Castle Building Challenge: Research + Engineering

Students will:

• Locate, research, and read about medieval architecture, feudal power structure, and military strategy.

• Explore castle features and how they served as a varied defence system.

• Use Makedo tools to cut, connect, and create a cardboard castle with specific defensive castle features. 

• Read and research how geography and available resources shaped castle designs across different regions.

Students can:

• Evaluate the relationship between feudal power structures and castle architecture. 

• Explain how specific castle features served military, social, or political defences.

• Construct a cardboard castle with special features that reflect historically accurate design choices and be able to explain them.

• Explain and cite how their castle design is historically and geographically accurate.

Primary source, illuminated manuscript, feudalism, keep, curtain wall, inner ward, portcullis, battlement, moat, drawbridge, concentric design

Primary source

A document or object created at the time of study, e.g. a medieval map, illustrated manuscript, or estate record.

Illuminated manuscript

A handwritten, formally prepared document with artistic flourishes. In medieval times, they were embellished with gold leaf, and the light's reflection gave these documents an illuminated look.

Feudalism

The social and political system of medieval Europe based on land ownership, loyalty, and military service.

Keep

The central fortified tower of a castle. It is also known as the last line of defence and a symbol of authority.

Curtain wall 

The outer defensive wall enclosing the castle courtyard is often studded with towers.

Inner ward

The courtyard or area within a curtain wall.

Battlement 

Alternating raised (merlon) and lowered (crenel) sections along the top of a wall, often used by archers for cover.

Moat

An artificial ditch dug to surround the entire castle complex.

Drawbridge 

A bridge over a moat or ditch that could be raised to cut off access to the gatehouse.

Concentric design 

A castle layout with multiple rings of defensive walls.