Build a Medieval Castle

The Middle Ages were a turbulent time in history that required kings to have strong castles for protection against invaders. Your child can now recreate history by building their very own fortified castle.

What You Need:

• Pizza box
• Styrofoam sheets
• Strips of newspaper
• Wallpaper paste
• Water
• White glue
• Cardstock
• Tempera paint
• Paintbrushes
• X-acto blade
• Paper tape
• Toilet paper rolls (4-8)
• Pencil
• Ruler
• Stapler
• String

What You Do:

1. Place a toilet paper roll on each corner of the pizza box. Have your child use a ruler to measure the space from the inner edge of the paper roll on one side to the inner edge of the paper roll on the other side.
2. Measure out the same distance on the styrofoam and cut out a styrofoam rectangle.
3. He can create battlements on the castle wall on the top part of the Styrofoam. Repeat this process for all 4 walls.
4. Designate a wall that will be the front door. Cut out an arch-shaped door on the wall. Set the cut-out piece of styrofoam to the side. This will be your drawbridge.
5. Draw a flat cone shape on the cardstock. It should be a circle, missing a quarter piece, like a pie missing a large slice. Cut this out and trace it 3 more times on the cardstock.
6. Cut out the rest of the traced shapes. Take one and make the edges overlap slightly and staple the edges together. Do this for all 4 pieces. These are now the tops of the turrets. ( the tops of the toilet paper rolls). Set these aside.
7. Tape the toilet paper rolls in place.
8. Tape the bottom and sides of the styrofoam walls, and place them in position one at a time.
9. Dip one strip of newspaper into the wallpaper paste mixture (an alternative recipe for paste is in the “Helpful Hints” section below). Run the paper through your fingers to remove excess paste. Place it one strip at a time and pat it down flat. Repeat this process over the entire castle structure. Make at least 2-3 layers of newspaper strips. Allow to dry completely overnight.
10. Attach your paper cones to the tops of the turrets using white glue.
11. Paint your castle and add details using tempera paint. Paint your drawbridge (The styrofoam piece that was cut from the front door). Attach strings to either side of it and affix the string with glue to the inside wall of the front door. Allow to dry.
12. Proudly display a castle fit for a king! Add paper cutouts of people or add decorations to finish your very own medieval scene!