Are you on the hunt for engaging and effective Medieval Times activities for middle school? This can certainly be a fun yet challenging time period to teach. However, incorporating a wide variety of activities can definitely help engage your students and increase mastery of these more difficult topics.
Luckily, most 7th graders have some background knowledge of Medieval Times even if they don’t realize it! In fact, some of their favorite books, movies, and shows likely include cool castles, battles, arts, and food inspired by the Middle Ages. This definitely makes it much easier to create buy-in with the right Medival Times activities.
In short, teaching Medieval Times doesn’t have to be challenging or overwhelming for you. Help your students master the very difficult 7th-grade social studies standards with these Medieval Times activities.
Click HERE to check out my Medieval Times Curriculum.
1. Engaging STEAM Challenges
Incorporating cross-curricular challenges is a great way to enhance learning. It helps students build connections and think critically about the topic. Using STEAM Medieval Times activities helps make connections with science, technology, engineering, and measurement. It also happens to be super fun!
Leonardo Da Vinci’s Flying Machine
Leonardo Da Vinci’s flying machine challenge is an awesome STEAM activity for the Middle Ages. First, students work in STEM teams to design and build an innovative flying machine. Secondly, they must use their prior knowledge of the Laws of Motion and 4 Forces of Flight to build a flying machine. Lastly, the goal of this challenge is to incorporate as many ideas and concepts from the forces of flight.
CLICK HERE to get detailed directions and instructional guides for this STEAM activity.
Marshmallow Ballista Challenge
Using a list of supplies, STEM teams must design and build a ballista. The ballista must be able to effectively shoot a marshmallow arrow into the air. The goal of this STEM challenge is to propel a marshmallow arrow as far and straight as possible. The STEM team that can build the ballista that shoots the arrow the furthest wins the challenge.
Check out this BLOG POST for more information on this fun challenge!
2. Google Classroom Student Projects
Google classroom projects provide so many opportunities for individualized and student-paced learning that is also engaging. For example, students can create digital timelines, digital pamphlets, and digital posters using Google Classroom.
3. Interactive Notebooks
Interactive notebooks are an engaging and effective tool that will help your students keep their notes organized for their Medieval Times activities and lessons. The interactive notebooks in my Medieval Times Curriculum cover 11 different topic areas.
For each topic, you get notebook covers, reading passages, answer keys, critical thinking and analysis questions, flaps, foldables, timelines, graphic organizers, and more.
4. Reading Passages
Incorporate reading comprehension passages for well-rounded Medieval Times activities. You can also provide directions for student annotations. Guided annotation can essentially help them master the difficult concepts and key terms. You can even make it fun by inviting students to color-code important keywords and phrases.
5. Interactive PowerPoints
These teaching resources are a virtual experience! PowerPoints can be used as powerful classroom presentations. In addition, students can click their way through them at their own pace.
To summarize, finding engaging and effective Medieval Times activities doesn’t have to be challenging or overwhelming. In fact, I have compiled a comprehensive Medieval Times Curriculum. In addition to STEAM challenges, google classroom activities, and interactive notebooks, it also includes reading passages and interactive powerpoints all done for you!
Medieval Times Curriculum
This complete curriculum resource has over 1500 pages/slides of material. It covers Early Byzantine, Early Islam, West Africa, Medieval China, Medieval Japan, Early Middle Ages in Europe, Late Middle Ages in Europe, The Renaissance, The Reformation, Mesoamerica, and The Scientific Revolution.
This curriculum includes everything you need for engaging and effective lessons. It includes the following Medieval Times activities, and they’re all done for you!
- Reading Passages and…
- Interactive Notebook Bundle for Medieval Times and…
- Medieval Times Interactive PowerPoint Bundle and…
- STEM / STEAM Challenges Bundle and…
- Medieval Times Google Classroom Projects Bundle and…
- Medieval Times Assessments & Exams Bundle
Click HERE to get the full Medieval Times Curriculum.
Now are you are wondering how you can use and organize so many Medieval Times activities? Don’t worry, I also have a Free Medieval Times editable pacing guide and curriculum binder covers too!
CLICK HERE for your FREE Medieval Times Curriculum Binder Covers, Spines, Tabs, Dividers.
In conclusion, teaching Medieval Times certainly doesn’t have to be challenging or overwhelming for you. In fact, the right Medival Times activities can help your students master the very difficult 7th-grade social studies standards in fun and engaging ways.
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