em Castles and Knights

As I mentioned in planning for this unit, I watch and listen for themes or interests to emerge. When I taught this unit two years ago, my students were very interested in bridges. This year castles have emerged and the following are samples of the early investigations/reflections my students have been engaged in. The samples are from their structures journal where they have time to reflect, design and create ideas of interest related to our building things unit. As I discovered the interest in castles, I supplemented their learning with books about castles and showed them a video called Castles and Knights.

Said K.

Ives M.

Patrick W.

Ben L.

The knights are fighting with bad guys and the good guys are destroying bad guys and the bad guys are destroying good guy with a sword. Sungho H.

Today we are going to learn about knights and castles. Castles were built 1000 years ago. People were poor. The knights have to protect the people that farm and the people that farm have to give food to the knights because the knights protect the people that farm. War in 700 years ago, people had war, but they have swords, and spears and amour. Now we have guns and bombs. In the new days people are rich. John C.

Today we watched Castles and Knights. Armour - you need helmet, leg pads, jacket, shoulder pads. Castles are for defence and living. Sometimes there is a big war. My Grandpa once was in a war. He was in a helicopter, it had army colours on it. Connor F.