Skip to Main Content

Cool Castles

Castles make great settings for stories. Students will write an original castle-inspired story and create a collage to go with it.

Lesson Plan

Supplies Needed

Gather all the supplies needed to bring your craft ideas to life! From paints and markers to glue and scissors, our crafts section has everything to spark creativity and make every project truly special.

Steps

  • Step 1

    Have students discuss fantasy or mythical stories that take place in a castle, perhaps the Harry Potter series, Beauty and the Beast, legends about King Arthur and Camelot, etc. Ask them to brainstorm original short story ideas that could take place in a castle. What will it be about? What characters will they create? Will magic be involved? How might their ideas influence the design of the castle and setting?

  • Step 2

    Next have them create a collage that shows the setting of their story. A fun technique is to sketch and cut out the castle shape, then dab small dots of different colored paint and fold it in half, pressing firmly to spread the paint around. When dry, they can glue the castle to a background.

  • Step 3

    While the paint is drying students will use the ideas they brainstormed to write their original short stories.

Standards

LA: Add drawings of other visual displays to written text to clarify ideas, thoughts, and feelings.

LA: Write using words, numbers, and images to inform and explain, share experiences, and create narratives, either fictional or non-fictional.

LA: Develop real and imagined narratives.

Adaptations

Castles built in Medieval times were both impressive looking and provided defense. Display images of some that are still standing, such as The Alhambra in Spain or Bran Castle in Transylvania, Romania. Note some of the iconic features such as moats, watch towers, labyrinthine passages, etc.

Author and illustrator Eric Carle is known for using the collage technique to illustrate his books. Have students visit the website for The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art to learn about his life and his artistic process.