Web Sites about the Middle Ages
As teachers rush toward the Middle Ages and the end of the school year,
here are some sites recommended by middle grades teachers.
Highly Recommended
Life in the Middle Ages
http://www.learner.org/exhibits/middleages/
The Middle Ages is inspired by programs from The Western Tradition, a video
series in the Annenberg/CPB Multimedia Collection. An excellent site with
brief summaries on topics like feudal life, clothes, religion, arts, health,
homes and town life. Easily managed by most middle schoolers.
Journey Through the Middle Ages (with James the Jingling Jester)
http://tqjunior.advanced.org/4051
Designed by elementary students and faculty for the junior ThinkQuest program.
Clever, graphics-driven format. May be a little too simple for older middle
grades kids.
Castles
http://www.emg.com/castles/index.html
Set up like a slide show, this site shows students how castles were built
and let's them select the best 'next step,' encouraging some deeper thinking.
An excellent introduction to castles.
The Middle Ages in the Middle School
http://www.education-world.com/a_curr/curr191.shtml
This detailed lesson plan, "Days and Days of Knights: A Unit on the
Middle Ages," decribes a series of lessons and activities leading to
a Medieval Fun Day. Provided at the Education World site by teachers at
Pine River Middle School in LeRoy, Michigan.
Also recommended:
Medieval and Renaissance Culture
http://ic.net/~erasmus/RAZ33.HTM
Links developed by a family of medieval enthusiasts. Good collection but
students might need help making choices. Photos of their renaissance wedding.
NetSerfMedieval Home Page
http://www.cua.edu/www/hist/netSERF/home.htm
Well-organized links, most with brief annotations. Regularly updated. Sponsored
by the history department at Catholic University.
Medieval and Renaissance Food
http://www.pbm.com/~lindahl/food.html
A great collection of links for anyone interested in researching or preparing
medieval food. This page was developed by the Society for Creative Anachronism
for members who want to stage feasts.
Castles on the Web
http://fox.nstn.ca/~tmonk/castle/castle.html
Features photos and information about castles that still exist today. Includes
a page for kids.
Ian's Land of Castles
http://www.personal.psu.edu/faculty/n/x/nxd10/castles.htm
Includes some drawings by students of castle defenses, etc. Background information
is simple -- may be a little too simple for some middle graders.
The Middle Ages
http://home.sprynet.com/sprynet/phen/midevil.html
Designed for AP History students, but it's mostly links and could be used
by middle grades students who can handle encyclopedia-type material.
A Brief History of Knighthood
http://members.tripod.com/~Baron91/kthd.html
Excellent overview of knighthood. Fairly high reading level. Good for the
student who's really interested and hungry for some detail. Two or three
pages if printed out.
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