A Memorable Approach to Learning about Feudalism

Seventh grade students in Rita Rajen’s Medieval World History brought feudalism to life–with the help of Jolly Ranchers! Every student was assigned a role–kings, lords, serfs–and received an equal number of candies. But when serfs had to hand over all but one of their Jolly Ranchers to their lords and when the lords had to pay candy taxes to the king, the reality of the feudal system came to life. It was a sweet and memorable way to understand the power dynamics in medieval times.