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4 Week Free Middle Ages Unit Study & Best Hands-on Ideas

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I have a free 4-week Middle Ages unit study for kids. Look at these other Best Homeschool Unit Studies for more ideas and topics for hands-on learning.

The Medieval or Middle Ages is a period in history that is full of legend and myth.

This Middle Ages unit study is about medieval Europe.

4 Week Free Middle Ages Unit Study & Best Hands-on Ideas

We’ve studied other periods like Medieval Japan which can make for a great comparison with this one. That is an idea for a co-op with maybe a mix of middle and high school kids.

However, for today we’re focusing on the castles, knights, and King Arthur of medieval Europe.

Next, it’s important to understand that a way of life doesn’t just stop and another one begins at an exact date.

So many periods of history, customs, way of life, and events overlap. This period of Medieval we’ll cover is approximately 500 to 1400–1500 ce.

BOOKS ABOUT THE MIDDLE AGES HISTORY FOR KIDS

First, look at some of these books.

Using a living book as your spine or main text is a fun way to bring this time to life.

9 Medieval History Books & Resources For Kids Who Love Reading and Being Read To

Add a few of these books to your Middle Ages or Medieval unit study.

Also, understand why the Middle Ages are also called Medieval Times.

Merriam-Websters defines Middle Ages like this: With its roots medi-, meaning “middle”, and ev-, meaning “age”, medieval literally means “of the Middle Ages”. In this case, middle means “between the Roman empire and the Renaissance”—that is, after the fall of the great Roman state and before the “rebirth” of culture that we call the Renaissance.

In summary, I explained to my sons it’s the time between Ancient Rome and The Renaissance.

However, if you have older children, the Middle Ages can be broken down further into the Early Middle Ages (c. 400 to 900), the High Middle Ages (c. 900 to the mid-1200s) and the Late Middle Ages (c. mid1200s to 1500).

Each of these time periods have significant events, people and places which emerged. This helps to narrow your study if you want to dive deeper.

Because this is only 4 weeks, I’m teaching a general overview of the Medieval Times.

HISTORY & GEOGRAPHY MIDDLE AGES UNIT STUDY IDEAS WEEK 1

The Roman Empire had provided stability for centuries in the region. It had spread its culture, the Latin language, and Christianity across the continent.

But the Roman grew weak and worse it had been invaded.

So, it was a time when kings and feudal lords ruled the land and when castles appeared.

Castles were both a residence for the noble and a defensive structure.

However, the majority of people were poor people or peasants.

They learned a trade and survived off the land living in thatched huts and farming on land they did not own.

The lands were normally owned by a feudal lord.

And it’s important to help your child understand what we mean when we say Middle Ages Europe. All the countries did not have the same name as they do today but we’ll use the modern day names so our kids will understand the geography.

During the early Middle Ages, Europe included the islands of Britain and Ireland.

Also, much of the land that we now call Italy, Germany, and France was included. It also included the Vikings and the Scandinavian countries. The countries are we now called Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Finland.

MIDDLE AGES HISTORY VOCABULARY WORDS

Too, look at a list of words to define.

  • noble – A person of high social rank, often owning large amounts of land and having titles like lord or lady.
  • feudal society – a social system in which land is owned by a small ruling class and is worked by peasants in exchange for protection and other services.
  • vassal– A person who receives land from a lord in exchange for loyalty and service.
  • papacy – the office or the position of the pope
  • fief – A piece of land granted by a lord to a vassal in exchange for loyalty and service
  • manor – a Iarge estate, often including farms and a village, ruled by a lord
  • knight – a man who received honor and land in exchange for serving a lord as a soldier

NATURE & SCIENCE MIDDLE AGES UNIT STUDY IDEAS WEEK 2

Next, in the Middle Ages people decorated their heads with flowers and leaves. Make a crown of flowers with any long stem flowers. Daisies are a good choice.

Medieval Chemistry had early beginnings although we don’t always think about the medieval period as that time.

MATH & LANGUAGE ARTS MIDDLE AGES UNIT STUDY IDEAS WEEK 3

During this period, it was hard for people to separate myth from reality.

But that is why the book King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table is fun to read to get a taste of the time.

Also, we don’t have as many primary sources which is why this is called the dark period.

But be sure to pore over what we do have from that time which are the famous stories like “Beowulf” and “The Canterbury Tales”.

Too, here are some history makers and events during this period.

Research one or two that interests your child.

FAMOUS PEOPLE AND EVENTS

  • knights – men who fought for and protected the lands of their lord, baron, count, or king.
  • barbarians – people that the Romans thought were primitive.
  • King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table – No one knows if they’re real or not.
  • Medieval minstrels – Musicians who traveled from place to place, singing songs and reciting poetry. Look at this beautiful site Luminarium for Lyrics (make sure your sound is on) and look at the English Anthologies too.
  • Henry II of England – In 1154, Henry II was crowned King of England. Under his rule, England prospered. He brought common law to England.
  • court jester – the court’s official entertainer
  • bubonic plague – infectious disease carried by rats and mice that spread to humans.
  • Charlemagne – “Charlemagne” is French for Charles the Great. Charlemagne used the great wealth and strong military organization that he had inherited from his father and brother to build his empire.
  • Crusades – A series of wars fought between Christians and Muslims during the 11th to the 13th centuries in the hopes of taking possession of Jerusalem and other places considered to be holy by the Christians.
4 Week Free Middle Ages Unit Study & Best Hands-on Ideas

ARTS & CRAFTS MIDDLE AGES UNIT STUDY WEEK 4

Also, look at this list of craftsmen and trades during the Middle Ages.

  • Tanner – Made leather from animal hides for clothing and goods
  • Fletcher – Made arrows for archery and hunting.
  • Weaver – Created cloth and textiles using a loom.

Also, look at a few more Middle Ages resources.

MORE MIDDLE AGES RESOURCES

Of course, as I mentioned this is a huge quick overview and just touches the fringe of this expansive time.

There are more colorful characters and events to explore.

What are you studying about and doing hands-on?

How To Make A Kids Easy Medieval Stained Glass Window

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

You will enjoy this easy Medieval stained glass window project as much as your kids. Also, look at my pages 4 Week Free Middle Ages Unit Study & Best Hands-on Idea and 12 Gifts For Medieval History Buffs.

Turn your living room into a castle straight out of the Middle Ages with a little paint and tape.

Preschoolers through highschoolers will love this hands-on activity.

And they will probably beg to do it more than once, we have done large windows like this several times.

How To Make A Kids Easy Medieval Stained Glass Window

Too, it can be traced as far back as the 7th century in Britain.

Some examples have been found in churches and monasteries.

Stained glass became extremely popular in medieval Europe.

It could be found in churches, cathedrals, wealthy homes, and Gothic architecture.

About Stained Glass In Europe

They were beautiful pieces of art that allowed natural light to stream into typically dark spaces and added a touch of drama and elegance.

To make stained glass sand and wood ash (potash) were melted into a liquid and when it was cooled it became glass.

To add color to the glass, various powdered metals are then added to the mixture while the glass is still liquid.

It was then flattened into sheets and the picture was designed by laying pieces of colored glass onto a board, then canes of lead were put between each piece and soldered together.

While the glass was leaded between colored pieces back then we are going to simplify ours.

We’ll still get a pretty impressive design using tape and a bit of design planning that is easy to clean up when you are ready to remove it.

 You can create an intricate window with many symbols and period objects or just do an abstract design with lots of color and geometric shapes for impact.

Moreover, think about things that embody medieval times like swords, shields, dragons, lions, castles, knights, and other symbols.

Next, add some living books to this hands-on history craft.

Books for Kids About the Medieval Ages

9 Medieval History Books & Resources For Kids Who Love Reading and Being Read To

Add a few of these books to your Middle Ages or Medieval unit study.

Additionally, look at more Medieval stained glass projects.

More Medieval Stained Glass Projects

How To Make A Kids Easy Medieval Stained Glass Window

Also, look at these other Medieval crafts.

More Medieval Period Resources

Finally, look at how to make this easy medieval stained glass window.

How To Make A Kids Easy Medieval Stained Glass Window

You will need:

  • Washable craft paint
  • Painters tape or masking tape
  • Water
  • Dish soap
  • Paint brushes
  • Wet rag
How To Make A Kids Easy Medieval Stained Glass Window

First, I highly suggest outlining your entire window with painter’s tape to protect the trim around your window first.

We got a little lazy this time and we had a bit of a mess on the wall paint, no worries though it was time for a paint refresh anyway.

Prepare your window by covering up your windowsill with tape or paper taped down to protect it and the wall beneath the window as well.

How To Make A Kids Easy Medieval Stained Glass Window

Decide on your design and then take masking tape or painter’s tape and outline your entire design with it, be sure to press it down firmly so that you get nice clean edges.

You can curve your tape to create rounded designs like we did with our lion and shield you won’t get nice as nice of edges as you would with linear shapes.

Start with whatever actual shapes you want then fill in the rest of the window with simpler geometric shapes. The smaller areas, the more colorful and interesting the window will be.

When you are satisfied with your window design, and it’s all taped off you’re ready to paint.

Medieval Stained Glass Window

Squirt about half an inch or less of each paint color you chose into small cups, paper cups save time on cleaning up.

How To Make A Kids Easy Medieval Stained Glass Window

Add a couple of drops of dish soap.

And enough water to thin it out just a bit so it has the translucent stained-glass look.

How To Make A Kids Easy Medieval Stained Glass Window

Choose a color and have your child fill in random spaces throughout the entire design with their brush, keep a wet rag on hand to wipe up drips and spills if needed.

How To Make A Kids Easy Medieval Stained Glass Window

Switch colors and paint some more and continue changing colors until you’ve used everything up in your design entirely painted.

How To Make A Kids Easy Medieval Stained Glass Window

Allow it to dry almost completely, and then peel off the tape. This is very satisfying.

Use a damp rag, if needed to clean up your edges a little bit. Place where your tape has lifted, or it has dripped.

When you’re ready to clean it off, it cleans up easily by wetting it with water or Windex and scraping it a little bit.

Use something safe for your window like a plastic scraper or a lot of elbow grease and some paper towels.

How To Make A Kids Easy Medieval Stained Glass Window

Medieval Period: How To Make A Quill Pen

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To create Medieval manuscripts, scribes had to learn first how to make a quill pen and that is what we are doing today. Also, you may like my posts 4 Week Free Middle Ages Unit Study & Best Hands-on Ideas and Medieval History for Homeschool.

Before printing machines were invented every copy of a book had to be written by hand.

Scribes would copy and meticulously write every word using ink and a quill pen.

Medieval Period: How To Make A Quill Pen

Fortunately, many medieval-era documents, including manuscripts, have survived the many centuries since the Middle Ages.

These important artifacts give scholars and historians information about life, laws, culture, and society of the Middle Ages,

Not only that but they also provide us with evidence of how they created many different colors of ink by using natural materials.

We are going to recreate the earlier used black carbon ink using a little bit more modern method that will give us roughly the same effect.

These amazing writers and artists paved the way for the books that you and I enjoy today and made it much easier for us to develop amazing technologies.

Books About the Middle Ages for Kids

9 Medieval History Books & Resources For Kids Who Love Reading and Being Read To

Add a few of these books to your Middle Ages or Medieval unit study.

Medieval Manuscripts 101

The word “manuscript” is derived from the Latin words manus (hand).

And from scriptus (writing) literally means “written by hand.”

Manuscripts were decorated with small painted scenes.

They were called miniatures.

And ornately decorated letters began a chapter. They had very intricate borders, and sometimes full-page painted illustrations.

These photos meant that the many people during medieval times that could not read scrolls still own and enjoy the manuscripts.

Making and using quills was central to a scribes profession.

During this time period they were generally taken from geese and swans.

Quills were used to write the Magna Carta and the Declaration of Independence.

Besides the important quill they would of course also need ink.

During the medieval period there were two kinds of ink.

From around 2500 BCE black carbon ink was used. It was a mixture of carbon, water, and gum.

Medieval Period: How To Make A Quill Pen

Later in the period, between the 5th and 19th centuries they used brown iron-gall ink.

It was made using iron salts and tannic acids from vegetable sources.

Other Medieval Projects to Try With How to Make a Quill Pen

Finally, look how to make a quill pen fun activity.

How To Make A Quill Pen

While you can crush your own charcoal from charcoal briquettes for the grill, purchasing ready to use powder is a much easier and less messy way to go.

You will need:

Medieval Period: How To Make A Quill Pen

First, wipe your feather tip down with alcohol to clean and sanitize it.

You can cut off the bottom ½” to 1” of feathers from the shaft to make a larger gripping surface if you want.

Then use the side of the edge of the knife to scrape the membrane off the shaft, it will come off as waxy scraps.

Medieval Period: How To Make A Quill Pen

Use scissors to cut a quill point for the barrel, you want your quill to curve downward, with the cut side being underneath.

You can use the knife but I find it is a little bit too difficult to cut with a knife on the curved shaft.

Medieval Period: How To Make A Quill Pen

To create your ink mix the charcoal powder with a little water until it is a watery paste. Add a few drops of honey to act as a binder.

Medieval Period: How To Make A Quill Pen

When ready to write, dip the quill into the ink pot (in my case a 4 oz mason jar with lid).

Medieval Period: How To Make A Quill Pen

Practice writing on your paper by making circles, straight lines, and then letters. You will need to re-dip the quill frequently.

Medieval Period: How To Make A Quill Pen

Once you are more comfortable with the quill and ink you can try more complicated words and fancier letters like in manuscripts.

Medieval Period: How To Make A Quill Pen

12 Gifts For Medieval History Buffs

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I have 12 gifts for medieval history buffs. Also, look at my page 4 Week Free Middle Ages Unit Study & Best Hands-on Ideas and Gifts For Kids Who Are Wild About History.

Calling all medieval history buffs or those who have a friend or loved one with a deep love for all things medieval.

A medievalist is a specialist in medieval history and culture and has a passion for weaponry, social classes, castles, land, and everything medieval times encompass.

I included ideas for all ages and those who also love the fantasy aspect of the medieval period.

I’m sharing with you a world of 12 gifts inspired by castles, knights, and chivalry of the medieval era that they will cherish.

12 Gifts For Medieval History Buffs

My handpicked list will transport you back in time.

And call to mind the captivating legends and tales of this extraordinary period.

Children grow up pretending to slay dragons and save the princess, or ride their horses into battle, and rule over kingdoms because of the heroism, beauty, and romanticism of the time.

Princesses and knights and everything that comes with them are still popular now.

Just look at the Medieval Fairs and even restaurants catering to those who love it.

Gift Guides for Families

12 Gifts For Medieval History Buffs

Many books, movies, and board games have been inspired by this era as well.

Gifts For Medieval History Buffs

Whether you’re looking for a unique gift for a friend, family member, or even yourself, this Amazon medieval history buff gift list is sure to enchant and delight.

12 Gifts For Medieval History Buffs

You'll love one or two of these ideas.

How to Make a Knight Templar Helmet for Fun Medieval Times Crafts

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

If you’re looking for fun medieval times crafts, you’ll love this knight Templar helmet. Also, look at my page 4 Week Free Middle Ages Unit Study & Best Hands-on Ideas and How To Upcycle A Monopoly Game History to A Medieval Theme & Free Printables.

Do you have a kid that loves the Middle Ages and medieval times crafts? They are going to absolutely love this one.

We are building a medieval knight helmet.

How to Make a Knight Templar Helmet for Fun Medieval Times Crafts

This style is a crusader helmet/bucket helmet but can be adjusted and you can add more detail as you become comfortable with using cardboard for costumes.

This activity takes any Middle Ages lesson to the next level through research, building creativity, and problem-solving, then ends with a fantastic craft project.

Before you enter into battle with your knight Templar helmet here are 5 mind-blowing facts about knights and their armor to share.

5 Facts about Knights and their Armor

  1. There were two main kinds of armor: chain mail, made up of thousands of little metal rings, and plate armor which was sheets of metal worked together.
  2. The Knights Templar was an order of military monks that provided protection for pilgrims traveling in the Holy Land during the Crusades.
  3. Chivalry was a code of conduct that all knights swore and adhered to.
  4. The boys who trained to be knights were generally the sons of knights or lords.
  5. Some two-handed swords that knights carried were over 5 feet long.
How to Make a Knight Templar Helmet for Fun Medieval Times Crafts

Also, look at some of these resources.

9 Medieval History Books & Resources For Kids Who Love Reading and Being Read To

Add a few of these books to your Middle Ages or Medieval unit study.

The Middle Ages were dark and often violent but there were many amazing inventions that came out of them, gallant knights, and beautiful architecture.

It is a beautiful and fascinating time to study deeper.

More Medieval Times Crafts

Next, look at more Medieval times crafts.

How to Make a Knight Templar Helmet for Fun Medieval Times Crafts

Finally, look at this fun knight Templar helmet.

How to Make a Knight Templar Helmet Craft for Kids

If you are anything like me, you have boxes coming to your house filled with goodies on a regular basis.  So, grab the next large one you get for this really fun project.

You will need:

  • Large cardboard box
  • Silver spray paint
  • Scissors or box cutter blade
  • Hot glue gun/ glue sticks
  • Marker

First, cut your box so that it is one long straight rectangle.

Trim it down to about 8”-10” tall and around 32” long.

Turn the better side of the cardboard down. This is going to be the inside of the helmet; you want the cleaner side to be outside.

Take a straight edge or an open scissor blade and score through the top layer of cardboard only, not all the way through.

Do this from the top to the bottom about ½” apart all the way across.

The purpose of this is to allow your cardboard to bend wonderfully into any shape without creasing it.

How to Make a Knight Templar Helmet for Fun Medieval Times Crafts

The next thing you want to do is decide where the eyeholes should be.

To do that I just rolled the cardboard around the head and made a mark on the inside where the eyes were. Shape and color in your eyes so you know where to cut.

How to Make a Knight Templar Helmet for Fun Medieval Times Crafts

Cut out each eye hole and make adjustments as needed. You could also cut a slit all the way across if you prefer.

How to Make a Knight Templar Helmet for Fun Medieval Times Crafts

Here is where I am going to tell you to learn from my mistake.

We did not cut our mouth area out until after it was all glued together.

 It would have been much easier and much cleaner to cut it out at this point while it is flat.

 So, we are just going to pretend that is what I did okay? Depending on the style you have chosen to make there are different shapes and directions for them.

How to Make a Knight Templar Helmet for Fun Medieval Times Crafts

Now to create the top of the helmet you are going to try the helmet on the noble knight by rolling it into a cylinder, cutting off anything more than 1” excess and tape it to the size you want.

Then trace a second piece of cardboard around your circle.

How to Make a Knight Templar Helmet for Fun Medieval Times Crafts

Start in the center and run a bead of hot glue right at the edge of your helmet several inches long, put the round in place on the hot glue and hold for a minute or two until the hot glue sets.

How to Make a Knight Templar Helmet for Fun Medieval Times Crafts

You can then continue around adding hot glue and rolling it around the circle you cut out until it is done. At the very end overlap your pieces slightly and secure with hot glue from top to bottom.

How to Make a Knight Templar Helmet for Fun Medieval Times Crafts

If you want to be sure it is secure add another bead of hot glue all the way around the top.

How to Make a Knight Templar Helmet for Fun Medieval Times Crafts

Make what looks like welding dots along the edges of your helmet wherever you would like by making little puddles of hot glue, allowing it to harden before you turn it to work on the next section.

These are little rivets that were used to join pieces of metal together.

How to Make a Knight Templar Helmet for Fun Medieval Times Crafts

Trim any rough edges and put on any other design you like with hot glue before the next step.

Finally, take your helmet outside with lots of ventilation and give it a light coat of silver spray paint.

Allow it to dry for 15 minutes and give it another coat.

Let the paint dry completely before using it, here is what we used, it’s hammered silver and we loved the final look.

How to Make a Knight Templar Helmet for Fun Medieval Times Crafts