Medieval Feasts

Authors: Carrie Cox, Nancy Kessler, Kim Helton, Sharla Hanson
Endorsed by: Kwabena Dei Ofori-Attah, Cumberland College

Grade Level: 3-4 grades

Subject: Social Studies

Overview:

Medieval feasts in England were elaborate social affairs that required much preparation. Preparation for such an event consisted of planning a menu, preparing the food, planning entertainment, deciding on apparel, and sending out invitations. On occasion, a king who had been on a long journey would announce that he would be stopping to rest at a lord's estate. This meant that the lord would have to quickly pull together all of his resources to provide the best that he had to offer to the king. The lord was expected to give the king a great feast that would satisfy the king and his travelers.

Purpose:

To familiarize students with a social aspect of the Middle Ages, with great feast being the focus of this lesson.

Objectives:

• Students should be able to describe what a great feast consisted of in the Middle Ages.
• Students should be able to demonstrate the ability to compare/contrast Medieval feasts with modern day feast/dinners.
• Students should be able to apply their knowledge of Medieval feasts to work cooperatively in groups and design their own "great feast."

Resources/ Materials:

A Medieval Feast. Aliki, 1983.

Any other resource materials, such as encyclopedias that have material pertaining to Medieval feasts.

Activities and Procedures:

1. Read the book, A Medieval Feast, to students aloud. Discuss the different types of food and entertainment that were found at great feasts of the Middle Ages.

2. Ask students to compare/contrast the Medieval feasts with modern day feast/dinners (family dinners-Thanksgiving or Christmas, formal dinner parties, etc).

3. Group students and ask them to plan a feast. In planning their feasts, students need to consider the menu, entertainment, attire (dress-formal, informal), if their feast has a theme, and how they're going to invite their guests (invitations?).

4. Students will present their group project to the class.

Tying It All Together:

Students will be evaluated on their cooperative group work. Grades will be based on collaboration between individuals, individual contribution, and knowledge of content.

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