Lesson Plan | Teachy Methodology | Middle Ages: Introduction

Objectives

Duration: 10 - 15 minutes

This stage aims to present the essential objectives of the class, ensuring that students are aware of the specific skills and knowledge they should acquire. Through clear objectives, students can focus their attention and engage more effectively in the proposed activities, promoting more meaningful and contextualized learning.

Main Objectives

1. Understand the relationship between the Church and social organization in the Middle Ages.

2. Identify the main aspects of feudalism and its influence on daily medieval life.

3. Recognize the consequences of Arab invasions in medieval Europe.

Side Objectives

1. Explore the development of knowledge and cultural practices in the Middle Ages.
2. Critically analyze how the Middle Ages are portrayed in digital media and social networks.

Introduction

Duration: 15 - 20 minutes

 This stage aims to engage students and stimulate initial curiosity about the Middle Ages. By using digital technologies, such as searching for interesting facts via cell phone, and conducting an initial debate with key questions, students begin to actively engage with the topic of the class. This initial interaction also allows the teacher to assess students' preliminary understanding and adjust the mediation of subsequent activities as needed.

Warming Up

 To start the class, explain to the students that the Middle Ages, also known as the 'Medieval Era,' is a period of European history that spans from the 5th to the 15th century. This period is marked by the predominance of the Catholic Church, the feudal structure, and barbarian invasions. Emphasize that the Middle Ages were not just a period of 'dark times,' as it is often portrayed, but also a time of significant cultural and technological developments. Next, instruct the students to use their cell phones to find an interesting fact about the Middle Ages and share it with the class. This moment should stimulate curiosity and prepare the ground for a rich and contextualized debate.

Initial Reflections

1.  What was the role of the Catholic Church in the social organization of the Middle Ages?

2.  How did the feudal structure work and what were its main components?

3. ⚔️ What were the consequences of the Arab invasions in medieval Europe?

4.  What knowledge and cultural practices developed during the Middle Ages?

5.  How is the Middle Ages portrayed in digital media and social networks today?

Development

Duration: 75 - 85 minutes

This stage aims to allow students to use digital technologies to deepen their knowledge about the Middle Ages in a practical and engaging way. Through interactive and collaborative activities, they can explore important aspects of the period, such as social organization, historical events, and cultural practices, in a way that resonates with the dynamics of modern life.

Activity Suggestions

It is recommended that only one of the suggested activities be carried out

Activity 1 - Medieval Influencers 

> Duration: 60 - 70 minutes

- Objective: Explore daily life, social organization, and historical events of the Middle Ages in a playful and creative way, using the language and dynamics of social networks.

- Description: In this activity, students will create fictional profiles of medieval characters, as if they were current digital influencers. They will use simulated social networks to post content that reflects life and events from the Middle Ages.

- Instructions:

• Divide the students into groups of up to 5 people.

• Each group must choose or receive a medieval character (a feudal lord, a peasant, a cleric, etc.).

• Students must create a fictional digital profile for their character, including name, profession, interests, and a brief biography.

• Use a social network simulation app (like Padlet or Google Sites) to create the character's posts. The posts should include historical events, daily habits, knowledge, and cultural practices of the Middle Ages.

• Encourage groups to use images, memes, short videos, and other multimedia resources to enrich their posts.

• After creating the profiles, each group should present their medieval influencer to the class, highlighting how their posts reflect the life and social organization of the Middle Ages.

Activity 2 - Medieval Hero's Journey 

> Duration: 60 - 70 minutes

- Objective: Promote the understanding of the main aspects of the Middle Ages through the creation and playability of an interactive game, encouraging critical thinking and creativity.

- Description: Students will create an interactive game using a game creation platform, such as Scratch or Twine, where the protagonist has to face common challenges of the Middle Ages, such as invasions, feudal treaties, and religious issues.

- Instructions:

• Divide the students into groups of up to 5 people.

• Each group should design a journey for a medieval hero, including historical challenges and obstacles (such as a Viking attack or a plague).

• Use the game creation platform (Scratch, Twine, etc.) to develop an interactive game representing this journey.

• Students must include narratives and dialogues that reflect the historical context and culture of the Middle Ages.

• Encourage students to add gamification elements, such as points, levels, and rewards.

• After creating the games, each group should present their game to the class and allow other groups to try playing it.

Activity 3 - Digital Feud 

> Duration: 60 - 70 minutes

- Objective: Reproduce and analyze the structure of feudalism and the social organization of the Middle Ages through the collaborative construction of a digital feudal system.

- Description: In this activity, students will create a digital feudal system in Minecraft Edu or a similar building platform. They should replicate the feudal structure, including a castle, village, church, farmland, and walls.

- Instructions:

• Divide the students into groups of up to 5 people.

• Each group should plan the structure of their medieval feudal system, deciding where the main buildings (castle, village, church, etc.) will be located.

• Use Minecraft Edu or a similar building platform to create the digital feudal system.

• Encourage students to research and add authentic historical and architectural details to their feudal systems.

• Groups should consider economic, social, and defensive aspects in building their feudal systems.

• After construction, groups should give a virtual tour of their feudal system, explaining how it reflects medieval society and organization.

Feedback

Duration: Duration: 20 - 25 minutes

 Purpose: This stage aims to consolidate learning, allowing students to reflect on what they have learned and share their experiences. Through group discussion and 360° feedback, students can reinforce their understanding, develop communication and critical skills, and value teamwork.

Group Discussion

️ Group Discussion: Promote a group discussion with all students. Start by asking each group to share what they learned while carrying out their activities and present their main conclusions and insights. Suggest the following outline to introduce this discussion:

1. Introduction: Ask each group to briefly present the character or feudal system they created, or the game they developed.
2. Historical Aspects: Ask which historical details were the most surprising or interesting during the creation.
3. Modern Connections: Encourage students to relate medieval events and structures to aspects of modern life, such as social networks and social organization.
4. Challenges: Ask about the main challenges they faced during the activities and how they overcame them.

Reflections

1. 樂 Reflection Questions: Use the following questions to guide the group discussion and assess students' understanding:

1. What were the main differences and similarities you found between medieval society and modern society?
2. How did the activities completed help you understand better how the feudal society operated?
3. In what way did the Church influence people's lives in the Middle Ages and how does that compare with influences in modern society?

360° Feedback

 360° Feedback: Conduct a 360° feedback session, where each student receives feedback from their peers within the group they worked in. Guide the class to ensure the feedback is constructive and respectful, using phrases like 'I liked...' and 'I suggest that...'. Encourage students to give feedback on aspects such as collaboration, creativity, and understanding of historical content.

Conclusion

Duration: 10 - 15 minutes

 Purpose: This stage aims to consolidate the learnings from the class, connecting historical content to the present and showing the practical relevance of studying the Middle Ages. By concluding the class in a fun and contextualized manner, students' engagement is reinforced, encouraging critical reflection and appreciation for the knowledge acquired.

Summary

 Class Summary: Imagine yourself in the midst of a grand circus performance!  The nobles and clerics are the main performers, with their brilliant costumes and diverse skills. The peasants and serfs? Well, they are the backdrop, working hard to keep the show running. The Arab invasions are like a mysterious illusionist challenging the audience, and the Catholic Church is the master of ceremonies, coordinating everything! Feudalism is the structure behind this big tent, organizing each act and each performer on the medieval stage. 

World Connection

 In Today’s World: Just as today we use social networks to connect, medieval society had its own forms of social organization and communication, which were crucial for its survival and functioning. The Catholic Church, with its power, influenced society comparably to large corporations and governments today. Furthermore, the invasions and confrontations of the Middle Ages reflect the geopolitical dynamics we still see in the modern world.

Practical Application

️ Applications: Understanding the Middle Ages helps us comprehend the foundations of modern society, from government and economic systems to cultural and religious practices. Knowing how societies organized and evolved over time enables us to appreciate the complexity of the world we live in and address contemporary challenges with a critically informed historical perspective.