Lindsey Miller ED April 27, 2007

The Middle Ages Grade 7/ Life in the Middle Ages

Objectives Students will be able to identify and describe characteristics of life in the Middle Ages. Students will be able to identify and describe characteristics of life in the Middle Ages. Students will be able to work in groups to report on a certain lifestyle that occurred during the Middle Ages. Students will be able to work in groups to report on a certain lifestyle that occurred during the Middle Ages.

Materials Needed Computers with speakers Computers with speakers Textbook Textbook Black Plague Simulation: Black Plague Simulation: Paper bags, white, red, and brown beans Paper bags, white, red, and brown beans Scull stickers Scull stickers Worksheets with map and journey Worksheets with map and journey Name signs for countries Name signs for countries Vocabulary word sort squares (for overhead and for students) Vocabulary word sort squares (for overhead and for students) Overhead Overhead cereal boxes, scissors cereal boxes, scissors

Web Sites What was it really like to live in the Middle Ages? What was it really like to live in the Middle Ages? Choose a Guide es/content.html Choose a Guide es/content.html es/content.html es/content.html Medieval sound files and samples Medieval sound files and samples

Student Activities Vocabulary with word sorts Vocabulary with word sorts “Choose a guide” in small groups “Choose a guide” in small groups Become an expert on a lifestyle in the middles ages Become an expert on a lifestyle in the middles ages Teach the class about what you learned Teach the class about what you learned Black Plague Simulation Black Plague Simulation Web Quest Web Quest Group Presentations on their person from the Middle Ages Group Presentations on their person from the Middle Ages

Vocabulary to be familiar with The Middle Ages The Middle Ages Medieval Medieval The Roman Empire The Roman Empire Charlemagne Charlemagne Feudal system Feudal system Manor Manor fief fief Serf vassal Serf vassal Guild Clergy The merchant class Apprentice chivalry

Life in the Middle Ages This period is said to begin after 500 A.D. and up till the 1500’s This period is said to begin after 500 A.D. and up till the 1500’s The years between ancient times and modern times The years between ancient times and modern times Also referred to as medieval times which means “from the Middle Ages.” Also referred to as medieval times which means “from the Middle Ages.”

The fall of the Roman Empire The Roman Empire covered much of western Europe. The Roman Empire covered much of western Europe. After many, many years, the empire began to weaken, giving in to invading forces. After many, many years, the empire began to weaken, giving in to invading forces. Trade routes cut off and many towns were destroyed. Trade routes cut off and many towns were destroyed. The Roman Empire eventually crumbled and gave way to Charlemagne’s Empire The Roman Empire eventually crumbled and gave way to Charlemagne’s Empire

Charlemagne Charlemagne was a military leader who took over part of the fallen Roman Empire Charlemagne was a military leader who took over part of the fallen Roman Empire He began by ruling over a small kingdom in Europe He began by ruling over a small kingdom in Europe He ended up gaining an empire and took control over much of Western Europe. He ended up gaining an empire and took control over much of Western Europe. His rule ended after 45 years His rule ended after 45 years

Feudalism After the attacks on Charlemagne’s Empire, the towns people needed a system of government that would protect them After the attacks on Charlemagne’s Empire, the towns people needed a system of government that would protect them Feudalism came about Feudalism came about The top of the system had the most power The top of the system had the most power The order of power were Kings, Queens, nobles, knights, and peasants were at the bottom The order of power were Kings, Queens, nobles, knights, and peasants were at the bottom

Who were the people who lived back then? Meet with your group at your assigned computer Meet with your group at your assigned computer Go to content.html Go to content.html content.html content.html Click on your assigned “Guide” (a knight, a merchant, a peasant, or a nun) Click on your assigned “Guide” (a knight, a merchant, a peasant, or a nun)

Take notes on your paper on these areas Take notes on your paper on these areas Job details Job details Where they live Where they live How they live How they live What is their role in society? What is their role in society? Interesting facts you discovered Interesting facts you discovered Be sure to click on the blue words to discover more about Feudalism and the Middle Ages Be sure to click on the blue words to discover more about Feudalism and the Middle Ages

Expert Presentations Be prepared to present your information to the class Be prepared to present your information to the class You will be responsible for identifying who your guide was and answering the previous questions You will be responsible for identifying who your guide was and answering the previous questions Be as creative as possible! Be as creative as possible! Create a drama Create a drama Dress like your guide Dress like your guide Have fun with it! Have fun with it!

Knight Merchant Serf Who was your guide?

Imagine you were a knight, a merchant, a serf, or a nun… Write a journal entry about your life Write a journal entry about your life Ensure to include Ensure to include what you might wear what you might wear the food you eat the food you eat Your job Your job The good and the bad The good and the bad

The Church The church was very important to the people during the Middle Ages. The church was very important to the people during the Middle Ages. The church stressed the Roman Catholic was of life. The church stressed the Roman Catholic was of life. Clergy- the men who performed the church services, marriages, and funerals in the church Clergy- the men who performed the church services, marriages, and funerals in the church

How was the church different from today? Just as our government today creates and enforces laws, the church in the Middle Ages did just that. Just as our government today creates and enforces laws, the church in the Middle Ages did just that. The church grew very wealthy from taxing. The church grew very wealthy from taxing. They gained land, or fiefs, in exchange for services performed by clergy They gained land, or fiefs, in exchange for services performed by clergy The men and women who tended to the land and worked for the church were called monks and nuns. The men and women who tended to the land and worked for the church were called monks and nuns.

Life in Towns and Cities Towns begin to grow because of a revival in trade Towns begin to grow because of a revival in trade Manors began to be overcrowded, and many peasants bought their freedom and created new towns. Manors began to be overcrowded, and many peasants bought their freedom and created new towns. This move resulted in the emergence of the merchant class This move resulted in the emergence of the merchant class Includes merchants, traders, and craftspeople Includes merchants, traders, and craftspeople Once peasants, these people began to provide for their own basic needs and began to prosper. Once peasants, these people began to provide for their own basic needs and began to prosper.

Life in Towns and Cities, cont. Guilds- the grouping of people in a certain town who practiced a particular trade. Guilds- the grouping of people in a certain town who practiced a particular trade. Apprentice- an unpaid worker being trained in a craft. Apprentice- an unpaid worker being trained in a craft. The towns began to overcrowd The towns began to overcrowd The towns became very unsanitary The towns became very unsanitary Sharing close quarters Sharing close quarters Human waste lying in the street Human waste lying in the street Sickness spread quickly Sickness spread quickly

The Black Plaque The Black Plaque or the bubonic plaque was carried by fleas on rats. The Black Plaque or the bubonic plaque was carried by fleas on rats. How do you think the rats were able to get to each town? What location do you think would be hit the hardest by this disease? Why? How do you think the rats were able to get to each town? What location do you think would be hit the hardest by this disease? Why? Killed about a third of Europe’s population Killed about a third of Europe’s population Count off by 3’s Count off by 3’s Imagine that everyone that is a one catches the plaque and dies Imagine that everyone that is a one catches the plaque and dies

The Black Plague Simulation ague/Plague_Sim.html ague/Plague_Sim.html ague/Plague_Sim.html ague/Plague_Sim.html The classroom is set up with each desk representing a country in Europe. The classroom is set up with each desk representing a country in Europe. Follow the journey on your worksheet. Follow the journey on your worksheet.

Discussion Who died from The Black Plaque or from cholera? Who died from The Black Plaque or from cholera? What areas did you travel to? What areas did you travel to? Where did you contract the disease? Where did you contract the disease? IS there any correlation between those who traveled along the water and contracted the disease and those who didn’t? IS there any correlation between those who traveled along the water and contracted the disease and those who didn’t? Why do you think that is? Why do you think that is?