GOAL/OBJECTIVES: Knights topic + Introducing new vocabulary + Past Tense Practice

Introduction or warm up5’

Brainstormingmaterial

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClNPiTjo808

comments

only the first 20sec

Body 30’

Opening discussion5-10 min

The same video and the plot summary only the first minute

New lesson10-15 min

Lilly Allen: I’m a Knight Worksheet

The Coat of Arms5 min

Passage about heraldry

Designing a Coat of Arms10 min

Some students explain their coats of arms In the time

left

Ending Explaining the homework, answering questions

Homework: Reading about Knights

Lesson Plan:

1) Introductory questions (5 min):What can we see in the video?What age is it?Who are the people in the video? What are they doing?What does the boy wish to be?Do you know the movie?

Quick brainstorming activity: everybody says the first word that comes to mind about the Age of Knights. Put them on the whiteboard for later reference.

2) Play the video again for more eye candy and to set the mood. Afterwards ask a student to read out the plot summary on the handout.Ask whether the story idea is historically accurate / what may be the possible outcome of the main character’s deception. Don’t provide answers yet. (5-10 minutes. 10 only if the group becomes engaged in a promising discussion).

3) Have the students read the short passage about becoming a knight. Ask again whether A Knight’s Tale can be accurate (it can’t be, squires are always nobles).

Afterwards let the students work in pairs and try to figure out a squire’s tasks in the Medieval Ages. Not everything is mentioned in the text, the goal is to make them argue about the matter. Monitor work, help them with unknown words. When most pairs are ready, have a short class feedback section.

4) Read the passage about coats of arms, explain unknown words. Explain that the colors and shapes in heraldry are symbolic. Ask if the students would use another symbols instead of the ones listed among the examples. Note them on the whiteboard for further reference.

5) Designing a Coat of Arms: the emphasis is not on the drawing skills or making pretty sigils, but if some of the students enjoy art and do not take too long, let them have fun. Monitor work, encourage original ideas (new symbols that students make up on the spot).

Readings and materials:

*** 1 ***A knight’s tale:

When a knight dies during a fight, one of his squires, William Thatcher, disguises himself as his master to win the prize money of the tournament. He wins the fight and decides to, together with his fellow squires Wat and Roland, take on a new false identity as a knight and make a living winning tournaments. On their way to a tournament, they meet Geoffrey Chaucer, a poor writer who joins the group. The four of them keep traveling through England, fighting in tournaments.

*** 2 ***Becoming a Knight

At the age of about seven, a boy of noble birth was sent away to another nobleman’s household to become a page. A page learned courtly manners, horse riding and how to fight. When about 14, a page became a squire, apprenticed to a knight. A squire learned to use weapons. He also looked after his master’s armor and horses, served his lord and assisted him in battle.A successful squire became a knight when he was 21 years old at a ceremony called dubbing.

What did the squire do in medieval times?o protect the knighto carry the knight’s shield and swordo serve the knight’s mealo take care of the knight’s horseso train in the art of waro train in the art of loveo learn to read and writeo have fun and hunto learn proper etiquetteo carry the knight’s flago help the knight on the battlefieldo go to tournaments with the knighto fight in tournamentso dress the knight in armoro make sure the weapons and armor were in good condition

*** 3 ***A Coat of Arms or Family Crest has long been a symbol of a family's identity and values. Originally used to identify warriors dressed in armor, each knight chose symbols and colors to represent his family or clan. These family crests or coats of arms have been passed down throughout generations. Heraldry is the study of coats of arms. In heraldry every pattern and every color has some kind of meaning. The coat of arms is truly the symbol of the family.

Meaning of Colors:Gold - understanding, respectSilver - cleanliness, wisdomRed - the color of warriorsBlue - strength and loyaltyBlack - griefGreen - freedom and beauty

Meaning of Symbols:Apple - happiness, peaceArm - hard workArrow - ready for warBear - strengthBoar - courageBull - braveryCrown - victoryDove - purityTwo-headed eagle - protector