Medieval Maps and Monsters

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Grade Levels: 3-5

Time Allotment: 50 to 60 minutes

Maine Social Studies Standards: C1, D1, E1

This lesson uses maps made during the Middle Ages and Renaissance to show the sea monsters and monstrous peoples that explorers expected to find in distant parts of the earth. The presentation is followed by the Sea Monster Handbook, an activity booklet featuring an image search and space for students to create their own sea monsters. An additional activity, The Dangers of Exploration, uses a historic map of the known world as the base for a maze in which students must find a path to the Far East while avoiding entities that seafarers during the Middle Ages feared.

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Item Files

This folder contains images of all items used in this lesson. To view the available items in zoomify, click on the links below:

Presentation Files

This folder contains a powerpoint (.ppt) file of the completed presentation, as well as a suggested script in both .pdf and .doc formats.

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Presentation

Suggested Script w/ Images

Activity Files

This folder contains a .pdf file of the activity accompanying this lesson and any necessary documents and answer keys.

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Sea Monsters Handbook

Suggested Reading

Harwood, Jeremy. To the Ends of the Earth. 2007.

Van Duzar, Chet. Sea Monsters on Medieval and Renaissance Maps. 2013.