Making a Castle Kit for Families

Thematic Kit: Castles and Knights

Age Level: Preschool-Young School Age

Materials List

Books

• DePaola, T. (1980). The knight and the dragon. New York: Putnam.
  

• Geis, A. I. (2004). Neil's castle. New York: Viking.
  

• Gravett, C. (1994). Castle. DK eyewitness books. New York: Knopf.
  

• Gravett, C., & Dann, G. (2004). Knight. DK eyewitness books. New York: DK Pub.
  

• Mayer, M. (2007). The bravest knight. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers.
  

• Mayhew, J. (2005). The knight who took all day. New York: Chicken House.
  

• Wheeler, L., & Siegel, M. (2008). Boogie knights. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.
  

• Wright, R. (1992). Castles: Facts, things to make, activities. Craft topics. New York: F. Watts.
  

Music CD

• Ronno, Munshaw, K., Repar, S. L., McCartney, C., Millar, J., & DeVolder, B. (2001). Castles, knights & unicorns Action songs for fantasy & fun. Long Branch, NJ: Kimbo Educational.
  

Realia Object

• Fischer-Price Little People Castle Play Set
  
  • Castle with draw bridge
    
  • Catapult with ball
    
  • Knight
    
  • Dragon
    
  • Flag
    

Activity Ideas for Using this Kit

• As you read the book, The Knight and the Dragon, you can tell the story on the pages where there are no words. After you read the story, you can draw a picture of other activities the dragon and the knight might do together. Have an adult help you write a sentence about what is happening in your picture.
  
• After reading, Neil's Castle, you can find items in your home to build a castle from. You can also draw a picture of the castle you want to live in.
  
• As you explore the eyewitness book, Castle, be sure to look at all the details in the photographs and drawings of the castles. After looking through the book, you can find items at your home to create a castle of your own. You may use paper, empty paper towel tubes, and whatever else you can find that would make a nice castle. Ask a parent for help in finding materials.
  
• As you explore the Eyewitness book, Knight, be sure to notice all the pictures of the items that knights use and the clothing that they wear. You can draw a picture of yourself dressed as a knight. You could also design your own knight's shield out of paper and art supplies.
  
• After reading, The Bravest Knight, you can use a blanket to dress up like the boy in the story. You can pretend to be a knight, see what things you can rescue from the dragon.
  
• After reading, The Knight who took all day, you can retell the story using the pictures in the book. You can also draw a picture of what the Princess, the Squire and the Dragon are doing after the story ends.
  
• After reading, Boogie Nights, you can retell the story in your own words. You can also practice the dances that the knights were doing in the story.
  
• After exploring the book, Castles: Facts, things to make, activities, you can ask your parents which craft in the book you are able to make. Try making as many of the crafts as you can. After the crafts are made, you can play with them.
  

• Listen to the music CD, Castles, Knights & Unicorns. Perform the motions to the songs. When listening to the "Castle Flags" song, use a scarf or ribbon and do the motions as directed by the song.
  

Play with the castle play set. See if the knight and the dragon are going to fight or if they will become friends.