Student Activities for Medieval Times

Knights had a code of chivalry. Now your students can too.

The medieval era, or the Middle Ages, in English and European history began with the Battle of Hastings in 1066 -- though other historical authorities argue that the period actually started in the 5th century after the fall of the Roman Empire. The Middle Ages ended when Henry Tudor took the throne of England in 1485. In between there are stories of knights, chivalry and castle keeps and provide students with exciting classroom activities.

Code of Chivalry

Knights in medieval times followed a code of chivalry. The code consisted of standards of conduct, such as helping the innocent and being loyal to the king or queen. Give students paper and ask them to write down their own codes of chivalry, which can be rolled up and tied like scrolls. Then you could discuss how the standards set by medieval knights compare with today's world, analyzing whether these are outdated or still around.

Stories

Storytelling was a popular form of entertainment in the Middle Ages. Read the class stories such as Robin Hood or the Canterbury Tales. Ask the students to write a short story about medieval times. When the stories are ready, each student can tell his or her tale to the class.

Medieval Jobs

Hand out sheets describing different jobs from the Middle Ages and ask the class if any of the jobs compare with modern jobs. Then explain to the students that a young person looking for work in the Middle Ages would first have to undergo an apprenticeship with an experienced worker. Ask each student which of the medieval jobs he or she would take an apprenticeship in and why. Take a vote at the end of the class to see which medieval job is the most popular among students.

Build a Keep

Get each student to create a castle keep from an empty tissue box. Students should cut the top off the box and cover it all in construction paper. They can glue paper towel tubes to each side of the box to make towers for the keep. The class can then add whatever decorations they like, such as a window made from construction paper or a flag made from paper and glued to a craft stick.

Take a Tour

This activity is good for younger children studying medieval times. Hand out sheets showing the layout of a castle and take an imaginary walk thorough the castle, meaning the children will move their colored pencils around the page following your instructions. For example, say "turn right into the dungeons." And the students will draw a line turning toward the dungeons. Explain each room you enter on your tour.

References

• Scholastic: Medieval Times
• Middle Ages: Middle Ages Timeline
• Minnesota State University: Medieval Europe