Curt Gustafson
Lesson Template: Ed 333 spring 2008
1. Grade level: 8th
2. Title of the day’s lesson with a brief description:
War Stories. The students will play a game of dodgeball. Afterwards they will then write a short story of what took place during the dodgeball game. We will then compare stories and talk about how people have different views of how events take place. The students will then compare stories, and see whose best represents the game.
3. Materials/resources needed:
30 Notebooks
30 Pencils
30 Attack on Chalons print out
30 Battle of Coutantin print out
30 Bayeux Tapestry print out
Dodgballs
Pennys
4. Teacher Preparation (tasks the teacher must do ahead of time:
Print out articles
Schedule gym, and prep dodgeball court
5. Minnesota Academic
4-8 World History: Classical Civilizations and World Regions 1000 BC – 600 AD
6. NCSS Strand(s) and substrand(s) addressed by your lesson:
Culture: b. explain how information and experiences may be interpreted by people from diverse cultural perspectives and frames of reference,
7. Goal(s) for today’s lesson:
Students will become aware of bias in the world, and how it affects history.
8. Objective(s) for today’s lesson:
Students will be able to recognize their own bias.
Students will understand that history had many sides to its stories
9. Procedures
a. “To start class off today we are splitting the class in half, half of you are going to read one article, and the other half will read another, these are tales by the writer Froissart. After reading I want you to come up with words describing the main character, what do you think they look like what type of person do you think they were.” (10 minutes)
i. Afterwards have the class discuss their character. Write the descriptions on the board to help students remember all the traits people envisioned. Ask about why some classmates envision the main character differently then others did. Ask why people had different descriptions for the main character, even though they read the same article. Explain that this is known as bias, and it is one major thing within history that everyone needs to be aware of. Bias is not a bad thing, but something that affects our lives everyday. One of the most influential areas of history, which is affected by bias, is stories of wars and battles. And the best way to show this is through staging our own battle. We will stage this battle through a game of dodgeball. (10 minutes)
ii. The version of dodgeball will be “Medic”, except we will call it “King.” Place the balls on the middle line, players will be on opposite sides of the court, when I say start they may run forward to get the balls. If a player throws a ball and hits another player anywhere but the head, the player hit is knocked down, head shots and caught balls will knock out the player who threw the ball. When a player is out they sit on the ground from when they got out. Each team has one king, the king is denoted by wearing a penny. The king may grab a teammate who is out, and bring them to the back of their side, after that the player is back in the game. If the king is knocked out he is done and that team can no longer get people back in the game. Once the entire team is defeated a victor is decided. Players on the ground can not get other players out. Have students bring their notebooks and a pencil to gymnasium. Play dogeball. (20 minutes)
b. After the game, have the students write their version of the battle, as best as they can remember. They need to write at least three paragraphs, containing the beginning of the battle, some important things that happened during, and how the battle ended. Explain that these stories will be graded on complete sentences and how detailed they can explain the “battle.” Afterwards ask for one student from each side to read their story for the class. Have the students write down anything that is different from the two stories. Begin a discussion on how they were different. Afterwards explain to each student that their story is their perspective of the game. It is how they saw that game unfolds. This is true in most history stories, except in war. In war it is the victor’s story that gets written in the history books. Explain that this is bias, and bias is not a bad thing, but as educated people we need to take the time to find other versions of a story so we can understand the true story, and read through the bias. (10 minutes)
c. Hand out the Bayeux Tapestry hand out.
i. This Tapestry was created several months after the Battle of Hastings, which was the final battle in the struggle for the crown of England between Harold the second of England and Duke William of Normandy (which is in France) The tapestry is over 8 meters long, but historians believe that there is another 8 meters that are missing or were destroyed.
ii. Explain that this section is showing the end of the battle. Have the students write 2 paragraphs on how they think the battle went according to the tapestry piece. It is up to their judgment as to who the people on the tapestry represent. These will be collected at the end of class.(20 minutes)
Tales from Froissart
edited by Steve Muhlberger, Nipissing University
The Attack on Châlons.
After the battle of Poitiers, King John of France was a prisoner
in England. Many armed bands took advantage of the political
uncertainty. Some of these bands were English, some adherents of
the King of Navarre, John's cousin and rival and an English
ally, others were "free companies." This story gives some idea
of their /modus operandi/ and of the general uncertainty of life.
*Book I, ch. 195.* It happened that while sir Peter Audley was governor
of Beaufort, which is situated between Troyes and Châlons, he imagined,
that if he could cross the Marne above the town of Châlons and advance
by the side of the monastery of St. Peter, he might easily take the town.
To carry this scheme into effect, he waited until the river Marne was
low, when he secretly assembled his companions from five or six strong
castles he was master of in that neighbourhood. His army consisted of
about four hundred combatants. they set out from Beaufort at midnight.
He led them to a ford of the river Marne, which he intended to cross,
for he had people of the country as guides. On coming thither, he made
them all to dismount, and give their horses to their servants, when he
marched them through the river, which was very low. All having crossed,
he led them slowly towards the monastery of St. Peter.
There were many guards and watchmen scattered over the town of Châlons,
and in the public squares: those who were nearest to the monastery of
St. Peter, which is situated above the town, heard very distinctly the
noise of the Navarrois: for as they were advancing, their arms, by
touching each other, made a noise and sounded. Many who heard this
wondered what it could be: for all at once, sir Peter having halted, the
noise ceased, and when he continued his march, the same sounds were
again heard by the sentinels posted in St. Peter's street, as the wind
came from the opposite quarter; and some among them said, "It must be
those English and Navarrois thieves that are advancing, to take us by
escalade: let us immediately sound the alarm, and awaken our
fellow-citizens."
Some of them went to the monastery to see what it might be. They could
not, however, make such speed but that sir Peter and his army were in
the court-yard; for the walls in that part were not four feet high; and
they immediately rushed through the gate of the monastery into the
street, which was large and wide. The citizens were exceedingly alarmed,
because there were cries from all parts of "Treason, treason! To arms,
to arms!" They armed themselves in haste, and, collecting in a body to
be the stronger, advanced to meet their enemies, who overthrew and
killed the foremost of them.
It happened, very unfortunately for Châlons, that Peter de Châlons, who
had been governor of the city upwards of a year, with a hundred lances
under his command, had lately left it, on account of not being able to
get paid according to his wishes. The commonalty of the city were
numerous, and set themselves in earnest to make a good defence. It was
high time; but they suffered much, and the Navarrois conquered all the
lower town, as far as the bridges over the Marne.
Beyond the bridges, the citizens collected themselves, and defended the
first bridge, which was of great service to them. The skirmish was there
very sharp; the Navarrois attacked and fought well. Some of the English
archers advanced, and passing over the supports of the bridge, shot so
well, and so continually, that none from Châlons dared to come within
reach of their arrows.
This engagement lasted until mid-day. It was said by some, that Châlons
must have been taken, if sir Odes de Grancy had not learnt, as it were
by inspiration, this excursion of the Navarrois. In order to defeat it,
he had intreated the assistance of many knights and squires; for he know
that there was not one gentleman in Châlons. He had come therefore, day
and night, attended by sir Philip de Jancourt, the lord Anceau de
Beaupré, the lord John de Guermillon, and many others, to the amount of
sixty lances.
As soon as they were come to Châlons, they advanced towards the bridge,
which the inhabitants were defending against the Navarrois, who were
exerting themselves to the utmost to gain it. The lord de Grancy
displayed his banner, and fell upon the Navarrois with a hearty good
will. The arrival of the lord de Grancy mightily rejoiced the people of
Châlons; and well it might, for without him and his company they would
have been hard driven.
When sir Peter Audley and his friends saw these Burgundians, they
retreated in good order the way they had come, and found their servants
with their horses on the banks of the Marne. They mounted them, and
crossing the river without molestation, returned towards Beaufort,
having by a trifle missed their aim.
The inhabitants of Châlons were much pleased at their departure, and
gave thanks to God for it. After expressing their obligations to the
lord de Grancy for the kindness he had done them, they presented him
with five hundred livres for himself and his people. They intreated the
lord John de Besars, who was present and a near neighbour, to remain, to
advise and assist them. He consented to their request, for the handsome
salary they allowed him, and set about fortifying the city in those
places which were the weakest.
Tales from Froissart
edited by Steve Muhlberger, Nipissing University
The Battle of Coutantin
After the battle of Poitiers, and the capture of King John of
France, there was political confusion in France, much exploited
by the English and the adherents of the King of Navarre, an ally
of the English. One English-Navarrois commander, Godfrey of
Harcourt, made so much trouble in Normandy that a meeting of the
three French estates -- what in England would be called a
"parliament" -- sent Raoul de Reyneval against him. This was the
result.
*Book I, ch. 171.* When sir Godfrey de Harcourt, who was strong, bold,
and courageous, heard that the French were come to the city of
Coutances, he collected together as many men at arms as possible,
archers and other friends, and said he would go out to meet them. He
left, therefore, St. Sauveur le Vicomte, accompanied by about seven
hundred men, including every one.
This same day, the French also sallied out, and had sent forward their
scouts to examine the country, who returned and informed their lords
that they had seen the Navarrois. On the other hand, sir Godfrey had
sent out his scouts, who had taken a different road and, having examined
the army of the French, had counted their banners and pennons, and to
what numbers they amounted [earlier said to be "three hundred lances and
five hundred with iron armour"]. Sir Godfrey, however, paid but little
attention to their report: he said, that since he saw his enemies he
would fight with them. He immediately placed his archers in the front of
his men, and drew up in battle array the Englishmen and Navarrois.
When lord Raoul de Reyneval perceived he had drawn up his men, he
ordered part of the French to dismount, and to place large shields
before them to guard themselves against the arrows, and for none to
advance without his orders.
The archers of sir Godfrey began to advance, as they were commanded, and
to shoot their arrows with all their strength. The French, who were
sheltered behind their shields, allowed them to shoot on, as this attack
did not hurt them in the least. They remained so long in their position
without moving, that these archers had expended all their arrows; they
then cast away their bows, and began to fall back upon their men at
arms, who were drawn up alongside of a hedge, sir Godrey in the front,
with his banner displayed.
The French then began to make use of their bows, and to pick up arrows
everywhere, for there were plenty of them lying about, which they
employed against the English and men of Navarre. The men at arms also
made a vigorous charge; and the combat was very sharp and severe, when
they were come hand to hand; but the infantry of sir Godfrey would not
keep to their ranks, and were therefore soon discomfited.
Sir Godfrey, upon this, retreated into a vineyard which was inclosed
with strong hedges, and as many of his people as could get in followed
him. When the French saw this, they all dismounted, surrounded the
place, and considered how they could best enter it. They examined it on
every side, and at last found an entrance. As they went round, seeking a
passage, sir Godfrey and his men did the same, and halted at the weakest
part of the hedge.
As soon as the French had gained this entrance, many gallant deeds of
arms were performed; but it cost the French dear before they were
complete masters of it. The banner of sir Raoul was the first that
entered. He followed it, as did the other knights and squires. When they
were all in the inclosure, the combat was renewed with greater vigour,
and many a one was beaten down. The army of sir Godfrey would not keep
the order which he had appointed, according to the promise made to him;
but the greater part fled, and could not withstand the French.
Sir Godfrey, on seeing this, declared, that he would prefer death to
being taken, and, arming himself with a battle-axe, halted where he was;
he placed one foot before the other, to be firmer; for he was lame of
one leg, though very strong in his arms. In this position, he fought a
long time most valiantly, so that few dared to encounter his blows; when
two Frenchmen mounted their horses, and, placing their lances in their
rests, charged him at the same time, and struck him to the ground: some
men at arms immediately rushed upon him with their swords, which they
ran through his body, and killed him on the spot. The greater part of
his army were slain or made prisoners, and those who were able to escape
returned to St. Sauveur le Vicomte. this happened in the winter of 1356,
about Martinmas [Nov. 11].
(Picture on top is the piece for Bayeux Tapestry)
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