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Students create a medieval crusade journal here after reading a story about Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine
Language Arts, Social Studies
6, 7, 8
Title – Crusade Journal
By – Helen Venosdel
Primary Subject – Language Arts
Secondary Subjects – Social Studies
Grade Level – 6-8
- After reading Queen Eleanor: Independent Spirit of the Medieval World by Polly S. Brooks, students will create a diary/travelogue of Eleanor’s journey.
- After completing Chapter 3 of the text (below), students will create a journal kept by a member of the crusade that includes:
- Cover with title
- Map of the journey with places clearly marked
- Illustrations of people who made the journey
- Detailed description of Antioch and Constantinople with illustration
- “Artifact” like a cloth cross given by Abbot Bernard, a piece of the true cross from the Holy Land, wild flower collected in Antioch, an arrow head from Mt. Cadmos, etc.
- At least three journal entries explaining the major difficulties, important events and lessons learned
- 3-5 sheets of aged paper per student (students can “age” the paper themselves)
- A map of the Crusade route
- Various pictures of people of the time period
- Handout of weapons and armor
- Handouts of medieval names and occupations
- Supplemental books on Crusades
- Colored pencils
- Students will provide “authentic artifacts”
- Internet: http://www.learner.org/interactives/middleages/clothing.html
- Books: World History Medieval to Early Modern Times
- – Holt text
- – Allyn and Bacon Inc.
- – TCM
E-Mail Helen Venosdel !