Watch this animated video showing how medieval castles were designed and how they changed over time. While you are watching, listen for the names of the different sections of these castles.
Medieval Castles
Learn how castles were designed and how they changed over time.
Medieval Castles
Learn how castles were designed and how they changed over time.
Driving Questions
Look at the three Driving Questions below and in your groups, decide which question you would like to answer. Each group can answer the same question or each group can answer different questions. The choice is yours!
- What can we teach others about what it was like to live in a castle?
- How can we design a castle for someone royal?
- How can we represent ourselves with symbols like in medieval times?
Possible Ideas
Day-in-the-Life Castle Blueprint Coat of Arms
What can we teach others about what it was like to live in a castle?
Possible Idea: “Day-in-the-Life” Story
Activities:
- Imagine they are a character living in a castle, such as a knight, servant, or royal family member.
- Write a short story or journal entry about their daily life, including meals, chores, or adventures.
- Illustrate their stories and share them with classmates.
- Turn the stories into a class book or perform short skits based on them.
- If possible, print these stories out to be distributed to lower grades in the school.
How can we design a castle for someone royal?
Possible Idea: Castle Blueprint
Activities:
- Learn about the layout of castles and draw blueprints, including rooms, defenses, and secret passages.
- Add details like labels, symbols, and measurements.
- Present their blueprints and explain how they designed their castle for safety and comfort.
How can we represent ourselves with symbols like in medieval times?
Possible Idea: Coat of Arms
Activities:
- Learn about the meaning of colors and symbols used in coats of arms.
- Design their own coat of arms using paper or digital tools.
- Write an explanation of their design and present it to the class.
- Students can also put together an infographic to show others how they can create their own coat of arms.
Thinking Time
What will your group do or make to answer your Driving Question? Use the space below to draw some ideas with your group. Remember to download or save your picture for future use!
Need To Knows
Now that you’ve chosen your question, think about your “Need To Knows.” These are the questions that you need answers to in order to help you answer your Driving Question. Follow the steps below to help you create and refine your questions.
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Old Project Question
For classes using the old unit project, PBL can be integrated with the following Driving Question:
How can we represent ourselves with symbols like in medieval times?