Year 7 Medieval Realms: Was Life Good or Bad in the Middle Ages?

A new lesson plan to accompany the popular Time Machine Journey to the Middle Ages. Students are divided into two groups. The “Good” group approach their argument by producing a tourist brochure highlighting all of the great jobs, places and people in the town and the village. The “Bad” group instead write an angry letter of complaint outlining all of the terrible people, jobs and places which they were subjected to when they visited the Middle Ages. Part-way through this lesson unit you may wish to show your students some images from the Luttrell Psalter and discuss whether each suggests life was good or bad. Encourage students to use illustrations in their assignment.