CEClang.96


TITLE:  The Middle Ages and Children's Literature

AUTHOR:  Cecelia Cameron, Sequoyah Middle School;
         Claremore, Oklahoma

GRADE LEVEL/SUBJECT:  2-5, Gifted; Literature

OBJECTIVE:  To make students aware of how the Middle Ages
may have influenced children's literature, to improve
vocabulary, to practice creative writing and critical
thinking skills.

RESOURCES/MATERIALS:  Mother goose books, paper, pencils

ACTIVITIES AND PROCEDURES:
Students should have a basic knowledge about life in the
Middle Ages.

     Teacher asks students to try to remember the first time
they heard or read about kings.  If they cannot, read one or
two nursery rhymes that mention kings and suggest that many
of them might have first heard about kings while being read
to by their parents before they themselves could read.
Question them as to how many rhymes they can remember that
mention kings or queens or something else having to do with
the Middle Ages.  Have them speculate on just how many there
might be.  Next, they are to break into groups, (the number
depending on how many are available) and count and list the
ones they find.
     (Application)  Discuss why there are so many, whether
or not they may have originated in the Middle Ages, and
whether or not they are realistic in light of what they have
already studied about life in the Middle Ages.  They may
also analyze the rhymes to determine if they are funny or
violent, or just plain silly.
     (Analysis)  Have them choose one particular nursery
rhyme and either add to it, change it to make it more
realistic or less violent, paraphrase it, change it to
reflect current slang and idioms, etc.
     (Synthesis)  The students will then share their new
Mother Goose rhymes with the class.  Finally, discuss why
this subject may be so popular in children's literature.
Also, how might a king have reacted to the new rhymes if he
had been reading them to his children?  Would he think they
make him look good to his subjects?