Castles

Classroom Activities

Art

Crowns and Jewels:

Study photos of crowns and jewels. Have the students create their own using the various craft supplies  available now:

melting plastic
bags of beads
leather or plastic thongs
wonderfully imaginative materials 

Weaving:

Set up a simple frame and wind vertical threads.  The students can add assorted wool and interesting materials on the horizontal weave to create a simple class project. This could be carried out over a couple of weeks to fill it up.

for a pdf file, click here.

Tapestries:

Embroidery and stitching was a skilled and valued art that was used to tell stories.  Students could make individual squares that could be sewn together or displayed individually of creative art by stitchery. 

Heraldry: 

Using a simple herald design, have students create their own emblem using the various elements and patterns of heraldry to be displayed on their armor or inside the castle.

For a coat of arms pdf file, click here.

Pottery:

Use clay to create goblets and jugs used in the Middle Ages.

Candle Making:

Candles were used for all the light. Let the children create their own by melting the wax blocks or with the beeswax rolls. Some craft stores sell the slabs of wax that can be chiseled into pieces that will fit into tin cans and melted down in heating water.  Color pigments can be purchased or more simply, peel old crayons and drop into melted wax for interesting colors. Candle wick can be purchased in the craft stores.  Children dip their wick from the melted wax can to a can of cold water - back and forth.  This does require close adult supervision, but the children love it.  The candles make wonderful gifts too.

Flags:

A pennant flag flew above the castle to show that the lord was in residence.  Students could design their own flags and these could be used for attendance.

COMMUNITY RESOURCES:

Strathcona Raptor Center

Health Food Stores

Weavers Guild - Spinning Wheels

Bee-Keepers

DRAMATIC PLAY:

Collect wonderfully beautiful clothes of velvet, metallic, chiffon, organza, satin, or sequined fabric.  Garage sales often have such hidden delights. Old peignoir sets can be remade into simple capes or skirts.  Often the more simple the design, the easier it is for children to create their own royal fashions.  A long flowing cape can be combined with three or four others to create skirts, dresses, head pieces, or capes.

for a pdf file for helmet instructions, click here.

Treasury:

Taxes were collected for the king and the treasury grew.  Using real coins or Canadian play money, have the children count money in the "counting house".

Alms:

The wealthy often shared some of the wealth with the poor by distributing alms.  An alms collector could collect 1 coin out of every 10 that the rich had.

Patterned Jewels:

Bags of plastic jewels are not too expensive in the craft stores and children love to make necklaces.  Have them select a pattern, or give them a pattern to follow to create their own jewels.

Market Day/ Fair Day

People flocked to buy the goods on Market Day.  You may hold a special "sale" for the school, whereby the school community could come to your class market to buy home made items. (Cookies, rice krispie squares, tarts, cupcakes, hot dogs, hamburgers, pies,) The children would probably need adult help making change, but the counting is a real-life task! 

Money Pouches:

Students could make their own pouch to carry coins around their waist.  When the coins became worn and therefore unidentifiable, the value was determined by weighing the pouches.  Use weigh scales to determine wealth.  How does this compare to the counting value?

Dancing:

Teach simple social dances to use during a "Ball".  Some suggestions are the French Minuet, Waltz, Polka, Bird Dance, Hokey Pokey, or Line Dances.  This can be so much fun.

Juggling:

Use small juggling balls, scarves, or bean bags to practise the art of juggling.

Skipping Song:

Cinderella dressed in yella,
Went upstairs to kiss a fella,
By mistake she kissed a snake.
How many doctors did it take?

10, 20, 30, ...

RELIGION:

In Grade 2 religion programs in the Catholic Systems, children prepare for first communion.  In the times of the Middle Ages, many traveled to Jerusalem and Rome in search of the Holy Grail, the cup that Jesus used for the Last Supper.

SAND:

Sand Castle Keeper

Materials:

6 c. sand
1 c. Paper paste
water

containers: cans, plastic cups, tin can, small buckets, plastic toy pots, etc.

cardboard or plywood for background

Process:

1.  mix Paper Paste and sand
2.  add water until claylike  (hint:  should pack firmly into containers)
3.  start with large base and add smaller shapes
4.  dry to permanent hardness

Variations:

1.  cut windows and shapes with spoon, knife, or other tools
2.  carefully highlight areas with paint

SOCIAL: 

Design fictional maps of a country, showing castle locations.

More specific maps could outline a castle layout.

Guilds:

During the Middle Ages, craftsmen formed guilds and advertised their craft by displaying symbols on the door.  Create a 2 or 3 dimensional model of a street of varying crafts/occupations and design appropriate symbols for their businesses.

WRITING:

Calligraphy:

Copying a page from an old manuscript can be a project.  Use beautiful textured paper and a quill pen (improvise).  Note: this is a writing "art", not a writing "process."

for a pdf file on Manuscripts, click here.

Sword Making: 

Buy slats from a lumber store - they are quite inexpensive but are easy to work with to make decorative swords for the knights.  Be sure to get shorter nails that will not split the wood.  Students will need to measure for appropriate length for their sword - it cannot be longer than waist-to- floor length. "Jewels", silver paint, glitter, and shiny foil all add to the beauty of these swords.  They can be carried by using a simple tie belt around the waist.  The crossbar will rest on the belt.

Throne:

The rulers will need thrones to hold court.  Students can easily design and build simple thrones from wood pieces.  The backs could be either wood or cardboard, but the seat and legs will require wood to  be sturdy enough to support the royalty (and their gold!)

Drawbridge:

The class will need to problem-solve in the design and implementation of a drawbridge. Appropriate materials will need to be selected, mechanisms for raising and lowering the drawbridge, and construction will all need to be discussed and designed. (Very sturdy cardboard and thick Styrofoam both work with minimal design problems.  Durability depends on your class...)  Old electrical wire,  rope, macramé string, and chain all work for lifting the drawbridge.  If you have a play house to use for the castle, make sure the door is considered in the placement and thickness of the drawbridge. If you need an extra challenge, try adding a portcullis that will raise and lower with pulleys and weights...

Rock Study: 

Masons had to know rocks very well and studied them closely.  Have the class collect rocks and test them to determine which would have been good for shaping or chipping.  Make sure the children are wearing safety glasses.  If your classroom tools don't seem to work well, there are Rock Supply and Craft stores in the cities.

Propulsion:

When an army was attacking the castle, they used a variety of propulsion constructions.  Have the children design and construct creative propulsion instruments.

Homing Pigeons:

How were messages sent?

How do homing pigeons know where to go and where to return?

Bee-keeping:

How is it exactly that people get honey from bees?  How  does a hive work?  How do bees produce honey?

Birds of Prey (Raptors):

There are many fascinating facts to learn about this interesting birds - their eye sight, hearing, hunting ability and food choices. 

The class may be interested in studying the art and ethics of falconry.

Healing Potions:

Study common healing potions: Aromatherapy, Teas, Chicken Soup, Natural Food/Nutrition, Garlic, Vitamins, Herbs

Rats:

Rats were everywhere in the Middle Ages.  A study of mice and/or rats, their control, breeding, food consumption, and spread of disease would be an excellent living things study. 

Wool:

Shearing, carding, cleaning, lanolin of raw wool.

Music

Introduce the musical instruments used in this time period:

Lyre
Harp
Trumpet
Gittern - a medieval guitar

Pied Piper Melodies:

Listen to a variety of flute or wind instrument selections to find the favorite melody that the class thinks may have captured and enchanted the children of Hamlin.

Early One Morning

Scarborough Fair

Ballads

Lavender's Blue

Lavender's blue, dilly, dilly,
Lavender's green.
When I am king, dilly, dilly,
You shall be queen.
Call up your men, dilly, dilly,
Set them to work.
Some to the plough, dilly, dilly,
Some to the cart.
Some to make hay, dilly, dilly,
Some to cut corn.
While you and I, dilly, dilly,
Keep ourselves warm.