Lesson
Plan: The Crusades
Overview
In keeping with the theme of understanding the transition
from one type of society to the next as described in
the state standards, this lesson shows how the holy
wars between Christianity and Islam during the Middle
Ages helped bring about the changes that began the Renaissance.
The students will accomplish the following:
-
Read and discuss the specifics of the Crusades
-
Learn that many simple children’s rhymes
were once political statements
-
Write their own children’s rhymes that explain
some of the specific happenings and people of the
Crusades
-
Decide upon changes in medieval society directly
related to the Crusades
Standards Addressed
Grade 7
Social Studies — History, Benchmark C
03. Describe the conditions
that gave rise to feudalism, as well as political,
economic and social characteristics of feudalism,
in Asia and Europe.
04. Explain the lasting effects
of military conquests during the Middle Ages including
Muslim conquests, the Crusades and the Mongol invasions.
Materials
Poster board
Procedure
-
As a class, read and discuss the enclosed worksheet
Introduction to the Crusades.
-
Either as a class or in assigned groups, have the
students read through each short Crusade description.
Extra time and resources should be available for
students to look up more specific information as
needed. Students can find related photos and video
clips at www.WesternReservePublicMedia.org/middleages/resources.htm.
-
Using the enclosed material, teach how nursery
rhymes have historical origins and were used as
a safe means of political commentary.
-
Assign specific crusades to each group or individual.
Explain that they will write nursery rhymes with
themes and characters that allude to stories about
the historical people of the Crusades.
-
Have students display their rhymes on poster board
while they discuss their topic.
-
As a class, review and discuss the effects of all
the travel from the western part of Christendom
to the east and then back again.
-
Have the class complete an evaluation for each
group or individual.
Evaluation
Rubric for the Crusades
| Category |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
| The rhyme must allude to changes brought
about by the Crusades. |
Four items are listed and are historically correct.
They are also clear enough to interpret. |
Three items are listed, are historically correct
and are clear enough to interpret. |
Only two items are listed, historically correct
and are clear enough to interpret. |
Only one item is listed, is historically correct
and is clear enough to interpret. |
The rhyme doesn’t make itself clear about
any changes brought about by the Crusades. |
| The work needs to have rhythm, rhyme and
child-appealing characters. |
The rhythm, rhyme and characters work well to
help make it memorable and fun. |
The rhythm, rhyme and characters are all present. |
One of the three is missing or doesn’t work
well in the writing. |
Two of the three are missing or don’t work
well in the writing. |
There is no evidence of the writer trying to make
this a nursery rhyme. |
| The presentation of the work needs to
show effort and pride. |
Work is very neat with good sentences, good grammar
and good spelling. |
Work is neat and has no more than one writing
or spelling error. |
Work is readable but has two writing or spelling
errors. |
Work is readable but has more than two writing
or spelling errors. |
Work is difficult to read due to errors and/or
presentation. |
|
