Castles Inside and Out

Submitted by smileadmin on Tue, 01/17/2012 - 03:35

Source Institution

Keywords

Description

In this three-day lesson, learners identify two-dimensional shapes used in castle construction, create a castle collage using assorted shapes, and design tapestries using repeated patterns of color, shape, or line. They understand that the castle’s primary purpose was to keep the community safe but that it also served as a home for the lord and his family. This activity is featured on pp.37-38 (part of a lesson that begins on page 35) of the "LEGO® Castle Adventure" unit of study for grades K-6.

Quick Guide

Preparation Time: 45 to 60 minutes
Learning Time: 1 to 7 days
Estimated materials cost: $5 - $10 per group of students
Age Range: Ages 4 - 8
Resource Types:
Language: English

Materials List (per group of students)

pictures and drawings of castles
pre-cut geometric shapes (assorted sizes of squares, rectangles, circles, and triangles)
Visual Aid: The Parts of a Castle (page 47)
index cards with names of castle parts, one term per card
picture or sample of tapestry with repeated pattern
sentence strips for pattern
measurement tools including rulers and meter sticks
paper
glue
scissors
a variety of coloring tools
Adventures in the Middle Ages by Linda Bailey and Bill Slavin

Subjects

Informal Categories

Arts and Crafts
Historical Reenactment
Literature
Model Building

Subjects

Mathematics
- Algebra
  - Patterns
- Geometry
  - Plane Geometry
- Problem Solving
The Nature of Technology
- Technology and Society
  - Impacts of Technology
  - Technology and History
- The Design Process
  - Invention and Innovation
  - Problem Solving

Audience

To use this activity learners need to

see
see color
read
touch

Learning styles supported

Links STEM to other topics of interest such as arts and humanities
Involves hands-on or lab activities

Other

Includes alignment to state and/or national standards:

Standards Alignment National Standards and Indiana's Academic Standards (page 37 of PDF)

Common Core State Standards for Mathematics:

CCSS.Math.Content.K.G.A.2: Correctly name shapes regardless of their orientations or overall size. (more info about this benchmark)
CCSS.Math.Content.K.G.B.4: Analyze and compare two- and three-dimensional shapes, in different sizes and orientations, using informal language to describe their similarities, differences, parts (e.g., number of sides and vertices/"corners") and other attributes (e.g., having sides of equal length). (more info about this benchmark)
CCSS.Math.Content.K.G.B.5: Model shapes in the world by building shapes from components (e.g., sticks and clay balls) and drawing shapes. (more info about this benchmark)
CCSS.Math.Content.K.G.B.6: Compose simple shapes to form larger shapes. (more info about this benchmark)
CCSS.Math.Content.1.G.A.1: Distinguish between defining attributes (e.g., triangles are closed and three-sided) versus non-defining attributes (e.g., color, orientation, overall size); build and draw shapes to possess defining attributes. (more info about this benchmark)
CCSS.Math.Content.1.G.A.2: Compose two-dimensional shapes (rectangles, squares, trapezoids, triangles, half-circles, and quarter-circles) or three-dimensional shapes (cubes, right rectangular prisms, right circular cones, and right circular cylinders) to create a composite shape, and compose new shapes from the composite shape. (more info about this benchmark)