Fifth-grade class goes medieval

PALMER -- They dressed like medieval royalty, lords, monks, nuns and peasants, gathered inside thick walls while eating ham, elk, pheasant and corn on the cob.

This festive scene didn't take place inside a castle during the Middle Ages, however. And the 50 revelers were actually fifth-graders, who mingled Friday in a second-floor classroom at Pioneer Peak Elementary while trying to learn a thing or two about the Old World.

With medieval games, hearty foods and marshmallow catapult launches, these students were ages removed from chapter review guides and vocabulary lists.

The festivities were part of a medieval study program for two fifth-grade classes. The unorthodox approach was designed to help students learn about the lives and situations of people who lived 500 to 1,000 years ago.

Jackie Johnson's class was joined by Steve Anderson's class, and together they began studying medieval history during the third week of school.

"We set up what life was like in that time so kids could get an idea of what brought people to the New World," Johnson said. "We studied diseases, feudalism, the church and government so we could talk about why they took a chance to come to America."

Johnson said each student drew a role out of a hat and then researched what life was like for that particular class of people during medieval times. Throughout the festival the students role-played their characters and, later on, Johnson said they will give presentations about what it was like to be a member of that society.

Miniature monks and court jesters mingled Friday in the classroom, discussing with each other what their particular lots in life were like.

Johnson said the entire experience connects various subject matters into a more holistic approach to education. In making catapults, Johnson said the class also learned about pulleys and levers.

"This connects science with social studies and history curriculum," she said.

The little lords and ladies were visibly excited about the upcoming catapult launches, in which they would get a chance to shoot marshmallows and tomatoes from homemade catapults.

"Anytime you get to launch something, that's got to be a good day," Johnson said.

Once the medieval studies are over, students will proceed into American history. Johnson said she hopes to have similar activities as they study other units throughout the year.

"The kids buy into it so much more this way," she said. "Especially when you tie in all the other curriculum areas like reading novels, writing and science."

Contact Joel Davidson at joel.davidson@frontiersman.com.