Medieval Lesson and Family Crests

Monthly, local homeschoolers get together at the Library for a class on History, Art or Science. Our first lesson with this new group was Medieval Life for kids. We learned about the Family Crest, social levels, food, watched a video about worst jobs of that time, what kids wore and did in those days, and much more. Here are some pictures from that day.

Before class, I helped create The Michalek’s Coat of Arms and made some basic images for the kids to assemble their own on cardboard during class. Our Family Motto is based on our school prayer. “Be pleasant. Have joy in God’s Graces. Show Love.” Or in latin “Adfulgeo. Exultatio Honors Prae Deus. Affectus.” Sounds more like a magicians spell? Anyways, our symbols represent our adorning love for the Sacred Heart of Jesus, St. Brigid as our patron saint, hope to reap rewards of hard work, mothering spirit, and Jesus and Mary at the center of our days. Every square inch of it has a meaning.

You can learn more and create your own from ideas found on the web.
http://medievaleurope.mrdonn.org/heraldry.html
http://www.digiserve.com/heraldry/symbols.htm
http://www.heraldry.ca/kids_en/heraldry_make_shield.htm
http://www.storyboardtoys.com/gallery/coat-of-arms-lesson-plan.htm
Create your own Medieval Persona: http://www.box.frodelius.com/Medieval/handouts.html



We discussed and reenacted the plague
 
and watched a youtube video about “The Worst Jobs of the Middle Ages.”



And we tasted some tasty snacks. We had baked apples with honey and buckwheat pancakes. Mmmm, surprisingly.