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Key Stage 1 We Are Britain
Castles

Discover the castles around the British Isles! Find out about the most splendid castles and their locations around the UK. Capture the range of architecture using different art and craft techniques and conclude by meeting the Duke of Normandy and helping to plan his next castle!

block outcomes

Session 1 I am the King of the Castle

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Objectives

History

  • Understand changes within living memory.
  • Where appropriate, these should be used to reveal aspects of change in national life.

Geography

  • Use aerial photographs and plan perspectives to recognise landmarks and basic human and physical features.

Art

  • Use a range of materials creatively to design and make products.

Lesson Planning

Find out about different types of castles using a castle timeline, photographs and videos; create castle models including key features.

Teaching Outcomes
To research information about types of castles.
To take aerial photographs of castle models and compare physical features with real castles.
To create castles using junk modelling, considering the key features.

Children will:

  • Research information about types of medieval castles.
  • Take aerial photographs of castle models and compare physical features with real castles.
  • Create castles using junk modelling, considering the key features

You Will Need

  • Digital cameras
  • A role-play corner with simple props and clothes

Session 2 Castle and the Sun

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Objectives

Art

  • Use a range of materials creatively to design and make products.

English

  • Give well-structured descriptions, explanations and narratives for different purposes, including for expressing feelings.

Lesson Planning

Examine the painting`Castle and the Sun by Paul Klee and compare the image to real castles in the UK and then recreate the image using crayons and watercolours.

Teaching Outcomes
 To use two-dimensional shapes to recreate a Paul Klee image.
To describe and evaluate Paul Klee´s image Castle and Sun and their own work.

Children will:

  • Use 2 dimensional shapes to recreate a Paul Klee image.
  • Describe and evaluate Paul Klee´s painting Castle and Sun and their own work

Provided Resources

  • Information sheet on How to make a castle image

You Will Need

  • Cardboard two-dimensional shapes
  • Large sheets of paper
  • Watercolour paints.

Session 3 Wanted, medieval workers!

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Objectives

History

  • Understand changes within living memory.
  • Where appropriate, these should be used to reveal aspects of change in national life.

English

  • Participate in discussions, presentations, performances, role play, improvisations and debates.

Lesson Planning

Be transported back in time to 1275 and experience what it would be like to work in a medieval castle. Interview each other and compete for a job - good luck!

Teaching Outcomes
 To find out about life and jobs in a medieval castle.
To interview each other for an imaginary job in a medieval castle.

Children will:

  • Find out about life and jobs in a medieval castle.
  • Interview each other for an imaginary job in a medieval castle.

You Will Need

  • Simple costume to denote a monarch

Session 4 Battle castles

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Objectives

History

  • Learn about significant historical events, people and places in their own locality.

Geography

  • Devise a simple map; and use and construct basic symbols in a key.

Maths

  • Write and use pairs of coordinates in the first quadrant (Year 4)

Lesson Planning

Learn about the main methods of attacking and defending a motte and bailey castle. In groups plan an attack, discussing the advantages/disadvantages of different battle methods. Play the game 'battle castles' and try to destroy an opponent’s castles.

Teaching Outcomes
 To learn about methods of attacking and defending a motte and bailey castle.
To draw castles on a simple map with a key.

Children will:

  • Learn about methods of attacking and defending a motte and bailey castle.
  • Draw castles on a simple map with a key.

You Will Need

You do not need any particular resources for this session.

Session 5 Where can I build a castle?

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Objectives

Geography

  • Name, locate and identify characteristics of the four countries and capital cities of the United Kingdom and its surrounding seas.
  • Use basic geographical vocabulary to refer to key physical features and key human features.
  • Use world maps, atlases and globes to identify the United Kingdom and its countries.
  • Devise a simple map.
  • Use and construct basic symbols in a key.

Lesson Planning

Respond to a letter from the Duke of Normandy asking class to build a new castle. Use atlases to identify countries, capital cities and seas. Draw a simple map and indicate where the best location for the new castle might be. Present ideas to the Duke - will he be impressed?

Teaching Outcomes
To use geographical knowledge when choosing the best location for building a castle.

Children will:

  • Use geographical vocabulary when choosing the best location for building a castle.
  • Make a simple map and key with different environments.
  • Use atlases to identify UK countries, capitals and surrounding seas.

Provided Resources

  • Information sheets covering Maps of Great Britain

You Will Need

  • Atlases for the class

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