By Lylah Perry
SAMS seventh graders were recently challenged with a creative and engaging assignment: to design and construct their own medieval castles.
After learning about history and some daily life in the Middle Ages, students from Ms. Hiserodt’s, Ms. Welka’s, and Mr. Bacco’s classes were given the freedom to bring their castle ideas to life using a variety of themes, materials, and building techniques.
Following a refreshing spring break, the AE teachers introduced the Castle Project as a way to combine historical knowledge with hands-on learning. Student groups were was tasked to create a personalized model that included key features of medieval castles, such as towers, moats, walls, and drawbridges. Some of these castles were later evaluated through detailed assessments to determine the most outstanding and well-executed designs. Students were free to choose their theme: with some choosing traditional designs while others focused on Pittsburgh-sports based themes.
The project concluded with a teacher vote to determine the best built castle. Students needed to build and label their castle correctly and write a descriptive paragraph about their castle in order to complete the project accurately.
“The students did a great job this year on the castles,” Ms. Hiserodt said. “Lots of time, effort, and creativity went into the finished products.”
The castle project is another example of the AE department using hands-on activities and project-based learning to educate students on medieval history. In addition to the castles, students also dressed like those from medieval times. They also created modern-day DYI catapults made from popsicle sticks and spoons that launched marshmallows instead of boulders. The marshmallows made the floors sticky but left students with a memorable experience from a class that is full of them.
What truly set this project apart was the creativity and individuality on display. Students approached their designs with unique perspectives while some focused on historical accuracy, others explored bold, imaginative interpretations. From carefully colored stone textures to working on drawbridges and landscaping, the best castles reflected student effort, creativity, and understanding of the time period.
This project went beyond just studying facts from a textbook. It encouraged students to think critically and express themselves artistically. It also gave them a chance to take ownership of their learning in a fun and meaningful way.
“Some of the kids really put a lot of time into designing the castles,” Mr. Bacco said.
The SAMS 7th Grade Castle Project is a great example of how thoughtful, creative assignments can bring history to life and inspire students to learn in deeper, more memorable ways.
