The Middle Ages
Understanding People in the Past Series
on Goodreads (7)
What’s inside...
Presents an overview of culture and society during the Middle Ages.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
7-8
Length
64 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What do you think life was like for children in the Middle Ages compared to today?
Which inventions from the Middle Ages do you think were the most important and why?
How do you think the roles of knights and kings impacted society during that time?
If you could meet someone from the Middle Ages, what would you ask them and why?
What similarities and differences do you see between the Middle Ages and the modern world?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to visualize the historical setting by asking them to describe what they imagine the landscapes, castles, and daily life looked like.
Ask your child to compare their daily life to that of a child in the Middle Ages, discussing both the challenges and the interesting aspects.
Connect the discussion to present-day values by exploring how concepts like duty, honor, and societal roles have evolved.
Use the characters in the book to inspire questions about the motives and decisions people made in historical contexts.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Understanding the importance of cooperation
Explanation: The book showcases various characters from the Middle Ages working together to build communities and solve problems.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to collaborate with peers in school projects or in team sports, understanding that teamwork often leads to better results.
Example Lesson: Learning the value of perseverance
Explanation: Characters in the story face numerous challenges, such as harsh weather or invasions, yet they strive to overcome these adversities through determination.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to not give up easily on their tasks or goals, whether it be in completing homework, learning a new skill, or dealing with personal challenges.
Example Lesson: Respecting cultural diversity
Explanation: ‘The Middle Ages’ introduces children to different cultures and traditions practiced during that era, reflecting a broad spectrum of lifestyles and beliefs.
Real-World Application: Kids can be inspired to show respect and curiosity about different cultural backgrounds amongst their classmates and community.
Example Lesson: Understanding historical context
Explanation: The book educates on various historical events and figures of the Middle Ages, providing a factual basis for understanding the past.
Real-World Application: This can spark an interest in history and encourage children to explore more about other historical events and their impacts on modern society.
Example Lesson: Developing critical thinking
Explanation: Through the complexity of the medieval period presented in the book, children are invited to think critically about causes and effects of historical events.
Real-World Application: This skill can be translated into better problem-solving skills in everyday decisions and academic learning.