Make a Castle

Make a Castle is part of Crabtree’s “Make-It Models” series. This book aims to provide students with both specific instructions for designing and building the components of a castle while also encouraging them to use their creativity to extend the learning in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math).

Overall, Make a Castle has done a lot of things right. The illustrations are colourful simplified drawings that support the instructions of the text. The pages are well-laid-out, and the instructions for each project are numbered in reasonable length chunks of information.

7. For the close stool, cut a piece off of the end of a small, long box, such as a lipstick box. Cut a round hole in the top. Cut the flap from the other end of the box and glue it to the side of the stool to make a seat cover.
8. Cut a longer rectangle of card stock and stick it to the back of the stool, over where the flap is stuck on. Finally, paint or decorate the close stool.

Fact boxes are used to highlight important or additional information. These include “What You Need”, “Tip”, “Take It Further”, “The History Part!” and “The Science Part!”.

THE HISTORY PART!
In 1745, Alexander Irvine, the Laird (or Lord) of Drum Castle in Scotland, fought for the Jacobites against the English in the famous Battle of Culloden. The Jacobites lost and Alexander fled for his life. His sister Mary kept him hidden in a secret room at Drum Castle for three years to avoid capture by the English.

Several of the “Take it Further” boxes ask questions to help readers think creatively about other features that can be added. The “Make It Your Own!” box included with the introduction to the book encourages readers to use their imaginations to “create the castle of your dreams”.

If you love castles, knights, and fairytales, this book is for you. It shows you how to build your own castle, complete with a working door, drawbridge, moat, turrets, and waving flags. There is a tilt yard for jousting knights, and a mangonel for battles – all made from cardboard boxes, craft materials, and other everyday items.

The final double-page spread shows “And Here is Your Finished Castle!” This final illustration is very helpful to see how everything can fit together.

Medieval Studies is always a popular topic for this age. If you give Make a Castle to your Grade 4, 5, 6 students, their projects may not turn out exactly like the illustrations, but it should be a good learning experience.

Make It Your Own
The castle in this book is a traditional stone castle from medieval times, but you don’t have to make yours exactly the same. Let your imagination inspire you to create the castle of your dreams. Maybe you could recreate a castle from your favourite book or film. It’s up to you!