📖 Reading Passage: Life in the Middle Ages

I can understand how the feudal system worked and compare the lives of nobles and peasants.

During the Middle Ages (about 1000-1500 CE), Europe was organized under the feudal system. This was like a pyramid of power and land ownership.

At the top was the king, who owned all the land. He gave large pieces of land called fiefs to powerful nobles (lords) in exchange for military service. These nobles then gave smaller pieces of land to knights, who promised to fight for them. At the bottom were the peasants (also called serfs), who worked the land but could never leave without permission.

Noble Life: Nobles lived in stone castles with thick walls for protection. They ate meat, white bread, and wine. Noble children learned to read, write, hunt, and fight. They wore expensive clothes made of silk and fur.

Peasant Life: Peasants lived in small, one-room houses made of wood and mud. They ate mostly bread, vegetables, and porridge. Most peasants could not read or write. They wore simple clothes made of rough cloth. They worked from sunrise to sunset farming the lord's land.

🔗 Part 1: Vocabulary Matching

Success Criteria: Match each term with its correct definition.

Terms:

1. Feudal System

2. Fief

3. Noble

4. Peasant

5. Knight

Definitions:

A. A warrior who fought on horseback

B. A poor farmer who worked the land

C. Land given by a king to a lord

D. A rich, powerful landowner

E. The way society was organized in the Middle Ages

📝 Part 2: Multiple Choice Questions

Success Criteria: Choose the best answer based on the reading passage.

1. Who was at the top of the feudal system?

Knights

The King

Nobles

Peasants

2. What did nobles give to knights in exchange for military service?

Money

Castles

Land (fiefs)

Weapons

3. Which of these describes peasant life? (Check all that apply)

Lived in stone castles

Could not read or write

Worked from sunrise to sunset

Ate mostly bread and vegetables

4. The feudal system was organized like a ____________.

Circle

Pyramid

Square

Line

✍️ Part 3: Creative Writing

Success Criteria: Write a detailed paragraph comparing noble and peasant daily life using examples from the reading.

Choose ONE prompt and write a paragraph (5-7 sentences):

Option A (Basic): Compare a typical day for a noble child and a peasant child. What would they eat, where would they live, and what would they do?

Option B (Advanced): Imagine you could time travel to the Middle Ages. Would you rather be born as a noble or peasant? Explain your choice using specific details about their different lifestyles.

Extension Activity: Draw a simple diagram of the feudal system pyramid and label each level.