A Common Thread: The Significance of Wool in Medieval England
Students will understand how agriculture influenced and shaped culture, class, and society during the Middle Ages.

Background
Lesson Activities
Recommended Companion Resources
Credits
Author
Grace Struiksma | Utah Agriculture in the Classroom
Standards
Texas Content Area Standards
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Principles of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources: 130.2.c.1
The student demonstrates professional standards/employability skills as required by business and industry. The student is expected to:
- Principles of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources: 130.2.c.1.B: apply competencies related to resources, information, interpersonal skills, problem solving, critical thinking, and systems of operation in agriculture, food, and natural resources.
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Principles of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources: 130.2.c.3
The student analyzes concepts related to global diversity. The student is expected to:
- Principles of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources: 130.2.c.3.A: compare and contrast global agricultural markets, currency, and trends.
- Principles of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources: 130.2.c.3.B: evaluate marketing factors and practices that impact the global markets.
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Principles of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources: 130.2.c.4
The student explains the historical, current, and future significance of the agriculture, food, and natural resources industry. The student is expected to:
- Principles of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources: 130.2.c.4.B: analyze the scope of agriculture, food, and natural resources and its effect upon society.
- Principles of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources: 130.2.c.4.C: evaluate significant historical and current agriculture, food, and natural resources developments.
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Principles of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources: 130.2.c.6
The student demonstrates appropriate personal and communication skills. The student is expected to:
- Principles of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources: 130.2.c.6.A: demonstrate written and oral communication skills appropriate for formal and informal situations such as prepared and extemporaneous presentations.
- Principles of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources: 130.2.c.6.B: demonstrate effective listening skills appropriate for formal and informal situations.
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Social Studies: 8.113.20.c.14
Economics. The student understands the origins and development of the free enterprise system in the United States. The student is expected to:
- Social Studies: 8.113.20.c.14.A: explain why a free enterprise system of economics developed in the new nation, including minimal government regulation, taxation, and property rights
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ELA: 7.110.23.b.5
Comprehension skills: listening, speaking, reading, writing, and thinking using multiple texts. The student uses metacognitive skills to both develop and deepen comprehension of increasingly complex texts.
- ELA: 7.110.23.b.5.H: synthesize information to create new understanding
- ELA: 7.110.23.b.5.B: generate questions about text before, during, and after reading to deepen understanding and gain information
- ELA: 7.110.23.b.5.G: evaluate details read to determine key ideas
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Social Studies: 6.113.18.c.1
History. The student understands that historical events influence contemporary events. The student is expected to:
- Social Studies: 6.113.18.c.1.A: trace characteristics of various contemporary societies in regions that resulted from historical events or factors such as colonization, immigration, and trade
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Social Studies: 6.113.18.c.2
History. The student understands the influences of individuals and groups from various cultures on various historical and contemporary societies. The student is expected to:
- Social Studies: 6.113.18.c.2.B: describe the social, political, economic, and cultural contributions of individuals and groups from various societies, past and present
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Social Studies: 6.113.18.c.19
Social studies skills. The student applies critical-thinking skills to organize and use information acquired through established research methodologies from a variety of valid sources, including technology. The student is expected to:
- Social Studies: 6.113.18.c.19.C: organize and interpret information from outlines, reports, databases, and visuals, including graphs, charts, timelines, and maps
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Social Studies: 6.113.18.c.21
Social studies skills. The student communicates in written, oral, and visual forms. The student is expected to:
- Social Studies: 6.113.18.c.21.C: express ideas orally based on research and experiences
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Social Studies: 6.113.18.c.22
Social studies skills. The student uses problem-solving and decision-making skills, working independently and with others. The student is expected to:
- Social Studies: 6.113.18.c.22.B: use problem-solving and decision-making processes to identify a problem, gather information, list and consider options, consider advantages and disadvantages, choose and implement a solution, and evaluate the effectiveness of the solution
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Science: 6.112.26.b.6
Matter and energy. The student knows that matter is made of atoms, can be classified according to its properties, and can undergo changes. The student is expected to:
- Science: 6.112.26.b.6.B: investigate the physical properties of matter to distinguish between pure substances, homogeneous mixtures (solutions), and heterogeneous mixtures;
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Social Studies: 7.113.19.c.20
Social studies skills. The student applies critical-thinking skills to organize and use information acquired through established research methodologies from a variety of valid sources, including technology. The student is expected to:
- Social Studies: 7.113.19.c.20.C: organize and interpret information from outlines, reports, databases, and visuals, including graphs, charts, timelines, and maps
- Social Studies: 7.113.19.c.20.E: formulate and communicate visually, orally, or in writing a claim supported by evidence and reasoning related to a social studies topic
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Social Studies: 7.113.19.c.23
Social studies skills. The student uses problem-solving and decision-making skills, working independently and with others. The student is expected to:
- Social Studies: 7.113.19.c.23.B: use problem-solving and decision-making processes to identify a problem, gather information, list and consider options, consider advantages and disadvantages, choose and implement a solution, and evaluate the effectiveness of the solution
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Social Studies: 8.113.20.c.29
Social studies skills. The student applies critical-thinking skills to organize and use information acquired through established research methodologies from a variety of valid sources, including technology. The student is expected to:
- Social Studies: 8.113.20.c.29.C: organize and interpret information from outlines, reports, databases, and visuals, including graphs, charts, timelines, and maps
- Social Studies: 8.113.20.c.29.E: formulate and communicate visually, orally, or in writing a claim supported by evidence and reasoning related to a social studies topic
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Social Studies: 8.113.20.c.31
Social studies skills. The student uses problem-solving and decision-making skills, working independently and with others. The student is expected to:
- Social Studies: 8.113.20.c.31.B: use problem-solving and decision-making processes to identify a problem, gather information, list and consider options, consider advantages and disadvantages, choose and implement a solution, and evaluate the effectiveness of the solution
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Science: 7.112.27.b.6
Matter and energy. The student distinguishes between elements and compounds, classifies changes in matter, and understands the properties of solutions. The student is expected to:
- Science: 7.112.27.b.6.D: describe aqueous solutions in terms of solute and solvent, concentration, and dilution; and
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Science: 8.112.28.b.6
Matter and energy. The student understands that matter can be classified according to its properties and matter is conserved in chemical changes that occur within closed systems. The student is expected to:
- Science: 8.112.28.b.6.A: explain by modeling how matter is classified as elements, compounds, homogeneous mixtures, or heterogeneous mixtures;
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ELA: 6.110.22.b.1
Developing and sustaining foundational language skills: listening, speaking, discussion, and thinking--oral language. The student develops oral language through listening, speaking, and discussion. The student is expected to:
- ELA: 6.110.22.b.1.D: participate in student-led discussions by eliciting and considering suggestions from other group members, taking notes, and identifying points of agreement and disagreement.
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ELA: 6.110.22.b.5
Comprehension skills: listening, speaking, reading, writing, and thinking using multiple texts. The student uses metacognitive skills to both develop and deepen comprehension of increasingly complex texts. The student is expected to:
- ELA: 6.110.22.b.5.B: generate questions about text before, during, and after reading to deepen understanding and gain information
- ELA: 6.110.22.b.5.G: evaluate details read to determine key ideas
- ELA: 6.110.22.b.5.H: synthesize information to create new understanding
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ELA: 6.110.22.b.12
Inquiry and research: listening, speaking, reading, writing, and thinking using multiple texts. The student engages in both short-term and sustained recursive inquiry processes for a variety of purposes. The student is expected to:
- ELA: 6.110.22.b.12.A: generate student-selected and teacher-guided questions for formal and informal inquiry
- ELA: 6.110.22.b.12.F: synthesize information from a variety of sources
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ELA: 7.110.23.b.12
Inquiry and research: listening, speaking, reading, writing, and thinking using multiple texts. The student engages in both short-term and sustained recursive inquiry processes for a variety of purposes. The student is expected to:
- ELA: 7.110.23.b.12.A: generate student-selected and teacher-guided questions for formal and informal inquiry
- ELA: 7.110.23.b.12.F: synthesize information from a variety of sources
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ELA: 8.110.24.b.5
Comprehension skills: listening, speaking, reading, writing, and thinking using multiple texts. The student uses metacognitive skills to both develop and deepen comprehension of increasingly complex texts. The student is expected to:
- ELA: 8.110.24.b.5.B: generate questions about text before, during, and after reading to deepen understanding and gain information
- ELA: 8.110.24.b.5.G: evaluate details read to determine key ideas
- ELA: 8.110.24.b.5.H: synthesize information to create new understanding
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ELA: 8.110.24.b.12
Inquiry and research: listening, speaking, reading, writing, and thinking using multiple texts. The student engages in both short-term and sustained recursive inquiry processes for a variety of purposes. The student is expected to:
- ELA: 8.110.24.b.12.A: generate student-selected and teacher-guided questions for formal and informal inquiry
- ELA: 8.110.24.b.12.F: synthesize information from a variety of sources