What is the site about?

This site is a resource for teachers who are interested in exploring the medieval era with middle school pupils. It has a specific focus on the Arts, in particular, drama, visual arts, dance and music. It also includes some research on medieval food and lifestyle.

Teachers can access a large number of medieval drama units addressing Levels 3/4 of the Queensland Arts Syllabus (Drama) and other research areas of interest.

As syllabuses change constantly, the units have been prepared with a view that they can be adapted to suit any educational requirements or context. They are ‘process drama’ in nature allowing the teacher to teach the units over a number of weeks or days as required. The units can be modified to suit your own areas of expertise or knowledge of drama praxis.

The site is based on an innovative assessment practice in the Bachelor of Arts program at ACU National in Queensland ‘The Arts and Culture’ – the McAuley Medieval Fayre. The ‘Fayre’ takes place usually sometime in May on an annual basis and requires students to ‘create’ an authentic medieval festival complete with a medieval banquet, dancing, singing and role play all performed on one magnificent morning of colour and sound.

The medieval ‘Queen’ (usually the lecturer in charge of the unit) presides over the Fayre and ‘travellers’ (students in role) come from many places to be presented to the Queen. She is always most enthusiastic about their presence at her Fayre! The Fayre goes for about two hours and includes children from the local schools and the University community as visitors to the Fayre.

Students are assessed on the way they perform and conduct themselves at the Fayre and they must all make their own costumes and head-pieces to ensure their role is authentic and festive. You can view photos of the children and students performing at the 2006-2007 Fayre and read the responses of the pupils to their learning experiences at the Fayre. Hopefully, this site will inspire you to look at ways of integrating the Arts in your own school – is it not as hard as you think and gives the children rich experiences in creating, collaborating and performing.