Middle Ages Project

Dear parents and guardians,

Your student will be expected to choose one of the projects from the attached feudalism
project options sheet. This choice must be made and approved by the parent and
the teacher by Wednesday, December 17, 2014. This project choice will be
worth 5 points of your students tests/projects/quizzes grade.
The project itself will be graded based upon the Feudalism Project Rubric, and aided by
the specified project requirements. The project will be worth 28 points of your students
tests/projects/quizzes grade. I would encourage students to complete both the Content
Checklist and the Feudalism Project Rubric before handing-in/presenting the project to
be sure that all required elements are present.
One of the project requirements for every option is a MLA style works cited page.
Examples of MLA style and appropriate formatting for a work cited page can be found in
the attached materials.
As the project options are so varied, there will be no official intermediate project due
dates other than the project choice. The final project is due:

Tuesday,

February 3, 2015.
I would suggest the following progress goals for your students:

Project approved by teacher, parent/guardian: Wed, Dec. 17 th

Project research completed in full: Fri, Jan. 9th
Project put together in full: Wed, Jan. 21st
Works Cited Completed: Wed, Jan 28th
Checklist & Feudalism Project Rubric completed by student: Friday Jan. 30th
Project handed in: Tues, Feb. 3rd

Tear off this portion of the sheet and return to Mrs. Kushner no later than Wed.
Dec. 17, 2014
I have read the letter, project requirements, and approve of the topic choice/method
chosen by my student for the Medieval Europe Project. I understand what is expected of
my student.
Parent Signature:__________________________________

Date:________________

I have read the letter and project requirements for the Medieval Europe Project and
understand what is expected of me.
Student Signature:__________________________________ Date:_______________

Project Choice and specific topic (if applicable):

______________________________________

Method of Presentation Chosen: __________________________________________________

Teachers Initial of Approval for Topic Choice: ____________

Middle Ages Project Options

DIY Field Trip on Gothic Architecture!
Find Examples of Gothic Architecture in Cleveland! (Or online)
Suggested site to visit:
44115(216) 771 - 3630

TRINITY CATHEDRAL: 2230 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio

Student must explain what the architectural items below are and the purpose* they serve.
Students must also find examples of each of the different architectural features. Each example
should be a picture (location of the building must be labeled underneath). Each example should
have 1 picture (if the student takes the picture in person) or 2 pictures (if the pictures are found
online).

Content Checklist: place a check on either side of each item once that task has
been completed

Explanation and Purpose*

Example

Architectural Feature

Picture

____________

Rose Windows

____________

Flying Buttresses*

____________

Stained Glass*

____________

Gargoyles*

____________

____________

Tall Spires*

____________

____________

Pointed Arch*

____________

Irregular Vaulted Ceilings

____________
____________
____________

____________
____________

Once these pictures and descriptions have been found the student must present their field trip
(real or imagined) in one of the following formats:
An Annotated Scrapbook A PowerPoint Presentation

A Large Poster

***ALL LOCATIONS OF WHERE PICTURES WERE TAKEN MUST BE STATED BENIETH EACH
PICTURE***

A works cited page should include all factual information discovered and all photographs (used
the MLA Photograph sheet to help you cite)
The following websites may be helpful:
http://www.exploring-castles.com/characteristics_of_gothic_architecture.html#.VIYhW9LF-So
http://www.medieval-life-and-times.info/medieval-art/gargoyles.htm

Build a Castle!
Student may choose to build a model of a medieval castle. Your castle may be built out of poster
board or whatever material you want (providing it is stable for transport into the classroom). The
model castle must keep the traditional structure of either a Motte & Bailey castle, a traditional
stone castle, or a concentric castle. Castle models should also include some surrounding
farmland and peasant homes.
Students should label each part of the castle listed below and explain the function of each part
(who works there, what was its purpose, etc.) typed on a separate sheet of paper.

Content Checklist:

Place a check next to each item when it is labeled and a

second check next to each item when it is explained on a separate sheet of paper.
Castle Must Include:
Castle Should Also Include:
_____ Wall*
Drawbridge
_____ Bailey*

Motte & Baily Castle Should Also Include:

_____ Rampart or Ditch

_____ Portcullis

_____ Motte

Stone
and/or

_____ Moat or Rampart

_____ Keep

_____ Entrance Bridge or Drawbridge

_____ Flanking Towers*

_____ Gatehouse*
Loops

_____ Bridge to the Motte or Causeway

_____ Tall windows/ Arrow

_____ Murder Holes

Stone Castle And:
_____ Chapel
for the concentric castle

Concentric Castle Should Include Everything From A

* designates that a previously required item has been replaced

_____ Stables

_____ Outer Gate

_____ Kitchen

_____ Inner Gatehouse*

_____ Barracks

_____ Outer Bailey

_____ Great Hall

_____ Outer Wall*

_____ Farmland

_____ Inner Wall

_____ Peasant homes

_____ Inner Flanking Towers

_____ Outer Flaking Towers

Helpful Websites:
http://primaryhomeworkhelp.co.uk/Castles.html -Use for Parts of the Castle, Motte & Bailey
Castles and Stone Castles
http://www.kidsonthenet.com/castle/view.html
http://medievaleurope.mrdonn.org/castles.html

Tell a Story!
Camelot, King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table
Student must read a selection of legendary Camelot stories and pick one to reproduce for the
class in 2-5 minutes.
The student may re-tell the story through:
A Student-Produced Video: film a puppet show, mini-movie, or musical bard performance
(performed by you or someone else signing your lyrics)
Or:
A Musical Bard Performance: singing the story with student-written lyrics to a tune of your
choosing or to the traditional medieval tune of Green Sleeves
*** A typed copy of the song or script used along with a work cited (cite the storybook or website
you used for the original story and any graphics used) must be presented to the teacher along
with the performance/video***

Content Check-List/Rubric:

be sure that your performance will score in the

4-column for each category.

Category
Content

4
All required
content was
included:
storyline was
clear; no
extraneous
material was
included

3
All required
content was
included: story
line was clear;
some extraneous
material

2
Most required
content was
included:
audience could
figure out
storyline;
unnecessary
information was
presented; verbal

1
Important
omissions of
required content:
Unable to follow
the storyline;
random
information in
speech; verbal
viruses (like, ok,

viruses (like, ok,

etc.) present but
not problematic
Good choice of
organizational
structure:
ineffective
opening;
ineffective
closing

etc.) distracted
from speech

Organization

Good Choice of
organizational
structure:
opening grabbed
listeners;
powerful closing

Good choice of
organizational
structure:
Opening grabbed
the listeners;
powerful closing

Disorganized:
ineffective
opening;
performance just
stopped

Clarity of
presentation
(speed/voice)

Every word was

heard and/or clear.

A couple of words
were mumbled or
blurred
together

Several times, your

words were not
clear.
(Spoken a bit too
softly, loudly,
quickly or slowly.)

The audience had a

hard time hearing
the presenter.
Many words were
not understandable
because of
mumbling.

Length

The Presentation
was between 2
and 5 minutes

The presentation
was within 30
seconds of 2-5
minutes

The presentation
was within 60
seconds of 2-5
minutes

The presentation
was shorter than
1 minute or
longer than 6
minutes

Song or Epic Rap Battle of History!

Students must choose a teacher-approved topic on which to write song lyrics or compose an epic
rap battle of history. The song/rap should give 20 or more details/facts about the topic and may
be presented in class as a video, sound recording or live performance that should not exceed five
minutes.
***Students must give the teacher a typed copy of the lyrics as well as a works cited page for
resources, songs and graphics used in addition to the song performance***
Song Topic Suggestions:

Feudalism in general
Medieval Europe in general
The Spanish Inquisition (Torture)
The Crusades
Medieval Weaponry
Daily Life of: Royalty, Nobles, knights, peasants, etc.

Examples of History-Infused Songs Here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZy6XilXDZQ (Black Death based on HollaBack Girl- by
Gwen Stephani)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5V-IK1cEtE (Mr. Nickys Rome Song based on Thrift

Shop by Mackelmore)
Epic Rap Battle Suggestions:

Serfs vs. Lords (or any combination of knights, lords, kings and serfs)
Pope Urban VI vs. French Pope Clement VII
English during the 100 Years War vs. the French during the 100 Years War
Saxons vs. Normans

Student Project Example of Epic Rap Battle of History Here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jpYypfuNVU (King Arthur vs. Joan of Arc vs. Black Death)

Content Checklist on back

Content Check-List: Have the teacher initial your topic choice for approval, and fill in
at least twenty details/ facts that you included in your song.

Topic Choice: _________________________________ Teacher Approval: ____________

Song Chosen to Adapt (If applicable): _________________________________ By:
______________________
Facts or Details Included:

1. __________________________________________________________________________
2. __________________________________________________________________________
3. __________________________________________________________________________
4. __________________________________________________________________________
5. __________________________________________________________________________
6. __________________________________________________________________________

7. __________________________________________________________________________
8. __________________________________________________________________________
9. __________________________________________________________________________
10.
__________________________________________________________________________
11.
__________________________________________________________________________
12.
__________________________________________________________________________
13.
__________________________________________________________________________
14.
__________________________________________________________________________
15.
__________________________________________________________________________
16.
__________________________________________________________________________
17.
__________________________________________________________________________
18.
__________________________________________________________________________
19.
__________________________________________________________________________
20.
__________________________________________________________________________
Middle Ages Project Rubric
CATEGORY
Content

4
Student has
accurately
answered all
questions or
factual

3
Student has
accurately
answered 80%99% of the
questions or

2
Student has
accurately
answered 60%79% of the
questions or

1
Student has
accurately
answered 0%59% of the
questions or

information
required in the
project
description.

factual
information
required in the
project
description.
Content
Student has
Student has
accurately
accurately
answered all
answered 80%questions or
99% of the
factual
questions or
information
factual
required in the
information
project
required in the
description.
project
description.
Content
Student has
Student has
accurately
accurately
answered all
answered 80%questions or
99% of the
factual
questions or
information
factual
required in the
information
project
required in the
description.
project
description.
Attractiveness/Neatness/L The project is
The project is
ayout
exceptionally
attractive in
attractive in
terms of design,
terms of design, layout and
layout, and
neatness.
neatness.

factual
information
required in the
project
description.
Student has
accurately
answered 0%59% of the
questions or
factual
information
required in the
project
description.
Student has
accurately
answered 0%59% of the
questions or
factual
information
required in the
project
description.
The project is
unreadable and
messy to the
point of
distraction

Spelling and Grammar

There are more

than 5
grammatical
mistakes on the
project.
The project
includes 59% or
less of the
required
elements for the
required project
format

Project Format

factual
information
required in the
project
description.
Student has
accurately
answered 60%79% of the
questions or
factual
information
required in the
project
description.
Student has
accurately
answered 60%79% of the
questions or
factual
information
required in the
project
description.
The project is a
bit messy but
still legible and
effort to make
the project
attractive can be
seen.
There are no
There are 1-2
There are 3-5
spelling or
spelling or
spelling or
grammatical
grammatical
grammatical
mistakes on the mistakes on the mistakes on the
project.
project.
project.
The project
The project
The project
includes all
includes 80%includes 60%required
99% required
79% required
elements for the elements for the elements for the
required project required project required project
format.
format.
format.

Works Cited Page

Total:_______/28

All sources
(information and
graphics) are
accurately
documented in
MLA format.

All sources
(information and
graphics) are
accurately
documented, but
a few are not in
MLA format.

At least 75% of No Works Cited

sources
Page was
(information and completed.
graphics) are
accurately
documented, but
may not be in
MLA format.