Medieval Topics – Year Levels 5- 9 (for best effect intersperse
Active, Passive & Interactive!)
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1. The Tournament (A)
Knights and feudalism were the backbone of medieval society.
Students train as squires, and take on a fighter (with medieval
style blunted training weapons).
Requires open activity area (hall, gymn, oval.)
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8. Fashion & Dress (P)
Tracing social development using the clothing. Technology,
trade, social status and sumptuary laws. (Role-plays and dress
ups.)
Requires classroom (long periods need an O/head).
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2. Weapons & Armour (P)
1,000 years of medieval history through its changing military
technology and politics. (Props and role-plays.)
Requires classroom.
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9. Heraldry (I)
What it was it for, how it worked, and relevance today. Students
design a meaningful coat of arms.
Requires IWB or O/head.
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3. Crime & Punishment (P)
A survey of customs, laws and sciences; using role-plays,
stocks, whips and torture instruments.
Requires classroom with IWB or DVD.
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10. Three Medieval Cultures (P)
Compares the lives of nobles and peasants in Latin (European),
Muslim and Japanese cultures.
Requires classroom with IWB or O/head.
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4. The Troubadours (I)
The multi-media news and education channel of the medieval
period. (Students learn some juggling. )
Requires classroom with IWB or DVD.
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11. Medieval Japan (P)
Why the Japanese also came up with medieval concepts of
feudalism, law, heraldry, even romance .
Requires classroom with IWB or O/head.
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5. The Role of Dance (A)
Explores the role of dancing in the life of peasants and nobles:
from simple exercise, to better jobs, to advantageous marriage.
(Students learn simple dances.)
Requires activity room and CD player.
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12. Muslims in the Middle Ages (P)
Medieval Europe faced an Islam in it’s ‘Classical’ expansionist
stage. A very different culture, with much to offer, and much
to fear .
Requires classroom with IWB or O/head.
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6. Archery (A)
The rise of the archer from peasant hunter to professional
soldier. Blunted arrows & rubber targets.
Requires a secure area of open space, or a gymnasium or hall.
(Maximum of 32 students!)
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13. Trade & Travel (P)
The Dark Ages was all about isolation and ignorance, but the
Medieval period slowly developed into a Renaissance that changed
the entire world.
Requires classroom with IWB or O/head.
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7. Education and Games (A)
Living & learning in a non-literate society. Who gets
what jobs, and why?
Requires a secure area of open space, or a gymnasium or hall.
(Maximum of 32 students!)
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14. The Role of Women (P)
Women had much higher status under Germanic laws than after the
re-introduction of Roman law. Challenges students’ notions of
history as ‘linear’.
Requires classroom with IWB or O/head.
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Other possibilities: booked & billed via Early Arts Guild -
Brass Rubbing
booked & billed via Martinez Studios - Blacksmithing
Medieval Topics – Year levels 2 - 4 (for best effect
intersperse Active, Passive & Interactive!)
Note - most of the grade 5 - 9 topics can be adapted for
junior school, but these work particularly well.
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The Medieval Court (I)
Students play all the roles of a court, and discover: knighting,
fealty, punishment, entertainment, dance - and where everyone
fits.
Requires activity room and CD.
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Education and Games (A)
Many medieval games such as Blind Man’s Buff play a serious
educational role. Living and learning for a non literate
society.
Requires Activity room.
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Training a Squire (A)
Pages, Squires and Knights – role play the sequence, and train
against one of our knights. Take on a knight with training
weapons.
Requires hall, gymn or oval.
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| Weapons
and Armour (P) |
The Role
of Dance (A) |
Archery
(A) |
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Troubadours (A) |
Fashion
& Dress (P) |
Heraldry
(I) |
Ancient Topics – Year levels 5 - 9 (for best effect please
intersperse Active and Passive!)
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1. Rulers & Subjects (P)
Overview, from hunter-gatherers to horse archer empires, of the
rise of complex societies. Group role-play session, including
building up a simple economy and state structure.
Requires IWB or O/head projector.
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6. Archery (A)
The rise of the archer from peasant hunter to professional
soldier. Blunted arrows & rubber targets.
Requires a secure area of open space, or a gymnasium or hall.
(Maximum of 32 students!)
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2. Warriors & Warfare (A)
Overview of technological change in combat, and its influence on
social change. Mesopotamia-Egypt, Sparta, Macedonia, Rome.
Group role-play.
Requires activity room.
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7. Religion & Craft (P)
Cave Paintings to State Sponsored religion. More complex
societies demand more complex religions. Hands on craft including
spinning and weaving.
Requires DVD or VCR. (Egyptian
emphasis.)
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3.
Gladiators (I)
The ancient world needed citizens accustomed to violence, but
some volunteered as gladiators for fame and fortune. Role
plays.
Requires DVD or VCR. (Roman emphasis.)
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8. Ancient China (P)
Compares and contrasts the development of China with middle
eastern River-Valley civilisations, and the Roman mountainous
peninsula one.
Requires IWB or O/head. (Chinese emphasis.)
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4. Sports & Status (A)
Who you were defined what games you played. Your military
skills then defined your citizenship role.
Requires activity room. (Greek emphasis.)
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9. Technology & Trade (P)
The relations between trade and technology, and the transfers of
information and skills.
Requires IWB or O/head. (Phoenician emphasis)
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5. Ancient Metalworking (I)
Practical demonstration of techniques and effects of metal
smelting and casting technologies.
Shelter shed or pavilion (braziers). Greek emphasis.
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10. Slavery (P)
How and why it worked in some places, and not in others.
Who became slaves & how they could be free.
Requires DVD. (Egypt/Greece/Rome.)
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