Unit 5: Early Middle Ages

Name: Paul Poole, Towson University Date: 5/3/19

CLASS DESCRIPTION:
2nd: 31 students, 1 IEP, 2 504,
3rd: 32 students, CC class, 9 IEP, 1 504, 1 ESOL, very talkative, 2 read to
4th: 30 students, 2 speech IEP, 2 504, 1 student with severe allergies, talkative, high achieving
5th: 33 students, no IEP, 2 504, some behavior issues,

Unit: 5: Early Middle Ages

Lesson: Feudalism Social Structure
Time: 65 mins

ALIGNMENT:
Standard Objective Assessment Activity

H6.3.4.3 Students will analyze Students will examine the elements Social Chivalry Reading
the characteristics of the of the social classes of feudal society Pyramid and quick code
development and decline of in order to compare the relationships Closure creation
feudalism and the emergence of of the social classes to one another
monarchies. Feudal
responsibilities
chart

Lay out the manor

MATERIALS:
Student Materials Required: INB, Pencil, Social pyramid closure sheet

Technology Required: PowerPoint/Projector,

LESSON PROCEDURE:
Prior Knowledge: Students have been working on a Feudalism project, including learning briefly about what
Feudalism is, as well as creating their own code of chivalry for the project.

Opening Activity- Drill and Objective

Time Allotted: 15mins
Where: INB page 128

Students will first tape pages 127-129 into their INB

Students will then read the passage about Chivalry on page 128 of their INB

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After reading, students will be asked to quickly come up with 3 rules for a code of chivalry with their table
group. The teacher will ask each group to share one rule that they felt was important to them.

Objective: Students will examine the elements of the social classes of feudal society in order to compare the
relationships of the social classes to one another

Transition: The reason I had you do this is because Feudalism is completely built on rules. The relationships
and exchange between classes are very clearly laid out in their codes and oaths. But now that we know about
some of their rules, let’s take a look at the actual structure of feudal society.

Adaptations:
2nd:
3rd: Read chivalry reading aloud to class
4th:
5th:

Activity 1 – Feudal Responsivities

Time Allotted: 20 mins
Where: INB page 127

Students will read pages 506-511 in their text book to fill out page 127 in their INB which outlines the
responsibilities of each feudal class in medieval Europe. After 12-15 minutes, the teacher will go over the work
sheet with the class, as it is critical that they have this information for later in the lesson.

Transition: So now that we have a good idea of what the responsibilities were of each social group, let’s take a
look at where each group physically lived in the fief or village

Adaptations:
2nd: 15 mins
3rd: Have IA and RI break out into small groups for CC students, copies of notes
4th: 12 mins
5th: Adjust time based on how 4th does

Activity 2 – Lay out the Manor

Time Allotted: 20 mins
Where: Worksheet MAE 24

Students will use worksheet MAE 24 to learn about the layout of Feudal Fiefs. They will read a brief reading
about feudal fiefs, and then will label the layout of a typical fief on the second page of MAE 24.

Transition: For our closure today, I want to have us create a really good visual representation of feudal society
structure. If you remember our brief lesson Monday, feudalism looks like a pyramid, and we will be creating a
feudal pyramid of our own today.

Adaptations:
2nd:

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3rd: students are already in small groups, have them stay for the brief reading on the manor and to complete their
layout
4th:
5th:

Activity – Closure
Time Allotted:
Where:

Students will create a social pyramid for feudal society in Europe. They will label each step of the pyramid.
Students will then label arrows that show what different classes are giving to one another and receiving from
one another.

Transition: When you are finished, please put your social pyramid in the period tray and clean up your table
groups.

Adaptations: Students have full access to all their notes from the day, including INB page 127 which gives many
of the answers to the pyramid, Students also have a word bank (mainly for CC but will help all)
2nd:
3rd:
4th:
5th:

Assessment: Social Pyramid

Homework: None

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Serfs to K nights: N obles to Lords K ings to N obles: K nights to Serfs:
Food soldiers Land (Fief) Security
Labor Money Help if Attacked Protection

Answer Key
K nights to N obles N am e:__________________ N obles to K nights
protection land
Soldiers D ate:___________________ power
Help if Attacked
Period:_________________

Lords

Nobles

Knights/Vassals

Serfs