Village Life
Describe what village life was
like for the Medieval peasant. Include the following:
1. Education
2. Law and punishment
3. Markets
4. Clothing
5. Merchants
6. Tradesmen (blacksmith, tailor,
baker, livery, etc)
7. Religion
8. Farming
9. Children's lives
10. Medicine and health
Craft Projects - Choose One
1. Make a panorama of a Medieval
village showing village life.
2. Demonstrate how candles were
made.
3. Explain weaving and the use of
a loom.
4. Show how cloth was made from wool.
5. Demonstrate the spinning wheel.
6. Set up a blacksmith shop
showing tools and techniques.
7. Demonstrate how wheat/grain was
grown, harvested, and milled.
8. Embroider or cross-stitch a
Medieval design. (This may be anything you choose. Example: a sampler, napkin,
bookmark, handkerchief, etc.)
9. Demonstrate a game children or
adults would have played during the Middle Ages. You may choose one game and
build it. Example: chess board and pieces, a home made doll, any of the carved
wooden toys, etc.
The Black Death
Answer all of the following
questions in your report. Be sure to add other information of interest.
1. What was the Black Death?
2. What were the symptoms of the
disease?
3. How did it start?
4. How did it affect the towns and
villages?
5. How were people treated who
contacted the plague?
6. What were the treatments for
the disease and were they effective?
7. Where did the plague occur and
how far did it spread?
8. How many people were effected
and how many died?
9. What effect did the Black
Plague have on Europe as a whole?
Craft Projects - Choose One
1. Make a display showing herbs
and how they were used. (You may use live seedling, plants and flowers.)
2. Display a mortar and pestle.
3. Show different methods of healing
used during the Middle Ages.
4. Make a graph of different
plagues that spread through Europe, the dates, and the number of people that
died. Tell how each plague started and what the symptoms were.
5. Research the history of
medicine and make a timeline showing milestones, achievements and discoveries.
Make sure you include dates from the Middle Ages.
6. Create warning fliers to
distribute in the cities. Include the symptoms and warning signs of the
disease.
7. Make an illustrated chart
showing the progression and stages of the disease.
The Beginning of the
Crusades
Answer all of the following
questions in your report. Be sure to add other information of interest.
1. Why did the Crusades begin?
2. Explain the Pope's involvement.
3. How were men convinced to go
off to war?
4. Who fought in the Crusades?
5. Where did the Crusades take
place?
6. Who were they fighting against
and what were they fighting for?
7. How did men prepare to go off
to war?
8. How long were the men gone?
9. How many casualties did the
Christians experience?
10. What did the women do while
the men were gone to war?
11. How many campaigns were there
and were the Crusades considered a success or a failure?
12. Did any good or valuable
information or discoveries come about because of the Crusades?
Craft Projects - Choose One
1. Design and build a knight's
shield.
2. Draw or display a suit of
armor.
3. Show how a knight's horse was
dressed in armor.
4. Make a display of Medieval
weapons.
5. Build a display of a catapult
or trebuchet
6. Build a panorama of a famous
battle.
7. Design a royal family crest
that would be carried into battle. Cross-stitch, embroider, or create it from
felt.
8. Recreate a Medieval weapon and
explain how it was used.
The Church in the Middle Ages
Research the role of the Church in
the Middle Ages. Answer the following questions in your report.
Be sure to add other information
of interest.
1. What was the most powerful
church during the Middle Ages in Europe?
2. What powers did the Church
hold?
3. Where did the Church's power
come from?
4. Where was the head of the
Church located?
5. Did the Church treat the
royalty and the peasants differently?
6. How did the Church help the
common man?
7. Was the Church corrupt?
8. What were some landmark events
in Church history during the Middle Ages?
Craft Projects - Choose One
1. Research a famous cathedral
such as Amiens or Notre Dame. Include pictures and details of floor plans,
architecture, stained glass windows, statues and figures, etc.
2. Design a stained glass window
to display.
3. Make a display of famous
stained glass windows and tell the story behind them.
4. Make a timeline of popes
through the Middle Ages. Include a picture and short biography.
5. Make a display of saints of the
Middle Ages. Include a picture and their story. Examples: St. Jerome, St.
Gregory, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Joan of Arc, St. Thomas Aquinas. St.
Stephen Harding
6. Retell the story of St. George
and the Dragon.
7. Embroider or cross-stitch an example
of initials drawn to illustrate the manuscripts in the Middle Ages.
8. Dress a model as the Pope or as
a Cardinal. Be sure to include the hat and staff.
Monks in the Middle Ages
Research the role the monks played
during the Middle Ages. Answer the following questions in your report. Be sure
to include added information.
1. Who was St. Benedict and what
did he do?
2. What was the role of the monks
and nuns during the middle ages?
3. Where did the monks live?
4. What was the life of a monk
like?
5. How did the monks dress? Were
there symbols behind the clothing they wore?
6. How did the monks preserve
education and history throughout the Middle Ages?
7. How did the monks practice
healing?
Craft Projects - Choose
One
1. Display examples of initials
drawn to illustrate manuscripts in the Middle Ages.
2. Make a display of 5 saints of
the Middle Ages. Include a picture and a short biography. Examples: St. Jerome,
St. Gregory, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Joan of Arc, St. Thomas Aquinas.
3. Latin was the popular language
of the Church in the Middle Ages. Make an illustrated dictionary of Latin words
and their English meanings. Also list some of our English words that are
derived from Latin.
4. Prepare a manuscript they way
you think the monks would have written it using script and elaborate first
letter drawings. You may redesign your report in manuscript form if you wish.
5. Embroider or cross-stitch an
example of initials drawn to illustrate the manuscripts in the Middle Ages.
6. Create a display showing the
types of herbs used for healing and how they were used. (Live seedling, plants
and flowers may be used.)
Robin Hood
Many stories were written about
Robin Hood. Find out who he really was. Answer the following questions in your
report. Be sure to include added information.
1. Who was Robin Hood?
2. Was he a real person or just
the subject of stories and legends?
3. Where and in what time period
did Robin Hood live?
4. What did he fight for?
5. Who did he fight against?
6. Was he a hero or a villain?
7. Who were his friends and
companions? Write a short introduction of each person.
8. What were some of his
accomplishments during his lifetime?
9. How did Robin Hood die?
10. Include a short poem or part
of a poem from Medieval literature about the life of Robin Hood.
Craft Project - Choose One
1. Make a traditional bow and
arrows. (Remember to use dull points on the arrows.)
2. Construct a quiver.
3. Build a panorama of what you
think Robin Hood's camp would have looked like.
4. Dress a model in the type of
clothing Robin Hood and his men would have worn. Be particular with detail.
5. Make a display showing the
types of animals that were hunted for food during this time period.
6. Show how the game was skinned,
gutted and cleaned.
7. Show how the animal skins were
tanned to use as leather.
Food of the Times
Research the types of foods eaten
during the Medieval Era. Include food preparation, spices, rules of etiquette,
table settings, etc. Be sure the answer the questions below in your report.
1. What types of foods were eaten
during the Middle Ages?
2. Were the types of foods
determined by whether the people were rich or poor?
3. How did the people get their
food?
4. How was food prepared? Give
examples of each.
6. What types of seasonings were
used? Was there a reason for the use of certain herbs?
7. What type of daily fare did the
common person have for his meals?
8. Describe a feast given for
royalty.
9. What type dishes or cooking
utensils were used?
10. What was considered proper
etiquette for the Medieval time period?
11. Include several recipes of the
day.
Craft Projects - Choose One
1. Prepare a display of recipes
and foods served during the Middle Ages. (Include at least four different
recipes)
2. Create a display showing the
types of herbs used in cooking and how they were used. (Live seedling, plants
and flowers may be used.)
3. Plan a Great Feast for your
cousin the King. Include menu, foods, amounts, preparation, drinks, recipes,
table setup, and decorations.
4. Make a display showing how food
was prepared and cooked. You may show outdoor cooking, indoor kitchens, how
bread was baked, etc.
5. Build an outdoor oven.
6. Show how the game was skinned,
gutted and cleaned.
7. Create a cookbook of at least 5
wild game recipes.
Medieval Clothing
Research the clothing worn by men
and women of the early Medieval times. Answer the following questions in your
report. Be sure to add any additional information of interest.
1. Describe the different types of
clothing worn by both men and women. Include everything from head to toe. (Use
information from the early Medieval times before dress became more complicated
and clothing more fitted.)
2. Include a brief description of
each type or piece of clothing from the list below.
3. What type of fabrics was used
in making clothing?
4. How were colors used?
5. Did certain pieces of clothing
pertain to certain occupations?
6. What type of jewelry was worn?
7. Did wealth affect the type or
style of clothing?
Craft Project - Choose One
1. Show how cloth was made from
wool.
2. Create Medieval attire for a
mannequin or a doll. Include both clothing for men and women.
3. Choose a specific class during
the Medieval period and make designer drawings to illustrate what type of
clothing was worn. Example: What type of clothing would be worn by a royal
family? Include husband, wife, children. What type of clothing would be worn by
servants of the household? Maids, cooks, vassals, messengers, carriage drivers,
etc. What type of clothing for knights and squires? Peasant families? Religious
orders?
4. Create a display of the
materials used during the Middle Ages and what types of designs and dyes were
popular.
5. Create a variety (3) of head or
hair ornaments worn by men or women of the times.
6. Explain weaving and the use of
a loom.
7. Build a spinning wheel.
8. Embroider of cross-stitch a
Medieval design on a piece of clothing. This may be anything from a vest or
blouse to a handkerchief or scarf.
Knights and Tournaments
Find out what it took to be a
knight during the Middle Ages. Answer the following questions in your report.
Be sure to add any interesting additional information.
1. What did it mean to be a
knight?
2. Who did the knights serve? Was
this a paid position or done strictly for honor?
4. What was the Code of Chivalry?
5. How did a man become a knight?
6. How did a knight dress and what
type of equipment did he have?
7. Who did the knights fight
for/against and why?
8. What was the order of the
Knights Templar?
9. How were tournaments carried
out?
10. Explain jousting and other
tournament battles of skill.
Craft Projects - Choose One
1. Design and build a knight's
shield.
2. Draw or display a suit of
armor.
3. Show how a knight's horse was
dressed in armor.
4. Make a display of Medieval
weapons.
5. Build a display of a catapult
or trebuchet.
6. Build a panorama of a famous
battle.
7. Make a display of famous
knights and their deeds. (5)
8. Create a herald banner to carry
in the tournament.
9. Design a coat of arms for your
noble house. (You may use a coat of arms from your own family name.)
King Arthur
Was King Arthur a real person?
Research his life and times to answer the following questions. Be sure to add
any additional or interesting information.
1. Who was King Arthur?
2. Was he a real monarch or a
legend handed down for centuries?
3. When did the first mention of
Arthur appear and in what literature?
4. Who were Arthur's mother and
father?
5. How did Arthur become king?
6. Who was Arthur's wife and
closest friend? How did they betray Arthur?
7. Why was Arthur considered such
a great king? What were his accomplishments?
8. What gave Arthur an advantage
in battle?
8. Why was the Round Table
created?
9. What was the Holy Grail and why
were Arthur and the knights searching for it?
10. Who were Arthur's enemies and
why were they against him?
11. How did Arthur die?
12. Was Arthur's body/grave ever
found?
Craft Projects - Choose One
1. Make a herald flag showing
symbols of King Arthur.
2. Build a panorama of Camelot or
of Arthur's castle as you think it might have looked.
3. Design a knight's shield.
4. Make a replica of Arthur's
cross.
5. Build a Round Table and seat
Arthur's Knights.
6. Use Medieval writing and
symbols to write out the Code of Chivalry in an elaborate display.
7. Make a display of the Knights
of the Round Table telling of their famous deeds. (4-5)
8. Recreate Excalibur.
Castles and the Feudal System
Research the castles of Europe to
answer the following questions.
1. What were the first castles
like and who built them?
2. Were there different types of
castles and how did they evolve?
3. What was the Feudal System and
how did it start?
4. What was the order of the
Feudal System?
5. What was it like living in a
castle?
6. How did it act as a complete
community?
7. Name several famous castles and
where they are located. Give a brief history of each one. (3-5)
8. What brought an end to the
Feudal System?
Craft Projects - Choose One
1. Build a replica of a Medieval
castle.
2. Pretend your castle is under
siege. Show how you would defend it. What weapons or strategies would you use?
3. Build a display of a catapult
or trebuchet.
4. Make a picture display of
famous castles detailing location, architecture, floor plans, famous occupants,
battles fought there, etc.
5. Create an illustrated display
showing the pyramid structure of the feudal system. Include order, persons,
rank, occupation and responsibility.
6. Write an illustrated glossary
of the parts, sections, structures, rooms, and unique features of a medieval
castle.
7. Embroider or cross-stitch an
example of Medieval designs that would have been used on clothing, wall
hangings, linen, etc. in the castle.
The Women of
the Middle Ages
A lot is written
about men and the duties of men in the Middle Ages. What about the women?
Answer the questions below but be sure to include other interesting and
relevant information. Give examples to back up your information.
1. How were women
looked upon during the Middle Ages?
2. Were women of
class treated differently?
3. What were the
duties of the women?
4. How were young
girls raised?
5. Could women
read and write?
6. What were some
of the ways women rebelled against their situation?
7. During the
Crusades when most men were away at war, what did the women do to survive?
8. What happened
to a woman and her family if her husband died?
9. Did women have
"professions"?
10. Name some
outstanding women of the Middle Ages and tell what they accomplished during
their lifetime.
Craft Project
- Choose One
1. Write and
illustrate a journal kept by a woman living in the Middle Ages on what her life
was like, day to day, for one week.
2. Create a
display illustrating the types of clothing worn by women of different classes
during the Middle Ages.
3. Build a
panorama of what you think the common women's house looked like. Include all
aspects of life such as cooking, sleeping, garden, livestock, weaving, etc.
4. Dress a model
in the type of clothing worn by women of the times. Be particular with detail.
5. Compare the
life of a peasant women with that of a noble woman. Make a display showing the
activities for one day for each class.
6. Investigate
the life of a famous woman living in the Middle Ages. Display an illustrated
biography of her life - or - build a panorama of an important event in her
life.
7. Women of the
Middle Ages had many ways to adorn their hair. Make a display of hairpieces
and/or hats women wore during this time period.
8. The women
tended herb gardens or flower gardens. Make a display of the types of herbs or
flowers that the Medieval woman had in her garden. (Using live seedlings,
plants and flowers would make a wonderful display!)
9. Embroider or
cross-stitch a Medieval design. (This may be anything you choose. Example: a
sampler, napkin, bookmark, handkerchief, a design on a vest, blouse, etc.)