Introduction
We are about to embark on an adventure through history, crossing the ruins of battlefield, sitting among the stages of England, experiencing the culture of a people. From legendary heroes slaying mythical creatures to lyrical pastorals reflecting on the beauty of nature, the literature of English is as varied as its language. What seems common to us--our everyday speech--has changed, shifted, grown and morphed over the centuries. English is a language unlike any other--absorbing words and principles from everything it touches and every culture it encounters. It truly is the lingua franca of our world.
The purpose of this web experience is to give you a sampling of English language history through a broad overview. Students will learn about the different stages of development in English and the significant linguistic influences. They can watch videos, play learning games, and explore interactive websites to encounter this new knowledge. Investigate, examine, have fun and answer accurately as much as you can. through the activities below.
The purpose of this web experience is to give you a sampling of English language history through a broad overview. Students will learn about the different stages of development in English and the significant linguistic influences. They can watch videos, play learning games, and explore interactive websites to encounter this new knowledge. Investigate, examine, have fun and answer accurately as much as you can. through the activities below.
Activities
The History of English in 10 Acts
Each act is a stage of the development of English. Explore the changing details of each set and read, watch, and listen to the props.
Enter the PIE
Enter this exploratory site about the Proto-IndoEuropean language. For now, stick with the related word sections. Explore the relationship between words dealing with families, the sky, counting, plants and animals.
Grimm’s Law
Follow the directions on the page and read the fairy tale.
The History of English in 10 Minutes
Watch this clip for a very brief, and humorous, overview of the history of the English language.
Roots of English
Play this game to create a poem using Anglo-Saxon, French, and Viking words.
Play a Game: Pick one of these three games to play, then complete the activities listed. If you have extra time, you may explore some of the other games.
Recreational Activities
Besides pillaging and protecting, the Anglo-Saxons participated in other recreational activities.
Each act is a stage of the development of English. Explore the changing details of each set and read, watch, and listen to the props.
- Write down five words that came from French influence.
- In which year did Webster complete his dictionary?
- Which Act/Stage did you find the most interesting? What about this Act/Stage intrigued you?
Enter the PIE
Enter this exploratory site about the Proto-IndoEuropean language. For now, stick with the related word sections. Explore the relationship between words dealing with families, the sky, counting, plants and animals.
- What pattern can you identify from the change from Old to Modern English?
- What elements do all the languages have in common?
- Create a chart that compares words and their replacements. Pick examples from a variety of the categories.
Grimm’s Law
Follow the directions on the page and read the fairy tale.
- Make an answer key for the first two paragraphs of the fairy tale. What are the modern translations of the highlighted words?
- After this activity, revisit and revise your linguistic formula from your previously made chart.
The History of English in 10 Minutes
Watch this clip for a very brief, and humorous, overview of the history of the English language.
- Which of these time periods would you want to study more? What interested you the most?
Roots of English
Play this game to create a poem using Anglo-Saxon, French, and Viking words.
- Based on your game play and poem creations, make a chart of Anglo-Saxon, French, and Viking words used in the game.
- Create a poem that is 60% Anglo-Saxon, 20% French, and 20% Viking in origin.
Play a Game: Pick one of these three games to play, then complete the activities listed. If you have extra time, you may explore some of the other games.
- Viking Quest - Experience the life of a Viking about to pillage and loot an English monastery. Can you captain your soldiers across the sea?
- Why did the Viking raid England?
- If you were a Viking captain, what three things would you absolutely bring with you on your voyage? Why?
- Anglo-Saxon Coins - Can you figure out the type of coin, just by the image and words on it?
- What did the Anglo-Saxons put on their coins?
- Use Microsoft Word to create one side of your own Anglo-Saxon coin. Explain your decision making process.
- Word Quiz - Can you correctly identify the origins of these words?
- After playing this game, write down a few observations about the words in our language? What surprised you most about this experience? What was your final score?
Recreational Activities
Besides pillaging and protecting, the Anglo-Saxons participated in other recreational activities.
- Which of these pastimes do we still practice today?
- Write a short-short about a day in the life of an Anglo-Saxon citizen.
Conclusion
You are now well on your way to becoming scholars of British history. Over the course of the semester, we will take a closer look at each of these periods of development in our language, and we will study the literature and thought expressed in those words. Hopefully you enjoyed this sampling of history and one of the periods has piqued your interest. Keep your notes and answers from these activities to reference later in this unit.