Medieval Group Projects
based on the lesson http://yvettecerbone.cmswiki.wikispaces.net/file/view/15-Medieval+Group+Projects.pdf
http://sketchup.google.com/download/
http://www.smallblueprinter.com
Group #1
Imagine that you have been asked to make a 3-dimensional design and a draft blueprint of a
castle for the Lord Trinity of Irving, TX. His land includes the entire city limits of Irving. Since it is
the year 1162, there are no homes or buildings standing on the land. Make your choices based
on natural landmarks. Consider how your location can help you with defense, resources, etc.
Look online to find some castle blueprints, aerial photography, and photographs of medieval
castles. Do some research to discover what made a good location for a castle, how they were
organized, and why they were set up the way they were. Be sure to cite all of your sources, both
for information and for images.
You will need to choose the best location in the city to build the castle and lay out the major
structures - Make sure to detail where the Lord would have eaten and slept. Where would the
kitchen, gardens, bathroom, armory, stables, well, and other important structures have been
located? Where would the market, moat, gates and walls have been?
Presentation: Make sure you explain what historians mean by the word “castle”. Justify why you
chose your particular location in Irving. Explain the function of the major structures and the
layout of a typical medieval castle - be sure to compare and contrast your design with the
historical design.
Group #2
Imagine that it is the 12th century, and you are on the Bishop of Dallas’ committee to make a 3dimensional design and a draft blueprint of a cathedral in the city of Irving. The bishop wants his
cathedral to rival those of Lincoln, Durham and Aachen. Research these cathedrals as a basis
for your design. Be sure to cite all of your sources, both for information and for images.
Provide us with a 3-dimensional drawing of the exterior of your cathedral and an interior
blueprint. Make sure that your design uses the terminology of the architectural elements of
churches/cathedrals. Make sure to include the physical dimensions (height, length, etc.) and to
design the windows and exterior sculptures of your cathedral.
Presentation: Explain what a cathedral was and what purpose it served. Also, what made
cathedrals different from churches? How did the church gather the money to build such
elaborate and expensive structures? What changes would you make to your design if you were
building the cathedral today?
Group #3
The illuminated manuscripts created by Benedictine monks collected the knowledge of the
ancients and celebrated the religious teachings of Christianity. Research how these manuscripts
were created and how they were styled. Be sure to cite all of your sources, both for information
and for images.
Using a modern novel of your choice, you and the other monastics in your group will illuminate
important parts of the text, demonstrating the coloration, graphic style and imagery that was
common to illuminations of the middle ages. You need to illuminate a minimum of one page of
text for each person in your group.
Presentation: Explain what an illuminated manuscript was. Also, explain what purpose these
manuscripts served and how they were a reflection of the Christian church’s values. Share what
your inspirations were for your illuminations. Why did you pick the book that you chose? Show
us at least one example from the middle ages that inspired your designs. Explain what you
wanted to communicate in your pages, including emotion and story elements.
Group #4
Tournaments were popular “war games” and training for knights and the lords whom they
served. Tournaments of the early middle ages demonstrated the skills and strength of knights
through a variety of activities. By the high middle ages, jousting became the highlight of any
tournament, occasionally leading to serious injury. Research what a ’typical’ tournament would
have included. Be sure to cite all of your sources, both for information and for images.
Your project is to create a classic tournament with a description of events, drawings of the
weapons, armor, flags & coats of arms representing the various competitors in your group. You
will also create a diagram of where the events will take place in medieval Irving.
Presentation: Make sure to explain the origins of tournaments and the types of events that were
part of one. Also, show us examples of the weapons and armor that would have been used.
Share with the class what purpose the medieval tournament served in that society. How does
our society fulfill that purpose?
Group #5
Stained glass windows are one of the lasting pictorial art forms of the middle ages. They
required a knowledge of glass making, engineering and artistic talent. Your group is to research
the method by which these masterpieces were made. Be sure to cite all of your sources, both
for information and for images.
Your project is to design a set of stained glass windows in the medieval style that would be
appropriate for Irving High School. Make sure that you use the coloration and graphic style that
was common to stained glass of the middle ages.
Presentation: Explain the purpose and the process by which stained glass windows were made.
Additionally, show us examples of stained glass windows from the middle ages that inspired
your design. Explain some of the common images or themes seen in medieval works of stained
glass. Explain how your designs represent our school.
Guidelines
1. Each group should assign the following tasks
 Recorder = make note cards for the presentation on Wednesday, 7 November 2012

Blueprint = make a computerized draft blueprint of your design using
http://www.smallblueprinter.com/sbp.htm

3-D design = make a computerized 3-D model of your project using
http://sketchup.google.com/download/
1 blueprint researcher – write a paragraph describing the sites you used. Annotate your
sources.
1 3-D researcher. Annotate your sources.


2. Your designs will be done on your laptops. You may choose which program(s) to use to
complete your project. For design and drawing, I recommend that you use the drawing tool that
is most familiar to you. Some drawing tools available to you are Paint.NET, Google Apps Draw,
sumopaint.com, and Gimp. For architectural or 3-Dimensional designs, try Google Sketch-Up.
For laying out a location on a map, take screenshots from Google Maps or Google Earth to
draw on, use My Places on Google Maps, or create a tour on Google Earth. If you need help
with using any of these tools, there are many instructional videos on Youtube that will help you
with the basics.
3. All of these projects require some basic research and effective communication. Put forth your
best effort and use your time wisely.
4. Your group’s presentation will be on ____Wednesday, November 7, 2012___________. Your
groups should be of adequate size to assemble your group’s project and to develop a short 3 to
5 minute presentation discussing your project’s connection to the medieval period. Work quickly
and efficiently. You are also welcome to work on projects in my classroom before school or at
lunch as well.
5. This project is worth one summative grade. See the attached rubric for scoring.
6. Email your project to _bgambill@irvingisd.net____