Knights and Castles

A WebQuest for

Fourth Grade Language Arts

based on the unit in Cornerstones 4b

http://www.gagelearning.com/gagelearning/cornerstones/castlesknights.asp

Designed by:

Davilyn Williams

November 2002

Have you ever wondered what is was like to live in the time of Knights and Castles?  Let's hop into the time machine and go back a several hundred years...

In this unit you will: read historical articles

                               read a picture book story

                               read an interview

                               read a legend

                               read an information article

                               and do research on the internet. 

You will have tasks to do on your own and some to do with a partner.

The project is divided into two parts.  Some of the tasks must be completed and others are optional.

 There is a checklist for you to use to keep track of your progress.  Be sure you use it to stay organized.

The Process

Required :    Activity 1. KWL

                           Activity 2. Castle Life

                           Activity 3. Castles Around the World

                           Activity 4. The Sword in the Stone

                           Activity 5. Self Evaluation

                            Activity 6. Harald and the Giant Knight

                                 Activity 7.  Animating Harald

Optional:     

1.  The Knight's Code 

2.  Make a castle card.  Art Activity

3.  Build a castle label the different parts of the castle.  You can design your own, or look at this site for an idea. http://www.yourchildlearns.com/castle.htm

4.  Draw a picture of a castle and label the parts.

        6.  Make you own flip book.  You will find the instructions on p.142 of your Cornerstones book.

        7.  Write a song about knights and castles.  Pick a familiar tune and write new lyrics for it. You may work with a partner. Type your lyrics neatly in Microsoft Word to be added to our web page.

        8.  Find out about what knights wore.  Design your own knight's costume.  Make it and bring it to school to show the class.

        9.  Create your own castle vocabulary sheet, word search puzzle, or crossword puzzle.  http://www.puzzlemaker.com/ lets you create your own computer generated puzzles.

        10. Design your own shield.  This site has shields decorating the main page.  You can look here for ideas, but please don't copy any. http://www.kyrene.k12.az.us/schools/brisas/sunda/ma/mahome.htm

Here is a site that explains a little about how to make the shield and what the different parts mean.

http://www.yourchildlearns.com/heraldrygame/gamehelp.htm

      11. Could you compare a knight to a soldier of today.  Make a Venn diagram showing how they are the same and different.  This site has an example of a Venn Diagram.  http://www.graphic.org/venbas.html

            12.  Learn about preparing for a tournament.  Write a story about a tournament.

http://home.stny.rr.com/rosensoldat/St_Michael/prepare.htm

You may have your own idea for an activity.  You may use your own activity if it is approved by the teacher.

Your project will be evaluated based on the activities that you have completed.  You are expected to complete all of the Required  activities and bonus points will be awarded for the additional activities that you complete.   

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Now you know about life in the time of knights.