Medieval Arthurian Quest for Knowledge

MEDIEVAL ARTHURIAN QUEST FOR KNOWLEDGE

Objective: This quest is designed to give students the opportunity to work both in groups, and individually, while researching medieval times. Students are vying for a spot at King Arthur's Round Table. Let the competition and the questing begin!

Introduction: 'Hear Ye!!, Hear Ye!!' Calling all villagers! His Royal Majesty, King Arthur, is desperately seeking one more knights for his Round Table. You must provide the best persuasive argument as to why you should be selected for this exciting new job. However, before you can present your argument, you must explain what it means to live in the Middle Ages, and fulfill your questing responsibilities as a “knight- o- questing – knowledge”!So let us go back in time to 'live' in Camelot.

Questing Directions:

1.) You and your classmates will form teams of Medieval Arthurian experts. We will have 4 tables with 4 “knights-o-questing- knowledge” and 1 table of 5 “knights-o-questing- knowledge.”

(2.) You will each be assigned a role within your HOME GROUP. Working in our Jigsaw groups, your job is to gather some background information about how people lived in the Middle Ages. This was a time when there were distinct levels of classes. Each member of your HOME GROUPwill be assigned to one of the four EXPERT GROUPS to learn as much as you can about the social classes. Your HOME GROUP will consist of these four expert members:

1) Royalty/Noble Researcher- (windows)

2) Religion Researcher- (front of room)

3) Knights Researcher-(back of room)

4) Peasants (also known as Serfs) Researcher – (door/ hall)

(3) Then you will transition to an EXPERT GROUP. On this Quest for Knowledge, you are responsible for researching a specific part of life during King Arthur's time from the variety of resources that are provided for you.

(4.) You will then return to your HOMEGROUP for a ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION to share the information you learned. Additionally, you will want to gather any other information about King Arthur that will help you apply for a job as one of his knights and take the seat of “SIEGE PERILOUS.”

(5.) Once all presentations have been given, you will work individually to write an exit slip in the form of a letter to King Arthur explaining why you should be selected as King Arthur's final knight. Based on your argument, King Arthur will appoint his final knight to the Round Table and you will be knighted.

(6.) But first, Arthur has called us all here together for a quick review and debriefing. Start taking notes, as there is a lot of good information for all experts here.

If you are researching ROYALTY/NOBLES your job is to:

BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN TO YOUR GROUP WHY THESE PEOPLE WERE SO IMPORTANT, AND ARE THEY STILL IMPORTANT IN SOME FORM IN TODAY'S SOCIETY?

1. Visit some suggested links, stopping to take notes as needed for your research. Information and links at or near the window sill.

http://www.learner.org/interactives/middleages/feudal.html

http://library.thinkquest.org/10949/fief/medindex.html

http://www.teacheroz.com/Middle_Ages.htm

2. Use other sources such as books, maps, and articles at your station to find information about the royals and nobles. Where did they live? What were their responsibilities? How were they chosen?

3. Take notes on the note taking sheet provided and be prepared to present your information to your home group.

If you are researching RELIGION your job is to:

BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN TO YOUR GROUP WHY THESE PEOPLE WERE SO IMPORTANT, AND ARE THEY STILL IMPORTANT IN SOME FORM IN TODAY'S SOCIETY?

1. Visit some suggested links, stopping to take notes as needed for your research. Information and links at or near the front of the room.

http://www.teacheroz.com/Middle_Ages.htm

http://library.thinkquest.org/10949/fief/medindex.html

http://www.learner.org/interactives/middleages/religion.html

2. Use other sources such as books, maps, and articles at your station to find information about the royals and nobles. Where did they live? What were their responsibilities? How were they chosen?

3. Take notes on the note taking sheet provided and be prepared to present your information to your home group.

If you are researching a KNIGHT your job is to:

BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN TO YOUR GROUP WHY THESE PEOPLE WERE SO IMPORTANT, AND ARE THEY STILL IMPORTANT IN SOME FORM IN TODAY'S SOCIETY?

1. Visit some suggested links, stopping to take notes as needed for your research. Information and links at or near the back of the room.

http://www.teacheroz.com/Middle_Ages.htm

http://quizlet.com/6162254/king-arthur-unit-flash-cards/

http://www.earlybritishkingdoms.com/kids/arthur_life.html

http://library.thinkquest.org/10949/fief/medindex.html

http://www.learner.org/interactives/middleages/feudal.html

2. Use other sources such as books, maps, and articles at your station to find information about the royals and nobles. Where did they live? What were their responsibilities? How were they chosen?

3. Take notes on the note taking sheet provided and be prepared to present your information to your home group.

If you are researching a PEASANT (also known as a Serf) your job is to:

BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN TO YOUR GROUP WHY THESE PEOPLE WERE SO IMPORTANT, AND ARE THEY STILL IMPORTANT IN SOME FORM IN TODAY'S SOCIETY?

1. Visit some suggested links, stopping to take notes as needed for your research. Information and links at or near the door and the hall.

http://library.thinkquest.org/TQ0311932/alt2.html

http://library.thinkquest.org/10949/fief/medindex.html

http://www.learner.org/interactives/middleages/feudal.html

http://www.teacheroz.com/Middle_Ages.htm

2. Use other sources such as books, maps, and articles at your station to find information about the royals and nobles. Where did they live? What were their responsibilities? How were they chosen?

3. Take notes on the note taking sheet provided and be prepared to present your information to your home group.

GOOD LUCK! I HOPE TO SEE YOU SITTING AT THE ROUND TABLE SOON!

Evaluation

This is how your work will be evaluated.

Beginning
1 / Developing
2 / Qualified
3 / Exemplary
4 / Score
Content gathered and shared with the group in a clear way / Gave few detailed facts about assigned level of Medieval life, and failed to cite any examples to aid in understanding / Gave some detailed facts about assigned level of Medieval life, but did not cite examples to aid in understanding / Gave detailed facts about assigned level of Medieval life / Gave detailed facts about assigned level of Medieval life
Job performance for locating resources / Used fewer than 1 resources to obtain information for individual
presentation / Used 1-2 resources to obtain information for individual presentation / Used 2-3resources to obtain information for individual
presentation / Used more than 3 resources to obtain information for individual presentation
Active member of your group / Poor team member: failed to actively contribute to the group / Average team member: actively contributed to the group / Good team member: actively contributed frequently / Great team member: always actively contributed to the group

TOTAL: / 12

It is obvious you have what it takes! Congratulations! You have earned your seat at King Arthur’s Round Table! Arthur is requiring all his WISE Knights to continue their quest for knowledge and begin reading The Savage Damsel and the Dwarf…after all, it’s about one of his favorite Knights!!!! ??????? J Let the next quest begin!!!!!!