This exciting topic will bring the world of castles and bridges to life! Children will embark on a journey through history, learning all about castles, bridges, and the fascinating stories behind them. This hands-on topic will cover a range of creative and educational activities, encouraging exploration of shapes, construction, history, and music.

Children will begin by exploring the height, length, and symmetry of castles and bridges, using 2D and 3D shapes to build their understanding of structure. They will practise counting, addition, and subtraction through fun activities centred around these medieval marvels.

In science, children will investigate the properties of materials and how forces like pushing and pulling affect drawbridges. They will also learn about weathering and how it impacts castles over time.

Art will play a big role in the topic as children sketch, draw, and paint shields, flags, banners, and stained glass windows. They’ll also construct towers, bridges, and make their own shields.

Medieval music will bring castles to life with fanfares, trumpet calls, and castle soundscapes. Children will listen to and create their own music inspired by the past.

Using digital maps, Google Earth, and Google Maps, children will explore famous castles, locate them on a map, and learn about the UK’s countries and capital cities. They will also discover bridges in religious stories and chapels found in castles.

Finally, children will dive into the history of castles and bridges, discovering why they were built, and enjoy active “Defend the Castle” games, medieval dance, and scavenger hunts.

Height and length, 2D 3D shapes, symmetry, counting, addition and subtraction

Properties of materials, forces – pushing and pulling drawbridges, weathering

Sketching, drawing, painting – shields, flags, banners, stained glass windows

Construction of towers and bridges, making shields

Medieval music, instruments, fanfares, trumpet calls, castle soundscapes

Digital maps, Google Earth, Google maps

Bridges in religious stories, chapels in castles

Finding famous castles on a map, UK countries, capital cities

History of castles and bridges – why were they built?

Defend the castle games, medieval dance and movement

Building castles from materials, castle scavenger hunt

This unit contains sensory learning activities

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ID postID Learning Objective Activity Resources Assessment

Local learning opportunities

  • Visit local castles and bridges to learn about their history, architecture, and significance. When visiting local castles and bridges, children can engage in various activities to learn about their history, architecture, and significance.
  • Join guided tours specifically designed for children. These tours often include storytelling, interactive elements, and engaging explanations suited for younger audiences.
  • Play Poohsticks on a local bridge that crosses a stream.
  • Participate in a treasure hunt or scavenger hunt organised by the site. This can involve finding specific architectural features, historical artefacts, or learning fun facts about the castle or bridge.

Safeguarding

Ensure that all school risk assessment policies and procedures have been followed before taking children off-site.

ID postID Activity Instructions Resources safety
ID PostID Activity Instructions Resources Safety
1 116 Build a Cardboard Castle Create a castle using cardboard boxes, kitchen paper rolls, and other recyclable materials. Cardboard boxes, kitchen paper rolls, glue, paint, scissors Ensure scissors are child-safe. Supervise use of glue and paint.
2 116 Drawbridge Construction Build a simple drawbridge using string, paper, and small boxes. String, paper, small boxes, tape Supervise use of string and tape to avoid entanglement.
3 116 Castle Story Time Read a story about castles and knights, then draw scenes from the story. Storybook about castles, drawing paper, crayons Ensure crayons are non-toxic and appropriate for the child's age.
4 116 Lego Castle Building Use Lego bricks to build a castle. Discuss different parts of a castle while building. Lego bricks Supervise to prevent choking hazards with small Lego pieces.
5 116 Bridge Building Challenge Create bridges using various materials and test their strength with small weights. Straws, tape, small toy cars, coins Supervise the use of small weights to prevent injury.

General safety tips:

  • Always supervise children during home learning activities
  • Ensure that materials are age-appropriate and non-toxic
  • Create a safe, clutter-free workspace
  • Wash hands after messy activities, especially when handling food

The activities not only support the learning objectives of the curriculum, but also provide an opportunity for quality bonding time between children and their parents, carers and families.

ID postID Life skills component Activity Activity details Resources Skills

Brilliant Bridges

by Kay Barnham and illustrated by Laszlo Veres

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Castles

by Maggie Freeman

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Jack and the Beanstalk

by DK and illustrated by Giuseppe Di Lernia

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Jasper's Beanstalk

by Nick Butterworth and Mick Inkpen

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Rapunzel

by Stephanie Stansbie and illustrated by Loretta Schauer

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The Story of Robin Hood

by Rob Lloyd Jones and illustrated by Alan Marks

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The Three Billy-Goats Gruff

by Jacob Grimm and illustrated by Angela Hewitt

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Winnie the Pooh

by A.A.Milne and illustrations by E.H.Shepard

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You Wouldn't Want To Be A Prisoner in the Tower of London!

by Fiona Macdonald and illustrated by David Antram

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Ask the children questions about these images. What can you see? What describing words can you use? What shapes can you see? What colours can you see?

Wooden toy castle


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King dressing-up costume


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Castle floor puzzle


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Wooden Garden Bridge (1.5M)


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Baker Ross Castle Wooden Pen Pot Kits - Pack of 2


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Medieval Queen Outfit & Accessory


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LEGO DUPLO Disney 3in1 Magical Castle


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Tuff tray (100cm diameter)


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Universal Tuff Tray Cover


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Talking Products - Talking Tiles Voice Recorders, Communication Sound Buttons


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General resources


Don't forget to check out our general resource suggestions here!

Each of the 5 areas are interrelated and should be used when assessing pupils who are not engaged in subject-specific study. Each area can provide a focus on how well pupils are achieving a specific outcome or individual development target as set out in their EHC plans or high-needs funding agreements.

The 5 areas are not hierarchical, so there is no expectation that pupils need to demonstrate progress in all 5 areas. Instead, each of the areas represent what is necessary for pupils to fully engage in their development and reach their full potential. The areas also provide the scaffolding to enable pupils to become independent in developing a new skill or concept.

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If children are interested in this topic, these are some possible jobs and careers that they might want to consider doing when they are older.
Also ask the children, "What other jobs could you do?" and "What do you like doing that could be part of a job related to ... ?"
Here is some useful background information about this topic for teachers and teaching assistants.

Castles

Castles are impressive structures with distinct architectural features, such as keeps, moats, drawbridges, gatehouses, battlements, and towers, all meticulously designed for defence. Keeps are central strongholds providing the last line of defence. Moats, often filled with water, surround the castle to deter attackers. Drawbridges can be raised to block entry across the moat. Gatehouses control access and add an extra layer of security. Battlements, the parapets on the top of castle walls, provide cover for defenders. Towers offer vantage points for surveillance and archery.

Primarily constructed during the Norman period following the Battle of Hastings in 1066, castles served as homes for nobility and formidable defensive strongholds. The Normans introduced the motte-and-bailey design, featuring a wooden or stone keep on a raised earthwork (motte) accompanied by an enclosed courtyard (bailey). Later, stone keep castles became more common, offering greater durability and improved defence capabilities.

Daily life in a medieval castle was complex, with distinct roles for its inhabitants. The lord oversaw the estate, managed resources, and provided justice. Soldiers, including knights, were responsible for the castle's defence and participated in warfare. Servants carried out essential tasks such as cooking, cleaning, and maintaining the castle. Knights, often of noble birth, provided protection and swore fealty to their lord. The people within the castle walls wore period-specific clothing, with the nobility donning elaborate garments and the lower classes wearing simpler attire. Their diet included foods like bread, meat, and vegetables, with the wealthy enjoying a more varied and abundant selection.

Different types of castles reflect the evolution of military architecture. Early Norman motte-and-bailey castles, with their wooden keeps and quick construction, were soon succeeded by more robust stone keep castles. Stone keeps, such as the Tower of London, provided better defence against attacks and the elements, becoming symbols of Norman authority and power.

Edinburgh Castle, perched on Castle Rock, is a historic fortress that has played a pivotal role in Scottish history. This stone keep castle, with its strategic location, has been involved in many conflicts and sieges. Today, it houses the Crown Jewels and the Stone of Destiny, important symbols of Scottish monarchy.

Windsor Castle, the longest-occupied palace in Europe, serves as both a royal residence and a working royal palace. Its impressive architecture includes a large keep, known as the Round Tower, and beautiful state apartments. Windsor Castle exemplifies the evolution of castle design from a defensive stronghold to a symbol of royal opulence and power.

Clifford's Tower, originally part of York Castle, is a prominent example of a Norman motte-and-bailey castle. The tower, built on a motte, served as a royal stronghold in the north of England. Its history includes roles as a defensive fortress, a royal mint, and even a prison.

Leeds Castle, known as the "Loveliest Castle in the World," has a rich history dating back to the 12th century. This picturesque castle, set on islands in a lake formed by the River Len, evolved from a Norman stronghold to a private residence. Its beautiful gardens and historic interiors attract numerous visitors each year.

Bridges

Bridges are vital structures that connect places separated by water or land, simplifying travel and fostering economic and social integration. At their core, bridges consist of three main components: decks, piers, and abutments. The deck is the horizontal surface on which vehicles and pedestrians travel. Piers are the vertical supports that hold up the deck, typically placed at intervals along the length of the bridge. Abutments are the structures at either end of the bridge that anchor it to the ground, providing stability and support.

Bridges can be built in various styles, including arch, beam, suspension, and cantilever. Arch bridges, such as the Iron Bridge in Shropshire, utilise a curved, semicircular structure that distributes weight evenly, allowing them to span considerable distances while supporting heavy loads. Beam bridges, like the Poohsticks Bridge, are the simplest form, consisting of horizontal beams supported at each end by piers or abutments, typically used for shorter spans. Suspension bridges, exemplified by the Clifton Suspension Bridge designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, feature decks hung below suspension cables on vertical suspenders, making them ideal for spanning large gaps. The Forth Rail Bridge in Scotland is a cantilever bridge, relying on cantilevers, which are horizontal beams supported only on one end, providing immense strength and rigidity, suitable for carrying heavy rail traffic.

The materials used in bridge construction have evolved over time, impacting their strength and durability. Ancient bridges often used wood and stone, such as those constructed by the Romans, which played a significant role in facilitating transportation and trade. As technology advanced, iron and steel became prominent, leading to stronger and more durable structures. The use of these materials allowed for the construction of iconic landmarks like the Tower Bridge in London, known for its unique design and historical significance.

Famous bridges, such as the Humber Bridge, one of the longest suspension bridges in the world, and the Tower Bridge in London, have become iconic landmarks. These structures not only serve functional purposes but also stand as symbols of engineering prowess and cultural heritage. Ancient bridges, such as those built by the Romans, were crucial in connecting distant parts of their empire, enabling efficient movement of people, goods, and armies, thus playing a significant role in the expansion and maintenance of their civilisation.

Robin Hood

Robin Hood is a legendary English folk hero, renowned for his skills as an archer and swordsman. He is traditionally depicted as a kind-hearted outlaw who "robbed from the rich and gave to the poor," operating in Sherwood Forest with his band of Merry Men, including notable figures such as Little John, Friar Tuck, and Maid Marian. The tales of Robin Hood are set in the medieval period, often during the reign of King Richard the Lionheart.

A significant part of the Robin Hood legend is centred around Nottingham and Nottingham Castle. Nottingham Castle, a royal fortress with a rich history, is often portrayed as the stronghold of the Sheriff of Nottingham, Robin Hood's main adversary. The castle played a crucial role in the tales, serving as the site of various skirmishes and daring rescues. Nottingham itself, a historic city, provides the backdrop for many of Robin Hood's adventures, highlighting the tension between the oppressive ruling class and the common folk.

Though historical evidence of Robin Hood's existence is scarce, his story has been a popular subject in literature, theatre, and film, symbolising the fight against injustice and tyranny. Robin Hood's enduring appeal lies in his representation of the struggle for social justice and the ideal of fairness, with Nottingham and its castle serving as iconic settings in the narrative.

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