Medieval Projects You Can Do!

Children's Literature - Vanessa Richardson

Aimed at young adults interested in medieval times—dress, food, and crafts—this book would also be very useful as a guide for teachers in creating lesson plans for history and medieval studies. Packed with information, illustrations, and paintings from the Middle Ages, this book is sometimes a bit visually overwhelming, but does have well organized projects that introduce children to the social life, customs, and skills and techniques used to make what people needed in the Middle Ages. Each chapter details life in the Middle Ages with corresponding projects, crafts, and recipes. Each chapter also contains helpful symbols with difficulty ratings and safety tips, including "needs a stove or heat", "needs a sharp knife or scissors," "recipe," and if the project is best done alone, with a partner, with a small group, or with an adult. The book begins with the subject of medieval dress, describing the style of dress, the cloth, and how they weaved. The activity teaches how to weave your own belt, headband, wristband, or small mat on a cardboard loom. Subsequent chapters include "Everyday Food," a simple recipe; "A Peasant's Home," describing and creating a wattle-and-daub house; "In a Noble's Home," creating a wall hanging; "The Field of Honor," making a coat of arms; "Military Machines," making a trebuchet; "Art in Churches," making a stained glass window; "Making Books," creating an illuminated name card; "Having Fun," making a puppet show; "Come to the Feast!," a menu of recipes, food safety tips, and guidelines to create your own medieval feast; and "Feast Day!," from making invitations to decorating and serving the meal. The very end of the book contains a glossary and indexto further explain the wording and terminology used within the book. This book is part of the "Medieval World" series.