Resources for Teaching High School
Lesson Plans & Classroom Exercises
"King Arthur: How He Became King?"
A lesson plan by Janet Blaylock for middle schools and high schools, posted on the Local School Directory web site.
King Arthur and George Washington: A Thought Experiment on the Historical Arthur, by Alan Baragona
Exploring Arthurian Legend: A "Lesson Plans" Website
"Goals: To examine the historical origins of the Arthurian legend; to investigate how medieval historians and storytellers reflected the concerns of their own times in their treatment of the legend; to gain insight into the use of literature as historical evidence."; Suggested Grade Level: 9-12
Traits of Chivalry: An Educators' Reference Desk Lesson Plan (archived)
A lesson plan by Beth Ann Bolmeier for 10th graders, using Arthurian Legend to teach the concept of chivalry.
The Hero in Malory's Arthurian Legends (archived)
From the Omaha public schools, a lesson plan for 10 graders that teaches aspects of chivalry as depicted in excerpts from Malory, as well as teaching research techniques. This page was last updated in 1998, so some of the links are inactive, but substitutions can be made, and the lesson can be adapted.
A lesson plan by Amy Mills, who teaches primarily 10th-grade English. "This lesson/activity can accompany a unit on the Legend of King Arthur. This activity tracks the genealogy of the legendary king before his birth OR after."
Where in the World is Camelot?
Another lesson plan by Amy Mills. Students research and plot the various locations that have been proposed for the legendary Camelot.
A&E's Classroom: Ancient Mysteries Camelot (archived)
Vocabulary, discussion questions, links to definitions and biographies.
ESLprintable Worksheets for King Arthur on various topics for ages ranging from 7 to 17.
Projects and Activities
Becky Fleming's Fifteen Simple Activities and Assignments
A list of varied and creative ideas for introducing K-12 students to the Middle Ages through King Arthur, Chaucer, and Dante.
Simulating the Battle of Mount Badon
This message posted to Arthurnet in Sept. 1997 briefly describes an activity conceived by Patricia Hans for her high school class. We hope in future to have a more detailed account of the project.
Handout on "The True Knight," by Mary Jo Buff, University of Montevallo
A handout and project for an Upward Bound Honor's English course in the Summer of 2002.
A Millennial Quest for Arthur (archived)
In January 2000 two undergraduate students left for a month-long research trip, sponsored by Birmingham-Southern College in Birmingham, Alabama. After traveling over 3000 miles across the Island of Britain, Joseph W.C. Boyles and W. Jacob Livingston, III, created this site for people who wish to learn more about those places associated with King Arthur and the legends attached to them. The archived version of the site has all the text, but the links to the photos are broken. Some of the pictures, however, are still available at Vortigern Studies.
Arthurian Anthology (archived)
From the NCTE Teaching Ideas, Stephanie Carey describes a project she devised for 9th and 10th graders, writing character sketches, stories and poetry based on Arthurian legend.
Do You Believe in Monsters or Beowulf, King Arthur, and Giant Green Men? (archived)
From the NCTE Teaching Ideas, J. D. Wilson, Jr., describes a project he devised for 12th-grade college preparatory students to "illustrat[e] how our preconceptions of the past sometimes influence our interpretations of the past."
Creating a Multimedia Poetry Lesson with Alfred Lord Tennyson's "Lady of Shalott" (archived)
From the NCTE Teaching Ideas, Gail N. Ferguson describes her use of multimedia to teach Tennyson to 9th-12th graders.
The Lost Diaries of the Connecticut Yankee (archived)
The first project in VMI's interdisciplinary General Education Pilot Program required freshman Engineering majors to study Twain's A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court and both the medieval and 19th-century technology behind it. Though created by college students, it is adaptable for high school.
Arthur Meets Monty Python (archived)
From the NCTE Teaching Ideas, Sage Hedges discusses ways she teaches Monty Python along with Malory and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight to her 12th-grade British Literature class.
Arthurian Origami (archived)
Website connected to a book of the same name. "Anyone who can fold a simple origami crane will be able to re-create the legend of King Arthur--castles, knights, sorcerers, dragons, and all." You need the book for complete instructions, but the website has numerous detailed pictures of the paper folding possibilities. Click the buttons for slides.
The Knight with the Lion is an exciting, interactive resource for children. It tells the story of Yvain, one of King Arthur's knights, and his intrepid lion companion, as well as Gawain, Lancelot and others. Readers get to choose which knights to follow and which adventures to explore, and to make decisions for them, as they wander through the mysterious Forest of Broceliande. The Reader can discover all aspects of medieval life, from armour and warfare to castles and clothing through the historical link material, with vivid illustrations and photographs and clear explanation.
This site is provided by Aberdeen University's Literature Website.
Site Navigation Options
Pre-School & Kindergarten || Elementary School || Middle School || High School
Undergraduate School || Graduate School || Adult Learners || Short Seminars & Lectures
Textbooks and Films || Maps || Graphics || Audio and Video Files || Related Websites
Arthurnet Discussions || Pedagogy Homepage || Arthuriana
© Arthuriana
Pedagogy Site Administrator: Alan Baragona sabaragona@gmail.com
Last revised: December 28, 2021
Disclaimer: The contents of this site are the sole responsibility of Arthuriana and its contributors, and do not necessarily represent the opinions or policies of Purdue University. The administrator of the Arthuriana site is Dorsey Armstrong. sarmstr@purdue.edu