The Early Middle Ages
The Middle Ages provide a variety of interesting ways for students to study history.
By Daniella Garran
The Middle Ages were an incredibly complex and important era in European history. Any western civilization class includes an exhaustive study of this period which connects the end of ancient history with the Renaissance. The era of castles, chivalry, plagues, knights and the Crusades is generally one of high interest for students, and this enthusiasm and curiosity should definitely be harnessed.
Consider having a medieval fair in your classroom. Students can dress up, demonstrate crafts and skills and enjoy the food which was popular during the era. If students have done research on an individual from this time period, the fair is an ideal time for them to perform a brief monologue introducing the person to the rest of the class.
Teachers seeking an opportunity to collaborate across disciplines will find that the Middle Ages are rich with possibilities. You can work with the language arts department to have students read literature that takes place during this period (e.g.: King Arthur) or was written (i.e.: Beowulf) during the Middle Ages. You may even consider working with the drama department to have students perform scenes from some of this literature. To gain a historical perspective, students can analyze the literature for historical accuracy and report on that which is both accurate and inconsistent.
You can also have students create an illuminated manuscript in the style of those made during the Middle Ages. Students can model their work on the Book of Hours which was intended for devotional use by the aristocracy. After manually copying a page or two from this text, students will have a greater appreciation for mass produced literature! What follows are lesson suggestions that can make the Middle Ages interesting and educational for your students.
Early Middle Ages:
This comprehensive set of lessons helps students understand what Europe was like following the fall of the Roman Empire in 476. There is a heavy emphasis on map work which will help students see the ever-changing borders of Europe during this time. Students also discuss the significant individuals of the period, such as Charlemagne, and the important socio-economic changes that took place under feudalism.
How the Crusades Led to the Finding of the New World
Students discuss the economic ramifications of the Crusades. This lesson focuses on the impact that new trade routes had on the economic development of Europe. In addition, the lesson lists a variety of other web sites which will be especially helpful.
By designing a castle and creating a personal coat of arms, students will enhance their understanding of the Middle Ages. This lesson will also require students to conduct independent (or small group) research in order to complete it.