Castle Basics

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In this four-day lesson, learners identify three-dimensional forms in castle design, research different parts of the castle with a focus on their uses, and design and enlarge a banner for the great hall. Small groups build castles using geometric solids, such as cubes and cylinders. They understand that the size, form, and design of the castle’s parts were influenced by their uses. Learners also practice calculating perimeter and area and design a personal coat of arms for their families to scale. This activity is featured on pp.39-40 (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:
30 to 45 minutes
Learning Time:
1 to 7 days
Estimated Materials Cost:
$5 - $10 per group of students
Age Range:
Ages 8 - 11
Resource Types:
Activity, Lesson/Lesson Plan, Model
Language:
English

Materials List (per group of students)

  • pictures of castles
  • variety of texts about castle structures
  • excerpt about a castle’s function as a fortress, such as “Build It Strong” in Days of the Knights by Christopher Maynard
  • boxes and tubes of various sizes, construction paper/tag board, popsicle sticks
  • tape
  • glue
  • markers
  • rulers
  • scissors
  • string/yarn
  • digital camera
  • graph paper (1/4-inch scale)
  • easel pad with grid (1-inch scale), cut to banner sizes
  • meter stick
  • tape measure
  • Castle Schematic

Keywords

Subjects

  • Engineering and Technology
    • Technology
      • Construction
  • Mathematics
    • Geometry
      • Plane Geometry
      • Solid Geometry
    • Measurement
      • Size and Scale
  • The Nature of Technology
    • Technology and Society
      • Impacts of Technology
      • Technology and History
    • The Design Process
      • Research and Development
      • Invention and Innovation
      • Problem Solving
      • Troubleshooting and Maintenance

Informal Categories

  • Arts and Crafts
  • Historical Reenactment
  • Literature
  • Model Building

Audience

To use this activity, learners need to:

  • see
  • read
  • touch

Learning styles supported:

  • Involves teamwork and communication skills
  • 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:

Includes assesments for student learning:

This resource is part of:

Access Rights:

  • Free access

By:

Rights:

  • All rights reserved, The Children's Museum of Indianapolis, 2009

Funding Sources:

  • Fazoli's
  • Coca-Cola