The Feudal System

Life in Medieval times was based on the pyramid-shaped Feudal System: 

The king ruled from the top.  But what about the nobles (also called lords), knights, skilled craftsmen, and peasants?  What were their duties and what power did they have?  Listen to the following clip to learn more.

Next, read the following article about the Manor House.

Manor House

Finally, read this article about the common people.

Commoners

*Be sure to bring your History Detective sheet to class and any extra credit that you complete.  You will have a chance to share your extra credit at the beginning of class.  Looking forward to seeing you for our first class!

Fall 2015

                                    

Get ready to step back in time as we explore The Middle Ages this year!  

Here is a list of our fall topics:

1. September 4 - Feudal System, Lords & Ladies

2. September 25 - Castles

3. October 2 - Knights, Coat of Arms

4. October 23 - The Crusades

5. November 6 - King Richard, The Magna Carta, & 

                         Robin Hood

6. November 20 - The Black Death

7. December 7 (Monday) - Lap books

                                        Middle Ages Feast

Looking forward to a great year!

Cleopatra

Cleopatra VII:  Queen of Ancient Egypt

Read the article below to learn more about this powerful young woman who was born a princess and became pharaoh of Egypt.

Cleopatra biography

EXTRA:

Have fun doing this online puzzle of Cleopatra!

puzzle

ANCIENT CHINA: THE GREAT WALL

We are ready for our journey to The Great Wall of China!

Watch the following videos to learn more about the history and building of this ancient landmark:


VIDEO: BUILDING THE WALL



VIDEO: HISTORY OF THE WALL

FOR MORE INFORMATION, READ ABOUT THE GREAT WALL HERE.

EARLY ASIA: INDIA, BUDDHA, CONFUCIUS

WATCH THE CLIP BELOW TO HELP UNDERSTAND THE LIFE OF CONFUCIUS.

THE MAURYAN EMPIRE OF INDIA:

FIND OUT WHO ITS MOST FAMOUS RULER WAS.

WATCH THE CLIP BELOW TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT SIDDHARTHA AND HIS NEW NAME.

All Roads Lead to ROME!

We are on to the great civilization of Ancient Rome!  At its peak, the empire stretched east, west, north, and south and had a population of over 50 million.

Watch the following video to learn about daily life:

This video gives more information on the famous gladiators:

The Romans are also known for their excellent engineering.  Read the following article to learn about Roman roads, bridges, aqueducts, and more!

Roman Engineering

EXTRA!  For older kids:  Learn more about Roman Numerals by reading the following article.

Roman Numerals

Now you are ready to play the following game where you help rebuild broken columns:

Game

ALEXANDER THE GREAT

 

Alexander the Great’s military tactics and strategies are still studied in military academies today. From his first victory at age 18, Alexander gained a reputation of leading his men to battle with impressive speed, allowing smaller forces to reach and break the enemy lines before his foes were ready. After securing his kingdom in Greece, in 334 B.C. Alexander crossed into Asia (present-day Turkey) where he won a series of battles with the Persians under Darius III.

WATCH THE CLIP BELOW TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT:

 

 

ALEXANDER THE GREAT SING ALONG