| Author(s): | Patty Shivers |
|---|---|
| School(s): | Gateway Regional High School |
| Contact Info: | [email protected] |
Basic Information
| Grade Level(s): | 7th Grade |
|---|---|
| Content Area(s): | Social Studies |
| Suggested Length of Lesson: | 2 - 80 minute class periods |
Lesson Overview
This station activity is designed to engage 7th-grade students in learning about the bubonic plague through short, interactive activities. Each station will take approximately 7 minutes to complete. The stations cover a variety of aspects, including the timeline, causes, symptoms, and impacts of the plague.
Lesson Frame
NJSLS
AI Integration
Materials & Tools:
Instructional Sequence:
Opening / Activation of Prior Knowledge: Begin with a brief discussion on what students already know about the Bubonic Plague. Use questions like, "Have you ever heard of the Black Death?" or "What do you think life was like during the time of the Plague?" Purpose: This will help activate students' prior knowledge and engage them in the topic.
Mini-lesson / Direct Instruction: Provide a short overview of the Bubonic Plague, using a video that provides visual aids such as artifacts, artwork, and maps to illustrate its spread and impact.
Learning Activity: Stations Activity
Station 1: Impact on Europe
Objective: Analyze the effects of the plague on European society and economy.
Activity: Use provided statistics and narratives to discuss the population decline and economic impact.
Materials: Graphs, historical accounts, Student Stations Packet
Station 2: Causes of the Plague
Objective: Identify and explain the causes of the Bubonic Plague.
Activity: Examine and discuss sources that detail the causes, such as rat infestations and flea bites.
Materials: Short informational videos.
Station 3: Timeline Creation
Objective: Understand the timeline of the Bubonic Plague.
Activity: Students arrange events on a timeline. Include the start of the plague, major outbreaks, and its decline.
Materials: Pre-cut event cards, blank timeline sheets, Scissors and glue sticks, Student Stations Packet.
Station 4: Spread of the Plague
Objective: Learn how the plague spread across Europe.
Activity: Use a map to trace the spread of the plague from Asia to Europe. Discuss how trade routes
contributed to the spread.
Materials: Map with trade routes, colored pencils, Student Stations Packet.
Station 5: Symptoms of the Plague
Objective: Recognize the symptoms experienced by those who contracted the plague.
Activity: Read about the symptoms of the plague and create your own plague victim drawing incorporating what you learned.
Materials: Symptom cards, descriptive placard, colored pencils, Student Stations Packet.
Station 6: Impact on Social Groups
Objective: Understand how different groups (peasants, nobility, clergy) were affected by the plague.
Activity: Through role-playing as time travelers, they will interact with individuals from the era, including plague victims, medieval doctors, and town officials. Students will gather firsthand accounts, analyze the social and economic impacts, and draw parallels to modern pandemics. This immersive experience aims to enhance historical empathy and understanding of the period.
Materials: School AI Spaces: Exploring the Black Death Era, Student Stations Packet
Station 7: Plague Medicine
Objective: Understand how limited medical knowledge led to the treatments for Bubonic Plague.
Activity: Read the informational text to answer comprehension questions.
Materials: Informational Reading, Student Stations Packet.
Closure / Assessment / Reflection:
Closure: Conduct a classroom discussion, asking students to share what they found most interesting.
Assessment: Collect students' work from the stations for review.
Reflection: Encourage students to think about how historical events shape the present.
Differentiation & Accessibility:
Assessment: