Teaching the Middle Ages

Hands on History! How to Teach the Middle Ages.
G.Robin Smith. www.ben-franklin.org email: ben@ben-franklin.org
http://www.interactivehistory.net/
A Professional Hands-On Education Company. (I work with them)
http://www.knightstour.org/poetry/subboke.html
My on-line book for Educational Demonstrations. (10 years old & being revised.)

These links and this hand out can be found at
http://norwesconpanelsgrobin.blogspot.com/2007/04/teaching-middle-ages.html

BASICS: Hands-on Interactive Education focuses on the physical experience of living in a particular time and situation. The more direct interaction you can provide the better. The reasons WHY something happened is a good topic for discussion and research. What people were DOING when History happened is the best way to open a window on that time period and have students relate and empathize with the people then and see life more through the eyes of the past. Perspective is what we bring, and it’s a life-long experience for the student as well.

WHATEVER the subject, break it down to what it meant to accomplish the act. Then explain how it relates to things we do today. For example:

CLASS OUTLINE: Games
Introduction: People have ALWAYS played games. “What board games, what running games do you play, students?” Chess, Red Rover, Tag? All very old.
Games are fun, build strength and endurance. Also games of chance, skill building (balance, aim, hand-eye coordination, mathematics). A game could be anything, as long as there was skill involved (and luck) and both sides agreed to the rules.
Play some Medieval Games (see Medieval Game Panel handout at :
http://norwesconpanelsgrobin.blogspot.com/


We normally play Skittles, Stick in Ring, Storming the Castle, Quintain, Hunker-Hauser. All fun games of physical skill and coordination. Board Games usually take too long to play in this class, but certainly are to be encouraged after our program. Especially Chess, with its many variants, offers a fascinating glimpse into how things evolve over time, yet keep certain aspects vibrantly current.



This handout prepared with financial support from Hardwick & Sons, Inc. Hard to find Hard-To-Find New & Used… almost EVERYTHING! www.eHardwicks.com
4214 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle WA 98105 Mon-Sat til 6:00 PM.