Title:
How to solve a problem like The Black Death.
LI: to investigate the Black Death; causes and cures.
Starter
Label you and your partner person A and
Person B.
Person B starts by telling person A what
they know about The Black Death
(symptoms, causes, spread). Person A now
adds anything person B missed
Causes and symptoms of the Black Death
Tasks p.126
1. Explain in a couple of sentences the difference between bubonic and pneumonic
plague.
2. Using the sources on p.126 and 127 list what people believed the causes and treatments
were for plague.
Causes
Treatment
Video Time!
Tasks
1. Watch the following video and see what you can add to your tale.
Causes
Treatment
Answers!
Causes
Treatment
Punishment from God
Vinegar & Mercury
The Jews
Chicken’s bottom
Fleas living on rats
Pop the buboes
The position of the planets
Eat 10-year old treacle
Bad smells (‘miasma’)
Eat cooked onions
Contagion
Sit in a sewer
Poisonous air
Eat arsenic
Overeating or having a bath
Nice smells
Flagellants
Kill the cats & dogs
Cause
Treatment
Cause
Treatment
Causes
Cures
• Punishment from God
• Vinegar & mercury
• The Jews
• Chicken’s bottom
• Overeating or having a bath
• Kill the cats & dogs
• Poisonous air
• Dried toads
• Bad smells (‘miasma’)
• Pop the buboes
• The position of the planets
• Eat cooked onions
• Contagion
• Eat 10-year old treacle
• Fleas living on rats
• Eat arsenic
• Nice smells
• Sit in a sewer
• Flagellants
Task Three:
Read p127.
Explain why treatments to “cure” the plague did not
work.
Aim to write at least 5 sentences.
Examples to help you on the next slide.
Examples of student answers:
Student 1.
Medieval physicians were unable to prevent or cure the Black
Death because they didn’t know anything about it.
Teacher comment.
This answer is true but it does not contain
any evidence (facts)
Student 2.
Medieval physicians were unable to prevent or cure the Black
Death because medical knowledge at the time was so basic. For
example the idea about using a toad to remove the poison
shows very little medical understanding.
Teacher comment.
This is better. The student has included
evidence (facts) but they must try to
explain the evidence.
Student 3.
Medieval physicians were unable to prevent or cure the Black
Death because medical knowledge at the time was so basic. For
example a doctor told one person to drink vinegar and mercury.
This would not have worked on the plague symptoms so shows a
lack of understanding.
Teacher comment.
This is a better answer because the
student is making their point and using
evidence and explanation to show their
understanding.
Plenary
What has been the most surprising fact you have
learnt today about the Black Death?