Free 7th Grade The Crusades Lesson Plan

Topic: The Crusades

Objectives & Outcomes

• Students will be able to explain the causes and basic events of the Crusades.

Materials

• Map of the Middle East showing the main locations of the Crusades
• Handouts with basic information about the Crusades
• Computers or tablets with internet access for research purposes

Warm-up

• Ask students if they have heard of the Crusades.
• Encourage them to share their knowledge about this period in medieval history.

Direct Instruction

• Begin by explaining that the Crusades were a series of religious campaigns launched by the Christians of Europe in the 11th through 13th centuries.
• Emphasize that the Crusades were a response to Muslim expansion in the Middle East.
• Depict a map of the Middle East and point out key cities and regions, such as Jerusalem and Constantinople.
• Discuss the goals of the Crusades and the strategies used by the Christians to achieve them.
• Emphasize the brutality of the Crusades, including the use of torture and the slaughter of civilians.
• Provide examples of the consequences of the Crusades, such as the weakening of the Byzantine Empire and the strengthening of Islam.

Guided Practice

• Divide the class into small groups and assign each group a specific Crusade to research.
• Provide each group with a set of questions to guide their research.
• Have the groups present their findings to the class and facilitate a discussion about their specific Crusade.
• Encourage students to ask questions and make inferences based on their research.

Independent Practice

• Assign a project-based independent practice activity in which students choose a specific Crusade and research it in more depth.
• Provide students with a list of questions or a research-based project to complete.
• Have students present their findings to the class and facilitate a discussion about their specific Crusade.

Closure

• Review the key points of the lesson and have students share what they learned about the Crusades.
• Encourage students to reflect on the lessons of the Crusades and how they relate to current-day conflicts.

Assessment

• Observe students during the group presentations and take notes on their understanding of the topic.
• Collect and grade the presentations as a form of assessment.
• Administer a quiz or written assessment to assess understanding of key terms and concepts.