Social+Studies

**Subject: Social Studies**

**Technology:**
 * laptop computer cart (or computer lab)
 * Internet access: Lesson titled “The Black Plague: A Hands on Epidemic”
 * Discovery Education streaming video – “The Black Death (1347-1351 A.D.)
 * Edublogs site

**Ohio Academic Content standards:**

====Benchmark C: Describe the characteristics of feudal societies and the transition to the Renaissance and Reformation in Europe. ====  3. Describe the conditions that gave rise to feudalism, as well as political, economic and social characteristics of feudalism, in Asia and Europe.
 * Grade 7:**

· Students will be participating in a role-playing simulation game about the Black Plague. The lesson is described in great detail at: [|Black Plague Lesson] Students will go to the site, read the directions and begin the game. · After completing the simulation, students will reflect on their experience through a blog. · Lastly, a video about the Plague will be shown to the students, followed by a discussion.
 * Activity:**

**References:** The Black Death (1347-1351 A.D.). United Learning (1997). Retrieved May 27, 2009, from Discovery Education: []

Edublogs, (2009). Edublogs-teacher and student blogs. Retrieved May 23, 2009, from []

Edublogs, (2009). Ten ways to use your edublog to teach. Retrieved May 23, 2009, from []

Edublogs, (2009). Video tutorial: Writing posts and pages. Retrieved May 23, 2009, from [] Wisnia, Cory M. (n.d.). The black plague: a hands on simulation. Retrieved May 27, 2009, from Proteacher.com Web site: http://www.proteacher.com/cgi-bin/outsidesite.cgi?external=http://www.mcn.org/ed/CUR/cw/Plague/Plague_Sim.html&original=http://www.proteacher.com/  **Tried & True or New & Innovative:** Tried & True. Students have been watching videos and playing educational computer games for decades. They have also had much experience with online communications such as chatting and blogging.