The Black Death was a devastating pandemic that swept through Europe in the 14th century. It was caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, which was carried by fleas on rodents and spread to humans. The disease had three forms: bubonic plague, pneumonic plague, and septicemic plague. Symptoms varied but included swollen and painful lymph nodes, coughing, and bleeding from orifices. Treatment options were limited and mortality rates for each form were extremely high. The plague drastically reduced Europe's population and permanently changed societal structures and practices.

1. The Black Death
Katey Daniels

2. Analyze Learner
My class contains eighteen students. Of this number,
eleven are female and seven are male. Fifteen of my
students are Caucasian, with the remaining three being
African American. To my knowledge none of the students
have any disabilities and all have passed the prerequisite
courses to make it to my eleventh grade World History
course.

3. Main Objectives
By the end of the unit my students will do the following with at least
80% accuracy:
 Give an accurate description of medieval life and how it
contributed to the spread of the plague
 Chart the progression of the plague when given a map
 Give a timeline for the plague and different outbreaks
 State the three forms of plague as well as the symptoms, treatment,
and mortality rate for each
 Explain how the plague shaped the rest of history, particularly in
Europe and subsequently in modern America

4. Day By Day Breakdown
 Monday: Discuss medieval living in the 1300’s and 1400’s, watch a short Youtube video
depicting this. Touch on environmental, social, and political changes around this time.
 Tuesday: Use the Smartboard to look at an interactive map of the spread of plague,
discuss the types of plague, symptoms, treatment, and mortality rates. Do virus spreading
simulation exercise.
 Wednesday: Using a Prezi, explain how the plague impacted society during that time and
how it impacted the development of the society we know.
 Thursday: Divide students into groups and assign different “characters” in different social
positions (I.e. Anne - the peasant, Andrew – the doctor.) Allow students to use time in class
as well as the class Wiki to create a group Powerpoint giving their fictional account of the
plague.
 Friday: Let students watch a Discorvery documentary on the plague. Allow them to use
the weekend to complete their group assignment via class Wiki.
 Monday: Presentation day.

5. Technology
Prezi
PowerPoint
Wiki
Smartboard
DVD

6. Works Cited
 "The Path of the Black Death | EDSITEment." The Path of the Black Death | EDSITEment.
Web. 3 Feb. 2015. <http://edsitement.neh.gov/lesson-plan/path-black-death#sect-
introduction>.
 "The Plague Fighters." PBS. PBS. Web. 3 Feb. 2015.
<http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/education/activities/2304_ebola.html>.