and Lady Andrea!"
Patrick Tougas, Grade 4 Remote Teacher, Canadian Martyrs School, SMCDSB
"The Knights in the Classroom make history come alive! This year we learned about historical siege weapons, and Matthew and his team were fantastic. The presentation was engaging and exciting, and the kids worked together with high energy to build cardboard box walls against an invading catapult. They strategized and problem-solved using math and physics to create successful walls. When the catapult finally knocked down a wall, the entire crowd started applauding and cheering. The presentation was very interactive, and many kids asked questions or gave suggestions and the presenters were wonderful at responding and informing. We've enjoyed performances from the Knights in the Classroom for two years, and we'd love to have them return next year. Their presentations are one-of-a-kind!"
Kayla Eckhardt, West Grey Public Library
"Thank you so much for all the new learning over the past three [virtual] sessions!!!! I really appreciate all the time and energy you put into each session."
Robin Filtsos, Ballantrae P.S.
"Our students absolutely loved the Knights in the Classroom Programs. Students eagerly participated in the Grade 6 Game Show, and our Grade 4's and 5's participated in the Full Day Festival, which included: Drumming, an Ancient Egypt session, Fencing and a First Nations workshop. Students were enthusiastic and had a wonderful time learning at each session. It was a perfect mix of hands on, and information gathering! We had considered going to the ROM to enhance our social studies curriculum, but decided to give the Knights a try, and we are super glad we did! Thanks for an awesome day Knights! We look forward to having you back!"
Nicole Lafrance, Waverly P.S.
"Thank you so much for 3 engaging and fun sessions. My students were always excited when they knew you guys would be visiting with us. They loved your puppets and the personalities you gave to your puppets. They also gained the confidence to give their own puppets personalities. The puppet stories were hilarious!"
Jasmine Bick, Sharon P.S.
"Knights in the Classroom is fabulous! It is the perfect combination of fun and educational. They are knowledgeable and willing to work with you to create a program that is the best fit and they come to you! My students loved it, the teachers loved it, the parents loved it - Awesome program!"
Natalee Clarkson, The Maples Academy
"The kids loved the Knights of the Classroom experience during our summer camps last year. We realized that our group of kids could have used more hands on which is what they provided. We will probably be using them again."
Sensei D. Mercier, Port Credit Martial Arts Academy
"A terrific presentation with lots of information. The students were thrilled with the hands on demonstrations and the knight battle at the end. A video game come to life for some."
Lorne Cooper, Herbert H. Carnegie P.S.
"We are so grateful to have partnered with Knights in the Classroom once again for our Summer Reading Program here at the Hanover Library. The Pirate Show was a perfect addition to our Summer Reading theme and was a real hit among our patrons of all ages. The team is a pleasure to work with and we look forward to hosting them again in the future. Additionally we are so appreciative of the funding from the Community Foundation of Grey Bruce which allowed us to provide more programming to our patrons at a reduced cost."
Stephanie Perkins, Hanover Public Library
"Phenomenal hands on experience!"
Marianne Markou, Hewson P.S.
"This is the second year that the Knights in the Classroom group has put on a programme for our students. Their combination of enthusiasm, knowledge, and excellent class management skills create a wonderful learning experience for the students."
K. Banks, Abraham Erb School, Waterloo
"The students thoroughly enjoyed themselves and gained relevant and specific knowledge pertaining to Medieval Times! The instructors were excellent with managing and holding the attention of the students."
Krista-Lee Hibbert, Tecumseth-Beeton P.S.
"I was thoroughly impressed with the standards for learning and safety that Knights in the Classroom put into place for a giant group of grade nine students. They were able to teach an incredible amount of information into their sessions that was practical, pertinent, funny, and useful for all learners."
Sydne deGroot, Lindsay Vocational Collegiate Institute
"We have had Knights in the Classroom for the past 6 years and will continue to have them. They never do the same workshop twice the same way. They always improve and change activities according to the change in curriculum and feedback. Well done!"
Sanna Bnaity- Eid, Parkfield J.P.S.
"This team is so awesome I retired from teaching to join them full time!!!"
Andrea Hertach, Fairwood P.S.
"The combat workshop was extremely entertaining. It got all of my students on their feet and working together. It was great to be able to see my grade 9 students apply what they learned to their movement presentations. Excellent workshop!!"
Lindsay Curran, Lindsay Collegiate & Vocational Institute
"They were professional and fun! The two lessons were engaging and my class is still talking about it."
Lara Watkins, David Suzuki S.S.
"I have long searched for an educational and entertaining experience for my students as a culmination to our unit on Medieval Times. We booked Knights in the Classroom to visit our classroom and we were blown away by the presentation they provided! They were incredibly professional and accommodated our small school environment and tailored a fascinating program to suit our class. The presentation was on curriculum and managed the near impossible feat of keeping a group of students ranging from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 6 positively enthralled and engaged for over 3 hours! Incredible! Their commitment to safety and ensuring that the program was informative, factual and engaging ensured an event our students, faculty and parents are still talking about today! A big thank you to Sir Matthew for a remarkable experience! We will be booking again!"
Kathy McTavish, Principal, KinderKollege Primary School, Brampton
"We had an excellent time when Knights in the Classroom came to us. Myself and students especially enjoyed the hands on activities. The instructors were enthusiastic and very knowledgeable! Great job! Follow up activities are great! Thanks again for all that you do! :) "
Krista-Lee Hibbert, Tecumseth-Beeton P.S.
"The students thoroughly enjoyed the stage combat workshop, developing dynamic and dramatic movements to add to their repertoire. Where else on earth can you punch out your teacher?"
Christine Clark, Thornhill Secondary School
"Great presentation once again. Look forward to next year."
Art Lazzaro, St. Luke the Evangelist C.S.
"My students and I had a fabulous time learning the skills of stage combat as well as developing our characters to make the scene more authentic!"
Julie Brunet, Keswick High School
"The kids had a brilliant time with the role playing activities!"
Sue Young, Moraine Hills P.S.
"We have been booking with Knights in The Classroom for at least 5 years and the workshops are always updated and just keep getting better and better. Hope to see you next year!"
Sanna Bnaity- Eid, Parkfield J.P.S.
"The Knights in the Classroom program was an excellent review of what students learned in the grade 4 curriculum. It was educational and engaging. The students loved it!"
Sherry Sauder, Mary Phelan C.S.
"Knights in the classroom provided my students with a wealth of information about early societies. They were presented with an abundance of pictures and interesting facts about key aspects of life in many early societies, each from a different region and era. With their overview, we are now able to choose two to three societies to investigate ways of life and relationships with the environment. Their workshop was a fantastic way to introduce early societies. Thank you Knights for this incredible opportunity!"
Julie Borer, Our Lady of Good Counsel C.S., Ingleside, Ontario
"The Early Societies Battle Ready was interactive, informative and exciting. The game show covered many early societies we had explored in class, while also teaching the students about others we had not studied. The students enjoyed the interactive presentation and the opportunity to watch a battle reenactment."
Meaghann Walton, Killarney Beach Public School
"The depth of detail in your research slides was great for me - I learned a ton because you summarized the research into a comprehensive timeline, for MY understanding, now I can reflect and discuss with my students with a stronger understanding of the Meso-American lives and the Middle Ages."
Nancy Porteous, Canadian Martyrs School, Penetanguishene, Ontario
"My students were actively engaged throughout the program, and felt so at ease in responding to questions...even though we have not yet begun our study of early societies!"
Stephen Milak, Queensville P.S.
"Your guys were amazing. The (stage combat) class went well and the students enjoyed the experience. The students kept asking questions so Dwayne and partner were there longer than expected. If I can afford it next year we will repeat the experience."
Christine Clark, Thornhill SS
"The program will be first rate, no matter which workshop you book. I highly recommend this to any grade 4 teachers, your students will love it!"
Amparo Dawson, Tecumseth Beeton P.S.
"The Knights put on a fantastic show for our community. They demonstrated medieval combat with various weapons and armour. The performers ensure that everything is historically accurate, and are extremely knowledgeable. It was so exciting, you don't even realize that you're learning! We highly recommend this group for anyone looking to learn about the medieval time period. Huzzah!"
Kayla Eckhardt, West Grey Public Library
"I had a group of 38 drama students and the instructors dealt with them with ease. My students had a wonderful time and felt they received individual attention. I couldn't believe how much they covered in 80 minutes. Finally, the fight scenes my students filmed for me were a testament to how much they had learned. Thank you!"
Anonymous Teacher Feedback Survey Response
"Knights in the Classroom workshops are very interesting, interactive and exciting for both the children and the adults. We have booked a workshop 3 years in a row and are looking forward to their new and improved workshops next year. Thank you for always updating your material and covering our curriculum."
Mrs. Bnaity, Parkfield J.S.
"Sir Mathew gives an outstanding workshop. His knowledge of the medieval period covered in the curriculum, is truly amazing."
Tonnie Howard, Byng Public School
"The Knights in the Classroom brought the curriculum to life for our students. They enjoyed the interactive workshops and spoke about the experience for weeks following our festival."
Anonymous Teacher Feedback Survey Response
"Avoiding a hefty bus fee to Medieval Times was our initial decision to have Knights in the Classroom. The full day experience allows a much more personal interaction with students. The variety of activities gives you a good opportunity to choose workshops based on the type of classroom you have. Being a French Immersion school, it was nice to have a bilingual representative who spoke French. I would definitely have the company come and visit again! Merci gros!"
Chantal Shingler, Julie Payette Public School
"This show was perfect for our Grade 4 classes! They were excited in the days leading up to the performance, and had nothing but great things to say after!"
Shauna Tiedeman, Cookstown Central Public School
"The Knights in the Classroom Battle-Ready workshop was a wonderful experience. It provided students with a sense of authenticity which otherwise they would not have experienced. They loved being able to act as squires to help dress the knights, and thoroughly enjoyed the battle re-enactments. The game show was a great review of all of the things that our students learned throughout the unit. It also covered a lot of new information, which students have since applied in subsequent assessments. I would recommend to book this workshop at the end of a Social Studies unit, as it covers a lot of information, and could be overwhelming as an introductory activity. I would definitely recommend this to any teacher. It was a fantastic experience, so much so that the students still talk about it as their favourite part of Grade 4. Huzzah!!!"
Marta Jackson, Birchbank Public School
"Knights in the Classroom is a great way for students to gain insight into the Medieval period. The activities are interactive and let students explore the vocabulary, traditions and values associated with Medieval society. Our students had a great day and were excited to learn more!!!"
Jaya Ramlakhan, Artesian Drive Public School
"Matt Lawrence's expertise in the Medieval era added tremendously to our overall educational experience. His knowledge and sense of humour allowed us to get a real feel for this period. The artifacts he brought were well presented and gave the children a very visual and hands on experience. Well done!"
Yvette Lacroix, St. Ann's Catholic School
"Knights in the classroom is a fun and engaging programme that gets students excited about Medieval Times. Matthew is an extremely knowledgeable instructor who is also patient and organized. The structure of the programme allowed all students to participate and gave everyone a fair chance to play. Our school will definitely be booking Knights in the Classroom next year! Thanks for a great workshop, Matthew!"
Michelle Outmezguine, Beverly Acres P.S.
"Thank You Matt! You are very knowledgeable and you do an excellent job with handling this age group, keeping them interactive with your visual presentation. Thank you."
R. Finn, St. Anthony Daniel C.S.
"Very friendly staff and flexible to the school's needs."
Anonymous Teacher Feedback Survey Response
"YOU TWO ARE WHAT PEOPLE CALL E-P-I-C, A-W-E-S-O-M-E, A-N-D T-E-R-R-I-F-F-I-C!"
Elina Kim, Student, Brownridge P.S.
"A very knowledgeable, fun and interactive presentation that has the students engaged throughout. A great addition to your Early Societies unit!"
Anonymous Teacher Feedback Survey Response
"I was very happy with the outcome of the presentation. The weapons and materials brought in for the presentation were a real hit."
Darcie Jarvis, Sharon P.S.
"Knights in the Classroom provides the students with "hands on" experience by being able to see first hand real life armour and swords."
Beth Lattimore, St. Victor Catholic School
"The students enjoyed your visit very much, they were still going on about it on Friday. It was a great presentation and very well done, thank you, they really loved it. "
Tiziane Carabott, St. Benedict C.S.
"I just had Knights in the Classroom today & I thought it was awesome how you battled with all that armour, and the real swords. But I also thought the medieval soap was a bit disgusting. But over all I thought that was an awesome presentation! Thanks for coming to our school!"
Jenna Millares, Student, St. Edmond Campion C.S.
"They were fun, awesome and very familiar with medieval times. I want them to come to our school again."
John Mayer, Tecumseth-Beeton P.S.
"We had a fantastic experience. Our students were very engaged. We appreciated the educational package at the end as well. The knight are very knowledgeable and friendly too."
Camille Prince Shaw, Village Union P.S.
"THAT PRESENTATION WAS AWESOME!!!"
Gavin, student, St. Denis Catholic School
"Comprehensive curriculum linked fun."
Anonymous Feedback Survey Response
"You guys are so amazing and awesome!"
Ayush Bhardwaj, student, Birchbank P.S.
"Very knowledgeable staff."
Carole Lehoux, St. Agatha Catholic School
"Presenters were engaging and humourous. The battle reenactment was very realistic and entertaining and the students were really into it."
Anonymous Feedback Survey Response
"I liked that they explained and showed everything (e.g., how they did stuff back then and what they would wear and use). I also liked it because they taught us about different parts of swords and other things that we didn't know before."
Anonymous Feedback Survey Response
"I like it when they showed the swords fight so we actually know what it looked like, and so we have a clear example of what it's about."
Anonymous Feedback Survey Response
"This was our second year seeing the presentation, and it was even better than last year! I highly recommend it!"
Shauna Tiedeman, Cookstown Central Public School
"I highly recommend the Hands-On-History workshop. It was fantastic! My grade 3/4 class was engaged the whole time! The presenters paced the lessons perfectly. Large group lessons were quickly followed up by creative and active games and activities that the students loved. This team has a wealth of knowledge, resources and skills that are unsurpassed!"
Robin Filtsos, Ballantrae P.S.
"It was a pleasure to have the Knights in the Classroom at Featherston Drive. They engaged our students and staff in drumming, dance, painting, and puppetry! Each workshop integrated one of our regular steam classrooms with one of our classrooms for students with Autism. The instructors accommodated the diverse needs of our students and kept the focus on fun and learning. Thank you for an incredible day!"
Nicola Powadiuk, Vice Principal, Featherston Drive P.S.
"The Knights in the Classroom was an exceptional learning experience for our grades 3-5 students. The knowledge that students gained from their visit went far beyond what could have been learned from inside the classroom. The Knights had students engage in real life, hands on experiences that had them excited from the start of the day straight through to the end. The kids participated in everything from art to ancient games, singing to drama performances. And the best part? It was all curriculum based and perfectly geared to our students! Having a chance to see, feel, actively participate and immerse themselves in the learning for the day was beyond any field trip we could have taken them on. When we asked kids for feedback at the end of the day, they were all smiles, telling us all of the facts that they had learned that day. We are already hopeful for a booking again next year. We will be telling everyone about this fantastic, curriculum based, super exciting learning experience. Thank you Knights in the Classroom!"
Heather Horsley, Harry Bowes P.S.
"Thank you so much for visiting the Meaford Public Library and sharing your Battle Ready! demonstration for our community! This was an incredible experience and one that was enjoyed by participants of all ages! The session was energetic, exciting, educational, and so much fun! The team was engaging, friendly, knowledgeable, and made the session a great time for everyone! We are so thankful that we had this incredible opportunity! We would absolutely recommend a visit from Knights in the Classroom and hope to host a visit again soon!"
Lori Pearce, Meaford Public Library
"I want to thank you so much for coming to our school! All the classes really enjoyed the historical dance workshop. I heard great things from every class and teacher. The students thought the dances were fun to try out and learned about many different cultures. Each student seemed to have their favourite dance!!! The sport "angle" got the kids engaged from the start. Well done!"
Robin Filtsos, Ballantrae P.S.
"We had the pleasure of having Matthew and Andrea present to our group of grade 6-8 students. They were knowledgeable about the sport of fencing, engaging in their delivery of their presentation, and enthusiastic when interacting with the students. This showed in the way our students reacted to the workshop, as every student who participated enjoyed their time and came away with a newfound understanding and respect for the sport. I would happily recommend this workshop!"
Paolo Sacchetti, St. Stephen C.S.
"We were so thrilled to have Knight in the Classroom return to our school! This was an excellent opportunity for our students in grades 3-5 to watch history come to life before their very eyes! Throughout the Hand-On History half day program, Matthew, Andrea and Adam packed in an extraordinary amount of learning that far surpassed what the children would have learned in class. Their extent of knowledge for this time period allowed them to drop fascinating facts about history throughout the presentation such that, the teachers also learned something new! The children eagerly participated in a wide range of activities including identifying Canadian animal pelts, Viking Chess, historical games, using a slingshot, testing out a bow and arrow and the culminating activity - a battle reenactment! What an exciting way to interact with history in a very real way. We recommend Knights in the Classroom to any classroom teacher wishing to spark a love of history in their students! And we hope that we are lucky enough to have them return to Harry Bowes Public School next year!"
Jennifer Dare, Harry Bowes P.S.
"Our library patrons, young and old, absolutely LOVED the 'Battle Ready' presentation. Matt is a fantastic speaker and the whole team did an excellent job keeping everyone engaged throughout the show. This battle is not staged! It truly felt like we were watching a live, combat event. Thanks so much - looking forward to seeing you again!"
Stephanie Perkins, Children and Youth Services Librarian, Hanover Public Library
"Engaging! Authentic! Informative! My class was so impressed with Sir Matthew and Lady Andrea!"
Patrick Tougas, Grade 4 Remote Teacher, Canadian Martyrs School, SMCDSB
"The Knights in the Classroom make history come alive! This year we learned about historical siege weapons, and Matthew and his team were fantastic. The presentation was engaging and exciting, and the kids worked together with high energy to build cardboard box walls against an invading catapult. They strategized and problem-solved using math and physics to create successful walls. When the catapult finally knocked down a wall, the entire crowd started applauding and cheering. The presentation was very interactive, and many kids asked questions or gave suggestions and the presenters were wonderful at responding and informing. We've enjoyed performances from the Knights in the Classroom for two years, and we'd love to have them return next year. Their presentations are one-of-a-kind!"
Kayla Eckhardt, West Grey Public Library
"Thank you so much for all the new learning over the past three [virtual] sessions!!!! I really appreciate all the time and energy you put into each session."
Robin Filtsos, Ballantrae P.S.
"Our students absolutely loved the Knights in the Classroom Programs. Students eagerly participated in the Grade 6 Game Show, and our Grade 4's and 5's participated in the Full Day Festival, which included: Drumming, an Ancient Egypt session, Fencing and a First Nations workshop. Students were enthusiastic and had a wonderful time learning at each session. It was a perfect mix of hands on, and information gathering! We had considered going to the ROM to enhance our social studies curriculum, but decided to give the Knights a try, and we are super glad we did! Thanks for an awesome day Knights! We look forward to having you back!"
Nicole Lafrance, Waverly P.S.
"Thank you so much for 3 engaging and fun sessions. My students were always excited when they knew you guys would be visiting with us. They loved your puppets and the personalities you gave to your puppets. They also gained the confidence to give their own puppets personalities. The puppet stories were hilarious!"
Jasmine Bick, Sharon P.S.
"Knights in the Classroom is fabulous! It is the perfect combination of fun and educational. They are knowledgeable and willing to work with you to create a program that is the best fit and they come to you! My students loved it, the teachers loved it, the parents loved it - Awesome program!"
Natalee Clarkson, The Maples Academy
"The kids loved the Knights of the Classroom experience during our summer camps last year. We realized that our group of kids could have used more hands on which is what they provided. We will probably be using them again."
Sensei D. Mercier, Port Credit Martial Arts Academy
"A terrific presentation with lots of information. The students were thrilled with the hands on demonstrations and the knight battle at the end. A video game come to life for some."
Lorne Cooper, Herbert H. Carnegie P.S.
"We are so grateful to have partnered with Knights in the Classroom once again for our Summer Reading Program here at the Hanover Library. The Pirate Show was a perfect addition to our Summer Reading theme and was a real hit among our patrons of all ages. The team is a pleasure to work with and we look forward to hosting them again in the future. Additionally we are so appreciative of the funding from the Community Foundation of Grey Bruce which allowed us to provide more programming to our patrons at a reduced cost."
Stephanie Perkins, Hanover Public Library
"Phenomenal hands on experience!"
Marianne Markou, Hewson P.S.
"This is the second year that the Knights in the Classroom group has put on a programme for our students. Their combination of enthusiasm, knowledge, and excellent class management skills create a wonderful learning experience for the students."
K. Banks, Abraham Erb School, Waterloo
"The students thoroughly enjoyed themselves and gained relevant and specific knowledge pertaining to Medieval Times! The instructors were excellent with managing and holding the attention of the students."
Krista-Lee Hibbert, Tecumseth-Beeton P.S.
"I was thoroughly impressed with the standards for learning and safety that Knights in the Classroom put into place for a giant group of grade nine students. They were able to teach an incredible amount of information into their sessions that was practical, pertinent, funny, and useful for all learners."
Sydne deGroot, Lindsay Vocational Collegiate Institute
"We have had Knights in the Classroom for the past 6 years and will continue to have them. They never do the same workshop twice the same way. They always improve and change activities according to the change in curriculum and feedback. Well done!"
Sanna Bnaity- Eid, Parkfield J.P.S.
"This team is so awesome I retired from teaching to join them full time!!!"
Andrea Hertach, Fairwood P.S.
"The combat workshop was extremely entertaining. It got all of my students on their feet and working together. It was great to be able to see my grade 9 students apply what they learned to their movement presentations. Excellent workshop!!"
Lindsay Curran, Lindsay Collegiate & Vocational Institute
"They were professional and fun! The two lessons were engaging and my class is still talking about it."
Lara Watkins, David Suzuki S.S.
"I have long searched for an educational and entertaining experience for my students as a culmination to our unit on Medieval Times. We booked Knights in the Classroom to visit our classroom and we were blown away by the presentation they provided! They were incredibly professional and accommodated our small school environment and tailored a fascinating program to suit our class. The presentation was on curriculum and managed the near impossible feat of keeping a group of students ranging from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 6 positively enthralled and engaged for over 3 hours! Incredible! Their commitment to safety and ensuring that the program was informative, factual and engaging ensured an event our students, faculty and parents are still talking about today! A big thank you to Sir Matthew for a remarkable experience! We will be booking again!"
Kathy McTavish, Principal, KinderKollege Primary School, Brampton
"We had an excellent time when Knights in the Classroom came to us. Myself and students especially enjoyed the hands on activities. The instructors were enthusiastic and very knowledgeable! Great job! Follow up activities are great! Thanks again for all that you do! :) "
Krista-Lee Hibbert, Tecumseth-Beeton P.S.
"The students thoroughly enjoyed the stage combat workshop, developing dynamic and dramatic movements to add to their repertoire. Where else on earth can you punch out your teacher?"
Christine Clark, Thornhill Secondary School
"Great presentation once again. Look forward to next year."
Art Lazzaro, St. Luke the Evangelist C.S.
"My students and I had a fabulous time learning the skills of stage combat as well as developing our characters to make the scene more authentic!"
Julie Brunet, Keswick High School
"The kids had a brilliant time with the role playing activities!"
Sue Young, Moraine Hills P.S.
"We have been booking with Knights in The Classroom for at least 5 years and the workshops are always updated and just keep getting better and better. Hope to see you next year!"
Sanna Bnaity- Eid, Parkfield J.P.S.
"The Knights in the Classroom program was an excellent review of what students learned in the grade 4 curriculum. It was educational and engaging. The students loved it!"
Sherry Sauder, Mary Phelan C.S.
"Knights in the classroom provided my students with a wealth of information about early societies. They were presented with an abundance of pictures and interesting facts about key aspects of life in many early societies, each from a different region and era. With their overview, we are now able to choose two to three societies to investigate ways of life and relationships with the environment. Their workshop was a fantastic way to introduce early societies. Thank you Knights for this incredible opportunity!"
Julie Borer, Our Lady of Good Counsel C.S., Ingleside, Ontario
"The Early Societies Battle Ready was interactive, informative and exciting. The game show covered many early societies we had explored in class, while also teaching the students about others we had not studied. The students enjoyed the interactive presentation and the opportunity to watch a battle reenactment."
Meaghann Walton, Killarney Beach Public School
"The depth of detail in your research slides was great for me - I learned a ton because you summarized the research into a comprehensive timeline, for MY understanding, now I can reflect and discuss with my students with a stronger understanding of the Meso-American lives and the Middle Ages."
Nancy Porteous, Canadian Martyrs School, Penetanguishene, Ontario
"My students were actively engaged throughout the program, and felt so at ease in responding to questions...even though we have not yet begun our study of early societies!"
Stephen Milak, Queensville P.S.
"Your guys were amazing. The (stage combat) class went well and the students enjoyed the experience. The students kept asking questions so Dwayne and partner were there longer than expected. If I can afford it next year we will repeat the experience."
Christine Clark, Thornhill SS
"The program will be first rate, no matter which workshop you book. I highly recommend this to any grade 4 teachers, your students will love it!"
Amparo Dawson, Tecumseth Beeton P.S.
"The Knights put on a fantastic show for our community. They demonstrated medieval combat with various weapons and armour. The performers ensure that everything is historically accurate, and are extremely knowledgeable. It was so exciting, you don't even realize that you're learning! We highly recommend this group for anyone looking to learn about the medieval time period. Huzzah!"
Kayla Eckhardt, West Grey Public Library
"I had a group of 38 drama students and the instructors dealt with them with ease. My students had a wonderful time and felt they received individual attention. I couldn't believe how much they covered in 80 minutes. Finally, the fight scenes my students filmed for me were a testament to how much they had learned. Thank you!"
Anonymous Teacher Feedback Survey Response
"Knights in the Classroom workshops are very interesting, interactive and exciting for both the children and the adults. We have booked a workshop 3 years in a row and are looking forward to their new and improved workshops next year. Thank you for always updating your material and covering our curriculum."
Mrs. Bnaity, Parkfield J.S.
"Sir Mathew gives an outstanding workshop. His knowledge of the medieval period covered in the curriculum, is truly amazing."
Tonnie Howard, Byng Public School
"The Knights in the Classroom brought the curriculum to life for our students. They enjoyed the interactive workshops and spoke about the experience for weeks following our festival."
Anonymous Teacher Feedback Survey Response
"Avoiding a hefty bus fee to Medieval Times was our initial decision to have Knights in the Classroom. The full day experience allows a much more personal interaction with students. The variety of activities gives you a good opportunity to choose workshops based on the type of classroom you have. Being a French Immersion school, it was nice to have a bilingual representative who spoke French. I would definitely have the company come and visit again! Merci gros!"
Chantal Shingler, Julie Payette Public School
"This show was perfect for our Grade 4 classes! They were excited in the days leading up to the performance, and had nothing but great things to say after!"
Shauna Tiedeman, Cookstown Central Public School
"The Knights in the Classroom Battle-Ready workshop was a wonderful experience. It provided students with a sense of authenticity which otherwise they would not have experienced. They loved being able to act as squires to help dress the knights, and thoroughly enjoyed the battle re-enactments. The game show was a great review of all of the things that our students learned throughout the unit. It also covered a lot of new information, which students have since applied in subsequent assessments. I would recommend to book this workshop at the end of a Social Studies unit, as it covers a lot of information, and could be overwhelming as an introductory activity. I would definitely recommend this to any teacher. It was a fantastic experience, so much so that the students still talk about it as their favourite part of Grade 4. Huzzah!!!"
Marta Jackson, Birchbank Public School
"Knights in the Classroom is a great way for students to gain insight into the Medieval period. The activities are interactive and let students explore the vocabulary, traditions and values associated with Medieval society. Our students had a great day and were excited to learn more!!!"
Jaya Ramlakhan, Artesian Drive Public School
"Matt Lawrence's expertise in the Medieval era added tremendously to our overall educational experience. His knowledge and sense of humour allowed us to get a real feel for this period. The artifacts he brought were well presented and gave the children a very visual and hands on experience. Well done!"
Yvette Lacroix, St. Ann's Catholic School
"Knights in the classroom is a fun and engaging programme that gets students excited about Medieval Times. Matthew is an extremely knowledgeable instructor who is also patient and organized. The structure of the programme allowed all students to participate and gave everyone a fair chance to play. Our school will definitely be booking Knights in the Classroom next year! Thanks for a great workshop, Matthew!"
Michelle Outmezguine, Beverly Acres P.S.
"Thank You Matt! You are very knowledgeable and you do an excellent job with handling this age group, keeping them interactive with your visual presentation. Thank you."
R. Finn, St. Anthony Daniel C.S.
"Very friendly staff and flexible to the school's needs."
Anonymous Teacher Feedback Survey Response
"YOU TWO ARE WHAT PEOPLE CALL E-P-I-C, A-W-E-S-O-M-E, A-N-D T-E-R-R-I-F-F-I-C!"
Elina Kim, Student, Brownridge P.S.
"A very knowledgeable, fun and interactive presentation that has the students engaged throughout. A great addition to your Early Societies unit!"
Anonymous Teacher Feedback Survey Response
"I was very happy with the outcome of the presentation. The weapons and materials brought in for the presentation were a real hit."
Darcie Jarvis, Sharon P.S.
"Knights in the Classroom provides the students with "hands on" experience by being able to see first hand real life armour and swords."
Beth Lattimore, St. Victor Catholic School
"The students enjoyed your visit very much, they were still going on about it on Friday. It was a great presentation and very well done, thank you, they really loved it. "
Tiziane Carabott, St. Benedict C.S.
"I just had Knights in the Classroom today & I thought it was awesome how you battled with all that armour, and the real swords. But I also thought the medieval soap was a bit disgusting. But over all I thought that was an awesome presentation! Thanks for coming to our school!"
Jenna Millares, Student, St. Edmond Campion C.S.
"They were fun, awesome and very familiar with medieval times. I want them to come to our school again."
John Mayer, Tecumseth-Beeton P.S.
"We had a fantastic experience. Our students were very engaged. We appreciated the educational package at the end as well. The knight are very knowledgeable and friendly too."
Camille Prince Shaw, Village Union P.S.
"THAT PRESENTATION WAS AWESOME!!!"
Gavin, student, St. Denis Catholic School
"Comprehensive curriculum linked fun."
Anonymous Feedback Survey Response
"You guys are so amazing and awesome!"
Ayush Bhardwaj, student, Birchbank P.S.
"Very knowledgeable staff."
Carole Lehoux, St. Agatha Catholic School
"Presenters were engaging and humourous. The battle reenactment was very realistic and entertaining and the students were really into it."
Anonymous Feedback Survey Response
"I liked that they explained and showed everything (e.g., how they did stuff back then and what they would wear and use). I also liked it because they taught us about different parts of swords and other things that we didn't know before."
Anonymous Feedback Survey Response
"I like it when they showed the swords fight so we actually know what it looked like, and so we have a clear example of what it's about."
Anonymous Feedback Survey Response
"This was our second year seeing the presentation, and it was even better than last year! I highly recommend it!"
Shauna Tiedeman, Cookstown Central Public School
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