The Game of Chess and the Feudal System

Grade 6 SS/ELA
Unit 4 Middle Ages Lesson 2
Name: ___________________________
Date: ____________________
The Game of Chess and the Feudal System
1. How does the game of chess represent life in the Middle Ages?
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2. How does each piece of a chess game fit into medieval society?
Pawn
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Rook
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Knight
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Bishop
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Queen
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King
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3.
Why do you think there are so many pawns on a chess boards?
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Putnam/Northern Westchester BOCES:
Grade 6 Integrated Social Studies/English Language Arts Curriculum
Page 1 Revised June 2011
Grade 6 SS/ELA
Unit 4 Middle Ages Lesson 2
4. Why do you think the fact pawns are limited in the way they can be moved is connected to the reality of
medieval society?
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5. Why are bishops so close to the royalty (king and queen)?
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6. Why are queens able to move in so many different directions?
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7. Why do you think is the king so limited in his movements, yet so important to both chess and medieval
society?
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8. What piece in a chess game is the only non-human character? Why was this included in the chess
game?
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9. Why do you think the knight moves in such a different way?
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Putnam/Northern Westchester BOCES:
Grade 6 Integrated Social Studies/English Language Arts Curriculum
Page 2 Revised June 2011
Grade 6 SS/ELA
Unit 4 Middle Ages Lesson 2
10. The whole idea of the feudal system was “protection” and “obligations.” How does a chess game show
this idea? Use specific examples.
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Putnam/Northern Westchester BOCES:
Grade 6 Integrated Social Studies/English Language Arts Curriculum
Page 3 Revised June 2011