Beltane: Medieval Life & Culture
Castles, knights, guilds, and peasants—we explore daily life in medieval Europe, from the heights of chivalry to the tragedy of the Black Death and the resilience that followed.
UU Principle Focus
5th Principle: The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process
🎯 Learning Goals
- • Understand castle life, knighthood, and the code of chivalry
- • Explore medieval towns, guilds, and economic systems
- • Analyze the impact of the Black Death on society
- • Master data analysis: mean, median, mode, graphs
- • Understand probability concepts
- • Study the kingdoms of life and basic biology
Weekly Lessons
Week 1: Castle Life
🕯️ Hearth Circle
Castles were homes, fortresses, and centers of power. What makes a place feel safe and strong? How do we build security in our lives?
📚 Language Arts
Study castle architecture and daily life. Parts of a castle. Write a descriptive tour of a medieval castle.
✖️ Math
Data analysis: mean, median, mode. Calculating averages. Real-world applications.
🔬 Science: Biology
Biology introduction: What is life? Characteristics of living things. Classification of organisms.
✏️ Form Drawing
Castle architectural drawings—towers, walls, gates
🧶 Handwork
Begin Beltane crafts; flower garlands
📖 Story
A Day in a Medieval Castle
📺 "Just Can't" Day
Videos:
- Castle Documentary
- Classification of Living Things
Shows:
- Secrets of the Castle
Audio:
- Castle Diary audiobook
Week 2: Knights and Chivalry
🕯️ Hearth Circle
Knights followed a code of chivalry: honor, courage, service. What code do you live by? What values guide your actions? (1st Principle)
📚 Language Arts
Study knighthood: training, tournaments, the code of chivalry. Read excerpts from Arthurian legends. Write your own code of honor.
✖️ Math
Range and outliers. Box plots introduction. Interpreting data displays.
🔬 Science: Biology
Kingdoms of life: animals, plants, fungi, protists, bacteria. Characteristics of each.
✏️ Form Drawing
Heraldic designs—shields and crests
🧶 Handwork
Create a personal coat of arms; weave flower crowns
📖 Story
King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table
📺 "Just Can't" Day
Videos:
- Medieval Knights
- Kingdoms of Life
Shows:
- Knightfall
Audio:
- The Once and Future King excerpts
Week 3: Medieval Towns and Guilds
🕯️ Hearth Circle
Guilds were communities of craftspeople who supported each other. How do communities help us grow? (5th Principle: Democratic Process)
📚 Language Arts
Study medieval towns: markets, guilds, apprenticeships. Compare to modern businesses. Write about learning a craft.
✖️ Math
Creating and interpreting graphs: bar graphs, line graphs, circle graphs. Choosing appropriate displays.
🔬 Science: Biology
Animal kingdom: vertebrates vs. invertebrates. Major animal groups. Adaptations.
✏️ Form Drawing
Guild symbols and trade signs
🧶 Handwork
Learn a traditional craft skill; prepare Maypole ribbons
📖 Story
The Apprentice's Tale
📺 "Just Can't" Day
Videos:
- Medieval Guilds
- Animal Classification
Shows:
- Worst Jobs in History
Audio:
- Crispin: Cross of Lead excerpts
Week 4: The Black Death
🕯️ Hearth Circle
The plague killed millions and changed society forever. How do communities respond to crisis? How do we find hope in tragedy? (2nd Principle)
📚 Language Arts
Study the Black Death: causes, spread, effects. Read primary sources. Write about how society changed after the plague.
✖️ Math
Probability introduction. Theoretical vs. experimental probability. Simple probability calculations.
🔬 Science: Biology
Bacteria and disease. How diseases spread. Hygiene and prevention. The immune system.
✏️ Form Drawing
Medieval medical illustrations; transformation designs
🧶 Handwork
Herb sachets and natural remedies; garden work
📖 Story
The Black Death: A World Transformed
📺 "Just Can't" Day
Videos:
- Black Death Documentary
- How Diseases Spread
Shows:
- Secrets of the Dead: Plague
Audio:
- Year of Wonders excerpts
Week 5: Peasant Life and the Peasants' Revolt
🕯️ Hearth Circle
After the plague, peasants demanded better treatment. When is it right to stand up against injustice? (2nd Principle: Justice)
📚 Language Arts
Study peasant life and the Peasants' Revolt of 1381. Compare to other justice movements. Write a speech for the peasants.
✖️ Math
Compound probability. Independent and dependent events. Tree diagrams.
🔬 Science: Biology
Plant kingdom: parts of plants, photosynthesis, plant reproduction. Importance of plants.
✏️ Form Drawing
Agricultural scenes; tools and farming designs
🧶 Handwork
Plant a garden; create nature journals
📖 Story
Wat Tyler and the Peasants' Revolt
📺 "Just Can't" Day
Videos:
- Peasants' Revolt
- Photosynthesis Explained
Shows:
- Terry Jones' Medieval Lives
Audio:
- Medieval history podcast
Week 6: Medieval Women
🕯️ Hearth Circle
Women in medieval times had limited rights, but many found ways to lead and create. How do we honor those who came before us? (1st Principle)
📚 Language Arts
Study medieval women: queens, nuns, healers, writers. Hildegard of Bingen, Eleanor of Aquitaine. Write a biography.
✖️ Math
Review probability and statistics. Design and conduct a survey. Analyze results.
🔬 Science: Biology
Fungi and decomposers. The role of fungi in ecosystems. Mushroom identification (safety!).
✏️ Form Drawing
Illuminated portraits; botanical illustrations
🧶 Handwork
Herbal crafts; prepare Beltane altar
📖 Story
Remarkable Medieval Women
📺 "Just Can't" Day
Videos:
- Medieval Women Documentary
- Fungi and Decomposers
Shows:
- She-Wolves: England's Early Queens
Audio:
- Catherine, Called Birdy excerpts
Week 7: Beltane: Celebration of Life
🕯️ Hearth Circle
Beltane celebrates life, fertility, and community. Medieval people celebrated May Day with dancing and joy. How do we celebrate life and community?
📚 Language Arts
Write about celebration and community. Complete medieval projects. Present research on medieval life.
✖️ Math
Review all data analysis and probability concepts. Create a final statistics project.
🔬 Science: Biology
Review biology concepts. Create a presentation on a living thing of your choice.
✏️ Form Drawing
Maypole and spring celebration designs
🧶 Handwork
Complete Beltane crafts; decorate the Maypole
📖 Story
May Day Celebrations Through History
📺 "Just Can't" Day
Videos:
- Beltane Traditions
- Biology Review
Shows:
- Planet Earth
Audio:
- Spring celebration stories
🌺 Beltane Celebration
- 🟡 Dance around the Maypole with ribbons
- 🟡 Crown a May Queen and King
- 🟡 Create flower garlands and crowns
- 🟡 Hold a medieval-themed feast
- 🟡 Display coats of arms and medieval projects
- 🟡 Celebrate community, life, and the coming of summer
📚 Recommended Resources
Read-Alouds & Literature
- • Catherine, Called Birdy (Karen Cushman)
- • Crispin: The Cross of Lead (Avi)
- • The Door in the Wall (Marguerite de Angeli)
Reference
- • DK Eyewitness: Castle
- • DK Eyewitness: Knight
- • Usborne Medieval World