Medieval Castle
Build a Castle and They Will Come
Concepts
Taught: Life during the Middle Ages, Social Structure, Architecture
Make your own model of a medieval castle -- a learning activity that teaches about
history, feudalism and life in the Middle-Ages. Students discover the major features of
daily life in medieval European societies. Students investigate the major events and
influences of the era and determine how they shaped medieval society. Students apply
their understandings to compare communities in medieval times with their own
communities today.
Expectations
By the end of Grade 4, students will:
- identify and describe major features of daily life and social organization in medieval
European societies from about 500 to 1500 C.E. (Common Era);
- describe characteristics of castles and aspects of castle life (e.g., design and building
methods; community structure – lord, knights, squires, men-at-arms, workers; sports and
entertainment; heraldry; justice; conflict and defence);
- use appropriate vocabulary (e.g., peasant, page, clergy, squire, caliph, imam, merchant,
trade guild, chivalry, manor, monastery, mosque, pilgrimage, Islam, Christianity,
Judaism, Magna Carta, Crusades) to describe their inquiries and observations.
- describe
how a variety of artists working in different styles and media and in different
historical periods have used the elements of design and/or tools, materials,
and techniques of their art (e.g., describe buildings made in different
historical periods,
- produce two- and three-dimensional works of art that communicate ideas (thoughts,
feelings, experiences) for specific purposes and to specific audiences.
Your project is to make a castle at home.This may be an individual or a family castle. Be
creative in your construction. Harness your imagination and whatever other materials you
have at home to build your castle. Each castle had its own (unique) design and
so will yours. The castle and its base should be no larger than the area of
your desktop, (24 x 36 inches – give or take). Some of the best castle designs
have been small – you decide what is a comfortable working size for you. As
always, quality is important. Be sure to have fun while you learn! Use the
attached rubric to help you plan your castle.
Also, consider these questions while you construct your castle. Which classes of
people lived in castles? What materials were most castles built of during the
12th and 13th centuries? What are the 2 main purposes of a castle? Think about
the architecture of medieval castles.
Your Castle must meet the King’s approval (constructed) by December 5th.
Your Rubric Will your castle be a 4, 3, 2 or 1?
4.
The castle shows lots of imagination and creativity. It looks and feels like
stone or wood. From looking at the castle, we can see that you used books or
pictures to guide you. It is neatly done with many extra details.
3.
The castle shows imagination and creativity. It looks like stone or wood. It is
neatly done with extra details.
2.
Your castle is done but some parts lack quality. It's hard to tell if it's wood
or stone. It has few details.
1.
Your castle is done but lacks quality. You can't tell if it's wood or stone.
There are no details.
Your Notes 1. I made my castle design with
_____________________________________________
2.The materials I used were _______________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
3. It was (a family, my) project..
4. I (always, sometimes, never) worked on this project with my family..
5. It took about _________ hours to complete the castle.
6. I rated my project a ____ because
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
7. My teacher rated my project a ____ because
______________________________________________________________________
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