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Bringing Medieval Times to Life: A Wholesome Unit Study for Elementary Kids




Okay, so we’ve been working our way through world history and doing a little review of the 13 colonies when I decide to hand my daughter a classic:

📖 "The Door in the Wall" by Marguerite de Angeli.

A beautiful, award-winning book set in medieval England… and she tells me it’s dry. What!?

So, naturally, I pick it up and start reading it aloud, and suddenly, I’m drawn into this fascinating medieval tale of perseverance and faith. She listens, really listens—then looks at me and says, "It’s better when you read it out loud."

That got me thinking. Maybe it’s time to fully step into the world of knights, castles, monks, and medieval feasts. Maybe we need to bring the Middle Ages to life with a rich, engaging unit study.

So, I started gathering books—wholesome, living books—the kind that immerse children in history, spark curiosity, and encourage deep learning. And I thought, maybe some other mamas would enjoy these too!


Picture Books (Perfect for Lower Elementary!)

  1. "The Knight and the Dragon" by Tomie dePaola – A sweet, funny story about a knight and dragon who decide to stop fighting and do something unexpected instead.

  2. "Saint George and the Dragon" by Margaret Hodges – A beautifully illustrated tale of courage and chivalry.

  3. "The Princess and the Pig" by Jonathan Emmett – A lighthearted medieval mix-up with fun illustrations.

  4. "The Kitchen Knight: A Tale of King Arthur" by Margaret Hodges – The inspiring journey of Sir Gareth, from humble kitchen boy to knight.

  5. "Good Knight, Sleep Tight" by David Melling – A fun bedtime story featuring a brave knight on a mission to help a royal baby.

  6. "The Making of a Knight" by Patrick O'Brien – A wonderful introduction to the steps of knighthood.

  7. "Castle: How It Works" by David Macaulay – A beautifully illustrated nonfiction picture book about medieval castles.

  8. "Marguerite Makes a Book" by Bruce Robertson – A historical story about a young girl learning the art of illuminated manuscripts.

  9. "You Wouldn’t Want to Be a Medieval Knight!" by Fiona MacDonald – A humorous and eye-opening take on the realities of knighthood.

  10. "Brother Hugo and the Bear" by Katy Beebe – A delightful story about a young monk rewriting a lost manuscript while being followed by a hungry bear.

  11. "The Ink Garden of Brother Theophane" by C.M. Millen – A beautifully written book about a monk who finds creativity and joy in his work.


Nonfiction Books for a Deeper Dive

  1. "A Medieval Feast" by Aliki – A wonderful look at how an elaborate medieval feast was prepared.

  2. "Knights & Castles" (Magic Tree House Fact Tracker) by Mary Pope Osborne & Natalie Pope Boyce – A fun, fact-filled companion book about medieval life.

  3. "Castle" by David Macaulay – A stunningly detailed look at how medieval castles were built and defended.

  4. "The Time Traveler’s Guide to Medieval England (Young Reader’s Edition)" by Ian Mortimer – A rich, immersive nonfiction book about daily life in medieval England.

  5. "Eyewitness: Medieval Life" by Andrew Langley – A fantastic visual reference with real artifacts and illustrations.

  6. "If You Were a Kid in the Thirteenth Century" by Josh Gregory – A simple but engaging nonfiction book that helps children imagine medieval life.

  7. "Medieval Medicine and the Plague" by Lynne Elliott – A fascinating look at how medieval people approached health, healing, and disease, including the plague.


Fiction Chapter Books for Elementary Readers

  1. "The Door in the Wall" by Marguerite de Angeli – A Newbery Medal-winning story of perseverance and faith set in medieval England.

  2. "Crispin: The Cross of Lead" by Avi – A gripping medieval adventure full of mystery and self-discovery.

  3. "The Book of Boy" by Catherine Gilbert Murdock – A beautifully written medieval journey with themes of faith and identity.

  4. "The Trumpeter of Krakow" by Eric P. Kelly – A historical fiction novel set in 15th-century Poland, filled with mystery and adventure.

Making It Hands-On!

Of course, no living history unit would be complete without some hands-on fun! Here are a few ideas to make the Middle Ages come alive:

🏰 Build a castle out of cardboard or blocks.🖋 Try illuminated lettering using gold and bright colors like medieval monks.🍗 Have a medieval feast with simple bread, cheese, and fruit Make a knight’s shield with a family crest.🎭 Act out a medieval scene—dress up as a knight, monk, or princess!








Final Thoughts

I love how history comes alive when we immerse ourselves in it together. My daughter may have thought The Door in the Wall was "dry" at first, but now? Now we’re about to step into medieval times with stories, hands-on activities, and the kind of learning that truly sticks.

If you’ve been thinking about doing a medieval unit study, I hope this book list helps! Let me know if you try any of these books or activities—I’d love to hear how it goes! 😊


 
 
 

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