Title: The Bubonic Plague During the Middle Ages Grade Levels:  Nine through Twelve Subjects: Language Arts, Social Studies, Math Learner Outcomes:   Students will: Read “The Masque of the Red Death” by Edgar Allen Poe Read about the background of the Bubonic (Black) Plague Complete a worksheet on allegories Create a graph using Excel

Spread of the Plague Click on picture for larger version

Duration of the Lesson: Four 50-minutes periods
 

Materials:  See Technology Tools
Technology Tools/Course Work: Computer Lab Excel  Floppy disks Internet Sites The Masque of the Red Death Bubonic (Black) Plague

Teacher notes:

• The teacher should be familiar with “The Masque of the Red Death”
• The teacher should be familiar with allegories
• The teacher should become familiar with the history of the Black Plague
• The teacher needs to schedule the computer lab in advance
• The teacher should check links to see if they are still up and running
• The teacher should be familiar with entering data and graphing data with Excel

• The students will use the Internet in order to read background information about the Bubonic Plague
• The teacher will lead a class discussion about the Black Plague
• The teacher will discuss an allegory with the students
• The students will read “The Masque of the Red Death”
• The teacher will discuss the literal meaning of the palace, the masquerade, the clock, the number 7, and the masked figure
• The student will complete the allegory worksheet
• The teacher will divide the students into pairs to discuss the worksheet
• The teacher will move from group to group to monitor the discussion
• The students will enter the population data into spreadsheet, graph it, and complete the table and questions on the graph worksheet
• The teacher will evaluate the students’ graphs and analysis of data with the evaluation form

 

• Modifications could be made on using the Chart Wizard based on individual needs of the student with recommendation of special education teacher

• Find the slopes of the existing line segments of the graph created by Excel using graphing calculators or by hand
• Incorporate another graph with additional data from World Population Data

 

• Evaluation Form for Graph
• Participation and Discussion of Topic

National Standards:
   Mathematics:

• Uses basic and advanced procedures while performing the processes of computation
• Understands and applies basic and advanced concepts of statistics and data analysis
• Understands and applies basic and advanced properties of functions and algebra

• Demonstrates competence in the general skills and strategies of the reading process
• Demonstrates competence in the general skills and strategies for reading a variety of literary texts

• Understands the redefinition of European society and culture from 1000 to 1300 CE
• Understands major global trends from 1000 to 1500 CE

West Virginia Instructional Goals and Objectives:

• Mathematics: AM 1.1, AM 1.11, AM 1.17, AM 2.5, AM 2.18, Al.20
• Language Arts: 12.27, 12.8
• World History:  10.38, 10.25

 

• Fine Arts and Humanities
• Health and Human Services
• Science and Natural Resources

• The Masque of the Red Death
• Bubonic (Black) Plague

• Mary J. Phillips
• Paula L. Polosky  (Additional e-mail address: ppolosky@access.k12.wv.us)
• James C. Wendling

Lesson Links
[ Main Page ] [ Tapestries ] [ Medieval Romance ] [ Peasant Life ] [ Knights ] [ Bubonic Plague ]

Images Provided By:
Medieval Clip Art
Medieval Clip Arts