A great way to engage your students is by creating a storyboard that uses vocabulary from A Medieval Feast.
In this activity, students demonstrate their understanding of vocabulary words using sentences and corresponding images. Students may be provided the vocabulary words, or they can use words that they have discovered through their reading of the text. The sentences and images validate both their understanding of the word and how it was used in context of the story.
Here is a list of a few vocabulary words commonly taught with the story and an example of a visual vocabulary board.
serf
n. a person bound under the feudal system to work on his lord's estate
"The serfs lived in huts provided for them on the lord's estate, each with its own plot of land."
trenchers
n. flat, coarse bread used in place of plates
"Grains were ground into flour at the lord's mill, and baked into trenchers and other breads."
ewerer
n. worker who brought and heated water for the nobles
"The Ewerer tasted the water before he poured it in the King's hands."
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Demonstrate your understanding of the vocabulary words in A Medieval Feast by creating visualizations.
Transform vocabulary review into an active, collaborative game by setting up a relay. This engages students physically and mentally while reinforcing word meanings in a fun way.
Foster teamwork and ensure everyone participates by splitting your class into groups of 3–4. This encourages collaboration and keeps the activity manageable.
Create a set of cards—half with vocabulary words, half with definitions or example sentences. This gives students hands-on materials to match and discuss.
Arrange each station with one vocabulary card pair to encourage movement. Rotating through stations helps reinforce learning and keeps energy high.
Challenge teams to work together, quickly finding and matching vocabulary words to their definitions or sentences at each station. This competitive element boosts engagement and recall.
Review any matches students struggled with as a group. This reinforces correct understanding and provides an opportunity for clarification.
A visual vocabulary board for A Medieval Feast is an activity where students select vocabulary words from the story, define them, use each in a sentence, and illustrate their meanings with images. This helps students understand and remember key terms in context.
Guide students to choose 3 vocabulary words from A Medieval Feast, find their definitions, write sentences with each word, and illustrate the meanings using drawings or online images. This makes learning new words interactive and memorable.
Common vocabulary words from A Medieval Feast include serf (a farm worker bound to the land), trencher (a bread plate), and ewerer (a servant who brought water to nobles). These words help students better understand medieval life.
Visual vocabulary activities boost comprehension by connecting words to images and context. For A Medieval Feast, visuals help students grasp unfamiliar medieval terms and remember them more easily.
The best way is to have students create sentences and illustrations for each word. Reviewing their visual boards lets you check both their word knowledge and how well they understand the story’s context.