1. 12/11/15 Bell Ringer
How many people do you come in contact with in a day? Or in a week?
This will tie the subject of the Black Death to the students lives. Allow discussion to flow to the concept of quarantine and how the disease is transmitted.

2. Learning Target & Standard
I can explain how the Black Death (Bubonic Plague) spread to Europe and its impact on global population, social order, and the economy of Europe.
7.40 Describe the economic and social effects of the spread of the Black Death (Bubonic Plague) from Central Asia to China, the Middle East, and Europe, and its impact on the global population.

3. Black Death and the Population
The plague reduced the world population from an estimated 450 million down to 350–375 million in the 14th century.
Recommended Treatment: good diet, rest, relocating to non-infected area.

5. Look at the map showing the Black Plague in Europe during the 1300s
Look at the map showing the Black Plague in Europe during the 1300s. A) According to the map, where did the plague originate? B) How do you think that the plague spread so far in such a short time?

7. Many believed that they contracted the disease due to God’s wrath and anger toward them. People would flee the areas that started to show signs of the disease, not knowing they were carrying it with them to the next town they visited, thus adding to the growth and of the disease throughout Europe and Asia.

8. What was the point of wearing such a scary looking mask?
Doctors during the time of the Bubonic Plague had to wear special masks like this one.
What was the point of wearing such a scary looking mask?
How much of the doctors body is exposed?
Doctor’s masks were designed this way to protect them from the smell of rotting flesh and disease. In the “beak” of the mask, doctors would placed herbs so that they would not smell the stench of the city and the sick people they treated. The long staff was used so that doctors did not have to actually touch the patients. They are covered from head to toe so as to not contract the disease.

9. Ashes, ashes, they all fall down!
Ring around the rosies,
Pocket full of posies,
Ashes, ashes, they all fall down!
Find a recording of Ring Around the Rosie and play it for the kids!
Some say this children’s song is about the Black Death.
What makes people think that?

10. Were you paying attention??
What was the official name of the “Black Death?”
What did “ring around the rosies” have to do with the Black Death?
In what years was the Black Death at its height?

11. The Worst Plague in History
The Black Death
The Worst Plague in History
Complete the
viewer’s guide as you view the videos.
The video is in two parts. Each is approximately 13 minutes in length. The viewer’s guide is very detailed. I recommend previewing and eliminating any questions you don’t feel are necessary. I viewed several videos before I found one that was not too graphic. The best video was Mankind: The Story of All of Us 5 ½” It is very informative and concise, but terribly graphic. I recommend the teacher view it to get a better background and understanding of the ramifications of the Black Death. The video begins with a section on Genghis Khan and how his empire laid the groundwork for the spread of the plague.

12. This song summarizes the Black Death and its consequences
This song summarizes the Black Death and its consequences. (I don’t think the “Social Studs” need to give up their day jobs, but the song is catchy and hits the main points of SPI 7:40.