Medieval Europe - War of the Roses

The Young Oxford History of Britain & Ireland

Discussion:
Re-enactment of the War of the Roses
Attempt not to be completely confused.  Note apparent non-availability of names of English noblemen other than Edward, Henry, and Richard.

Activity:
History journal
(Re-enactment)

Medieval Europe - 100 Years War - Henry V and Joan of Arc

The Young Oxford History of Britain & Ireland
Joan of Arc by Diane Stanley
Joan of Arc by Josephine Poole and Angela Barrett

Discussion:
Henry V - Battle of Agincourt, premature death
Henry VI - king of England and France (kind of)
Joan of Arc fights for Charles VII

Activity:
Reenactments
History journal

Medieval Europe - Richard II

The Young Oxford History of Britain & Ireland

Discussion:
Richard II - poll tax revolt
Conflicts with the nobility
Henry Bolingbroke - deposing Richard, becoming Henry IV

Activity:
History journal
Monarchy tree

Medieval Europe - 100 Years War - Origin and Early Conflicts

The Young Oxford History of Britain & Ireland

Discussion:
English holdings in France in 1330
Edward III and the Black Prince - claims to the French throne
Battles of Crecy and Poitiers - English victories

Activity:
History journal
Map study
Re-enactments
English succession activity

Medieval Europe - The Canterbury Tales - Tales II

Chaucer's Canterbury Tales by Marcia Williams
Read-aloud: The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer

Discussion:
Read several tales - social rankings, making fun of other professions/pilgrims, sense of humor

Activity:
Draw last 10 pilgrims
History journal

Medieval Europe - The Canterbury Tales - Tales I

Chaucer's Canterbury Tales by Marcia Williams
Read-aloud: The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer

Discussion:
Read several tales - discuss professions, descriptions of pilgrims

Activity:
Draw 10 more pilgrims
History journal

Medieval Europe - The Canterbury Tales - Geoffrey Chaucer

Chaucer's Canterbury Tales by Marcia Williams
Read-aloud: The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer

Discussion:
Chaucer's life
Origins of the tales
The prologue - meet the pilgrims

Activity:
Draw 10 of the pilgrims
History journal
Map/picture study (Canterbury)

Medieval Europe - Black Death - Spread and Mortality Rates

Medieval Medicine and the Plague by Lynne Elliot

Discussion:
How the plague spread
Rates of infection
Mortality, affect on burial customs

Activity:
Picture study
History journal
Map study

Medieval Europe - The Black Death - Origins and Types

Medieval Medicine and the Plague by Lynne Elliot

Discussion:
Origins of the Black Death
Types of infections

Activity:
History journal
Picture study (Oxford Illustrated History of the Middle Ages and Der Schatz des Amplonius)

Medieval Europe - The Papacy - Wandering Popes and the Avignon Papacy

Discussion:
Italian political rivalries
Instability in the Papal States
The Pope is forced to leave Rome and then Italy

Activity:
History journal
Map study

Feudal Japan - Ninja

Ninjas: Masters of Stealth and Secrecy by Joanne Mattern

Discussion:
Origins of Ninja
Employment by Samurai and other warlords
Training, skills, religious beliefs

Activity:
History journal

Feudal Japan - Samurai - Bushido

Samurai: Warlords of Japan by Arlan Dean
How to Be a Samurai Warrior by Fiona Macdonald and John James
Read-aloud: Sword of the Samurai by Eric A. Kimmel

Discussion:
Bushido - the Samurai code of honor
Buddhism, Shinto influences
Meditation practices

Activity:
Continue Samurai costume

Feudal Japan - Samurai - Armor

Samurai: Warlords of Japan by Arlan Dean
How to Be a Samurai Warrior by Fiona Macdonald and John James
Read-aloud: Sword of the Samurai by Eric A. Kimmel

Discussion:
Parts of the samurai armament
Design and construction
Evolution

Activity:
Continue Samurai costume

Feudal Japan - Samurai - Shogunate

Life in Ancient Japan by Hazel Richardson
Samurai: Warlords of Japan by Arlan Dean
Read-aloud: Sword of the Samurai by Eric A. Kimmel

Discussion:
The Genpei War and the beginning of the shogunate
From a temporary to a permanent position
How the shogun controls the samurai and the emperor

Activity:
Continue making Samurai costume
History journal

Feudal Japan - Samurai - Origins

Life in Ancient Japan by Hazel Richardson
Samurai: Warlords of Japan by Arlan Dean
Read-aloud: Sword of the Samurai by Eric A. Kimmel

Discussion:
Origins of the Samurai - Asuka and Nara Periods
The Samurai as a part of the army during the Heian Period
The Samurai become warlords

Activity:
Begin making Samurai costume
History journal

Medieval Japan - Heian Period - Fujiwara Clan

Life in Ancient Japan  by Hazel Richardson
Read-aloud: Mysterious Tales of Japan by Rafe Martin

Discussion:
How the Fujiwara clan rose to power
Administrative monopoly
Political intrigue - Sei Shonagun

Activity:
History journal

Medieval Japan - Heian Period - Social Structures

Life in Ancient Japan by Hazel Richardson
Read-aloud: Mysterious Tales of Japan by Rafe Martin

Discussion:
A highly stratified society
Rank and class
Clergy, nobles, commoners, slaves

Activity:
History journal

Medieval Japan - Heian Period - Foundation

Life in Ancient Japan by Hazel Richardson
Japan by Barbara A. Somervill
Read-aloud: Mysterious Tales of Japan by Rafe Martin

Discussion:
Moving the capital from Nara to Heian (Kyoto)
Decline of Chinese influence; increasing imperial isolationist policies
Structure of governance - the capital vs. decentralized rule in the provinces

Activity:
History journal
Map study

Medieval Japan - Nara Period

Life in Ancient Japan by Hazel Richardson
Japan by Barbara A. Somervill

Discussion:
Emergence of a centralized, imperial court at Nara; mass conversion to Buddhism
Influence of the Tang Dynasty in contemporary China
Smallpox epidemic

Activity:
History journal
Picture study - Art of the Nara and Asuka periods

Medieval Japan - Geography and History Review

Japan by Barbara A. Somervill
Life in Ancient Japan by Hazel Richardson
Read-aloud: Mysterious Tales of Japan by Rafe Martin

Discussion:
Geography of Japan - major islands, mountains, bodies of water, early sites of civilization
The Yayoi (300 BCE - 300 CE)
The Yamatai

Activity:
History journal
Map study