Medieval Times An Internet Scavenger Hunt for Fifth Grade

Welcome to the middle ages! Kings and queens, princes and princess, knights in shining armor, feasts in great halls are just some of the glamour from this time period!

However the middle ages were not fun for everyone! Below are a few questions you are going to answer using the sites given that are going to help you learn more about how much fun (or horrid) the middle ages were! Make sure you have fun learning!

Medieval Worksheet (PDF) 44KB (Same questions as below)

1. Click on the picture of the castle. Click on the Weapons link and read about some weapons used by knights. Give one of the types of bow and arrows used. What is it made out of?

 

2. After looking over and reading this website, do you think it was better to be a peasant girl, a noblemen's daughter or a princess (give three reasons)? How are women viewed differently today (please state at least 2 reasons)?

 

3. Click on the peasant (on the far right). Read about health and medicine (click on the words). What was the Black Death and how did it effect Europe?

 

4. Read about how castles attacked and defended themselves. Play DESTROY THE CASTLE. Try different combinations and describe below what you used to finally destroy the castle. After reading over attacking and defending the castle, do you think the trebuchet was the best offensive tactic (and why)?

 

5. According to the Arthurian legend, who put the sword in the stone?

 

6. Enter into the castle and search around. Where would you most like to live in the castle (give at least one reason why)? Where would you least like to live (give a reason)!

 

7. In your own words (in the easiest way possible) what is chivalry?

 

 

The Big Question

After having answered the questions above (and looking around at the sites listed below for other useful information) take all of the information you have just acquired and think about the following:

If you were transported back to the middle ages, how would life be different than it is today? Make sure you include information about the following: food, chores, fighting, chivalry, and housing.

1. http://www.kyrene.k12.az.us/schools/brisas/sunda/ma/enter.htm

2. http://www.kyrene.k12.az.us/schools/brisas/sunda/ma/1kimberly.htm

3. http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/history/middleages/

4a. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/lostempires/trebuchet/race.html

4b. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/lostempires/trebuchet/destroywave.html

5. http://www-personal.umich.edu/%7Emerrie/Arthur/kidstory.html

6. http://kotn.ntu.ac.uk/castle/

7. http://www.factmonster.com/ce6/history/A0811985.html

 

 

 

NYS LEARNING STANDARDS used in this activity

English Language Arts Standard 1
Language for Information and Understanding

Students will read, write, listen and speak for information and understanding.

1A Students gather and interpret information from children's reference books, magazines, textbooks, electronic bulletin boards, audio and media presentations, oral interviews, and from such forms as charts, graphs, maps and diagrams. 1B Students select information appropriate to the purpose of their investigation and relate ideas from one text to another. 1C Students select and use strategies they have been taught for note taking, organizing, and categorizing information.

Social Studies Standard 2
World History

Students will use a variety of intellectual skills to demonstrate their understanding of major ideas, eras, themes, developments, and turning points in world history and examine the broad sweep of history from a variety of perspectives.

1C

Students study about different world cultures and civilizations focusing on their accomplishments, contributions, values, beliefs, and traditions.

Social Studies Standard 3
Geography

Students will use a variety of intellectual skills to demonstrate their understanding of the geography of the interdependent world in which we live - local, national, and global - including the distribution of people, places, and environments over the Earth's surface.

1E

Students investigate how people depend on and modify the physical environment.