The fighting during the Hundred Years’ War stopped in the middle due to the plague. The plague, also known as Black Death, was carried by fleas on rats. This craft will help children remember how the plague was spread.
Materials
- white paper
- markers
- glue or tape
- scissors
Make the Paper Rats
- Cut a circle out of white paper (you can use a plate as a template if you like). I used a circle with a diameter of 17 cm.
- Divide the circle into fourths. Cut each apart. Each part will make 1 rat.
- Roll up the fourth of a circle and make a cone. Secure with tape.
- Cut out 2 oval shapes for the ears. Color in the center and glue onto the cone.
- Use markers to add black eyes and nose.
- Cut 2 thin strips of white paper for the nose, cross them and glue or tape under
- the tip of the cone.
- For a tail, cut a thicker strip of white paper, curling it slightly with a scissors (or
- pencil) and gluing to the top of the cone.
- Have your rat run around spreading Black Death.
*Tell me about the Hundred Years’ War…
Fast Facts:
- The Hundred Years’ war was a fight between England and France over land in France.
- The fighting stopped in the middle of the war, due to the plague, called Black Death. After the plague was over, the war started up again. It lasted 100 years overall.
- Black Death was really bubonic plague. It was carried by fleas on rats.