Re. Medieval video – some classroom activities
Teacher note:
For the purposes of the DIG IT project, we are looking at monasteries
(Bayham Abbey) and friaries (Whitefriars at Canterbury below here) for
evidence of medieval ‘monastic’ life.
Monasteries and friaries had similar roles. Both monks and friars cared for
the sick and poor and friars actively went out into the local community to
fulfill these duties.
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Examine a ‘find’ (or a part of a more modern object) as an
archaeologist would. To add a hint of mystery, you could first put it in a
‘feely bag’ so pupils feel it but don’t see it. They say or write as many
adjectives as they can think of to describe the object. Then ‘discover‘ it
by taking it out of the bag and try asking analytical questions about it.
Make a simple written record.
Write a story about the fragments of parchment (sheepskin)
archaeologists found buried in the ground when they were excavating
Whitefriars friary in Canterbury.
What sort of manuscript could it have been? (A letter? An important
message? A prayer? Something else?).
Who wrote it? (maybe someone from outside the friary? One of the
White friars living at the friary?).
What happened to make the person tear it up? (maybe it was a secret
message? If a White friar wrote it did he tear it up?)
Write an account of a day in the life of Frater (brother) Thomas Bons,
whose name is carved into the dormitory wall at the Whitefriars friary.
Write an account of the life of a servant at the Whitefriars friary –
perhaps someone whose job it was to empty the cess tank!
Write a story about the ‘life’ of an archaeological find – from being
made to being dug up by an archaeologist – with the writer ‘speaking’
as the object.
Where was it used, what did it ‘see’, how did it end up in the ground?
Use a CAT KIT and try activity ideas in the CAT KIT booklet
Look for material on the CAT website www.canterburytrust.co.uk
Borrow a CAT BOX of replicas or a medieval model
http://www.canterburytrust.co.uk/schools/catboxpg.htm
In particular IMAGE GALLERIES for photos and drawings:
http://www.canterburytrust.co.uk/schools/gallery/gall14.htm for some medieval
Faces from the Past
http://www.canterburytrust.co.uk/schools/gallery/gall16.htm for pictures of
friars and pottery (made at Tyler Hill near Canterbury) used in Kent’s
monasteries, friaries and ordinary peoples’ homes.
http://www.canterburytrust.co.uk/schools/gallery/gall19.htm for pictures of
archaeologists at work and how they find out about the past
Some Questions archaeologists ask when they examine a find
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Is it complete?
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What is it made of?
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How was it made?
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What use did it have?
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Where was it used?