DBQ’s: After viewing several documents that depict life in the Middle Ages, students will be able to answer one of the essential questions, in a well developed essay, they will be able to use supporting evidence from the documents to defend &/or support their answers.
Reading Standards for Informational Text in SS (6th)
RS-1- Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of explicit and inferenced texts
RS-2- Determine central idea of text through details.
RS-3- Analyze how key individual, event or idea is introduced, illustrated and elaborated in text.
RS-4- Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used historical texts.
RS-8- Trace and evaluate the argument and claims in a text.
RS-9- Compare and contrast one author’s presentation of events with that of another.
Writing Standards in SS - Grade 6th
W-1-Write Arguments to support claims with clear evidence.
W-2-Write informative texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts and information through the content.
W-3-Write narrative to develop real or imagined experiences or events.
Speaking and Listening Standards in SS - Grade 6th
SL-1- Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher led) with diverse partners on grade 6 topics,texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.
SL-3- Delineate a speaker’s argument and specific claims, distinguishing claims that are supported by reasons and evidence from claims that are not.
Learning Activities Activity 1 Launch
The students will study various maps (Rome, After the Fall of Rome, and Byzantine Empire) the students will complete their own map of Europe’s changing political landscape after Rome’s Fall.
Activity 2 Byzantine Empire
While reading an informational text and viewing primary sources about the Byzantine Empire and Justinian I, the students will complete a graphic organizer. The students will then answer biographical questions about Justinian I and Theodora.
Students will read informational text about the Islamic World. After a class discussion focused on Islamic achievements and accomplishments, students will be able to complete a chart that outlines the advantages of Islamic inventions (branch banking, algebra, astronomy, map making) from the past and today.
Activity 4 Geography of the River Systems of Europe
Activate prior knowledge using a Word Splash about the river systems of the previously explored civilizations. Students will then be able to use informational text to create a Venn Diagram comparing the river systems of Europe to the other river systems.
Activity 5 Government & Charlemagne
Students will use various informational texts to explore monarchs and the government of a Monarchy. The students will select a monarch to study in-depth and then create a character web to highlight the monarch’s accomplishments, achievements, & impact on society. The students will create a political cartoon to illustrate their findings.
Activity 6 Life in the Middle Ages & Feudalism
Students will notetake during a powerpoint presentation that highlights the social class system during the Middle Ages. Students will use visuals to analyze and discuss life on a manor. The students will be able to discuss, in small groups, the reasons people, during the Middle Ages, chose to live on a manor, including the advantages and disadvantages. Each group will select what they consider to be the most important advantage and disadvantage of living on a manor. The groups will then share and defend their findings with the whole class.
Activity 7 The Crusades
After reading informational text and viewing a powerpoint presentation about the Crusades, the students will be able to complete a cause and effect chart.
Activity 8 Trade and the Silk Road
Students will study primary and secondary sources related to the Silk Road, including maps and visuals. Students will read an informational text that highlights the sequence of events while reading. The students will create a timeline of the important events from the height of the Silk Road.
Activity 9 – The Bubonic Plague
Students will view an introductory powerpoint presentation with images and background information about the Black Death. They will then work together to investigate informational texts and primary sources. They will use the information they collected to create a poster that will warn people about the Bubonic Plague and how to stay safe from infection.