This activity has been modified from the original. Credit goes to the educators at http://score.rims.k12.ca.us/activity/castle_builder/.

Castle Research

Once you have made a list of all of Baron de Halen¹s requests, you may begin researching other castles for design ideas. Be sure you stay focused on castles from the same approximate time frame - 1000 to 1150AD.

In conducting your research, use the "magical device" known as the Internet to help you locate other castles. No one in Medieval history knows what the Internet is, so the Baron will be impressed by how much information you gathered and how fast your horse rode all over Europe!

As you view designs of other castles, be sure to look for features that will help you make the Baron's castle as strong as possible. In other words, it must be able to withstand the strongest and longest attack from any enemy!

Create a "Castle Design Sketch Pad" while working at your computer so that as you see things on different castles that you would like to add, you can sketch pictures and take notes. For example, if you wanted to add a specific turret from a castle in Scotland, you could make drawings and notes on the specific features so you would remember to add them to the Baron's castle.

• A good place to begin your search is by viewing the Castles on the Web Internet site located at http://www.castlesontheweb.com/
  
  
• Some good information on castle defenses can be found at the Castle Siegecraft and Defense Internet site found at http://www.castlewales.com/siege.html
  
  
• Another helpful site is the Medieval Arms Race Internet site at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/lostempires/trebuchet/race.html This site will give you lots of information on how to design your castle to withstand attacks successfully.
  
  
• The Castles for Kids at http://www.personal.psu.edu/faculty/n/x/nxd10/castle/castles.htm page also has great information on the life and defense of castles.