Arthurian legends Activities
By MARISSA DESPINS Updated March 26, 2024
The epic legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table have always been hits with my learners. The magical elements, chivalrous knights, and medieval settings make them highly engaging. While the legends can be great on their own, they can also be an excellent way to work some literacy into your middle ages unit! In this post I share 3 of my very favorite Arthurian Legends activities.
For some ready to teach resources to go along with your next Arthurian Legend unit, click on the image or button below!
- The Sword in the Stone Close Reading and Pennant Project
- Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Shield Project
- Arthurian Legend Group Discussion Activity
The Sword in the stone – Close Reading and Pennant Project
The legend of the Sword in the Stone is a great one to start an Arthurian Legend unit with. It provides a lot of background information on Arthur, and how he became the High King of Britain.
I like to use this story to practice our close reading skills. We read through the story, annotating as we go. After, students meet in groups and discuss their annotations.
After, students answer key comprehension questions about the story. I am always impressed by how much their previous annotations really help them with this.
When questions are complete, students put everything together into a fun pennant project. These Arthurian Legends activities make great bulletin board displays! I like to hang them in the hallway to demonstrate our learning as we work through the unit.
Want to grab this no-prep resource to use with your learners? Click here or on the image below to grab it from my TPT shop.
Looking for more information on close reading strategies, and ways to incorporate them into the classroom? Click here to check out a previous blog post and about close reading tips and strategies.
Sir GAWAIN AND THE GREEN KNIGHT SHIELD PROJECT
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is a favorite legend to use with upper elementary and middle school students. It has just enough gross creepiness to keep this age group super engaged!
I love the version of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight included in this picture book by Michael Morpurgo. The illustrations are gorgeous, and it is a solid retelling.
There are a wide variety of online versions of this classic legend that you can access as well. If you are looking for a quick version, this animated YouTube video is a class favorite. Be warned – there is a bit of animated bloodshed when Gawain chops the knight’s head off. It has never been an issue in my class – the kids actually think it is hilarious – but obviously keep your learners in mind before choosing to show it.
After reading (or viewing) the story, students create shields for Sir Gawain. The shields must include key symbols that represent Sir Gawain and what he stands for. After, students use a template to write about and defend their symbol choices. This is an excellent activity to introduce or review symbolism. Completed projects also make great hallway displays!
Interested in snagging this resource for your next Arthurian Legend Unit? Click here or on the image below to grab it from my TPT shop! It comes complete with a variety of no-prep activities to use along with this classic legend.
For more information about great Arthurian Legends to share with your learners, be sure to check out our post on favorite legends to read aloud!
Arthurian Legends Activities – Group Discussion Cards
To end our unit, students break up into groups and reflect on their learning with these group discussion cards.
I have used these cards in two different ways. Both ways involve chart paper and markers. I honestly think chart paper is the most underutilized tool in middle school. The second you give those kids some markers and chart paper, engagement goes right up!
Small Group Discussion: First, divide the class into groups. Give each group a couple of task cards, some chart paper, and some markers. Have groups discuss the answers to the questions, and write their answers down on the chart paper. When done, have student groups present their answers to the class. With this activity, each group ends up becoming experts on a few select questions, and is able to share their expertise with the entire class.
Around the Room Discussion: Tape each task card to a sheet of chart paper, and hang the chart paper around the classroom (or hallway). Have students individually walk around and add their answers to the chart paper. Encourage students to expand on each other’s answers (in an appropriate way). When done, bring the class back together and share the results. If you have students that tend to be too shy to share their thoughts in a group setting, this can be a really great way to encourage them to share their thinking!
And the best part? You can grab all of these cards for FREE here or by clicking here on the image below.
Looking for more Arthurian Legends Activities?
Grab these fun Arthurian Legends activities from my TPT shop by clicking here or on the image below. It contains a wide variety of no-prep resources that will help spice up your classroom learning!
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