#1
LET’S READ!
Castles are big, stone structures that started to appear in the world over one thousand years ago, in the early 10th century. Early castles were built to protect and defend the surrounding villages. They were meant to safeguard people in and around them. Later, castles were constructed as homes for royalty like kings, queens, princes, and princesses.
Castles can be found all over the world, but you can find a lot of them in England, Germany, and Ireland. Spain has quite a few too, and the U.S. even has some!
Like we said at the start, castles are big and made of stone. Usually they have very high walls and ceilings along with lots of small windows. Some castles have moats with drawbridges to keep people from approaching. A moat is a body of water that surrounds the castle, and the drawbridge is the only way to cross, and you can close the drawbridge if you don’t want anyone coming to the door!
Castles come in all shapes and sizes, and they all have their own unique decorations. Some have stained glass windows or colorful gems in the walls or doors. No two castles are the same, and they’re all beautiful!
LET’S TALK!
1. Would you live in a castle? What would you name your castle?
2. Have you visited any castles before? Do you have a favorite? Tell your child!
3. What’s your favorite thing about castles?
#2
LET’S READ!
One of the most famous castles in the world is the Peles Castle in Romania. The Peles Castle is dark, colorful, and has long, sharp spires. It looks like a castle from a storybook. It also has 160 rooms! In 1989, it was turned into a museum.
Qaitbay Fort in Egypt is another beautiful, well-known castle, but it’s unique in that it’s only one color: beige! It’s surrounded by palm trees and was built on the ruins of a lighthouse.
Matsumoto Castle in Japan is an awesome castle and a great display of Japanese culture. It was built all the way back in the 1500s, but its design and appearance has changed throughout the years. Today, it’s a beautiful structure with curved, stacked roofs not unlike other Japanese buildings.
Finally, there’s the Bojnice Castle in Slovakia. It was built in the 11th century and it’s a beautiful tan color with a light blue roof. Did you know the International Festival of Ghosts and Spooks is held at this castle every year at the end of April and the beginning of May? It’s said that ghosts, spooks, witches, and vampires from all over the world meet at the Bojnice castle during this time! Cool, huh?
LET’S TALK!
1. What do you like more: colorful castles, or castles that are all one color?
2. What’s your least favorite thing about castles?
3. Tell your child how big a castle would be in comparison to your house, or even their room!
#3
LET’S READ!
Lots of Disney princes and princesses live in castles, but one of the best Disney stories with a castle in it is “Beauty and the Beast.” In this movie, a prince is cursed to be a beast until he falls in love, and the rest of his castle is cursed, too. The people who work for him all turn into furniture! When Belle finds his castle, the last thing she expects is for the furniture to talk and dance. But they do!
The sisters in “Frozen” live in a castle, too. But unlike the Beauty and the Beast castle, which is just one tall, thin building, the Frozen castle is big and spans a lot more space! That being said, both of them have colorful spires and peaks.
“Tangled” is another good example of a movie with a castle in it. The King and Queen live in their castle, while Rapunzel lives in a big, tall tower. People who want to visit Rapunzel have to use her extremely long hair to get up into her tower–there are no stairs!
LET’S TALK!
1. Can you think of any other movies with castles in them? (Hint: think Disney or fantasy. Google it if you want!)
2. Do you think castles are dark and scary or big and adventurous?
3. Do you have a favorite Disney princess? Does she live in a castle?
#4
LET’S READ!
The very first castles ever made were made of wood. It wasn’t until later that they began building castles out of stone–and when that happened, the cost of building went up ten times!
Whether they were made of wood or stone, castles were dark. That’s because they didn’t have electricity yet, and the small windows didn’t let in a ton of sun. So at night, and sometimes even during the day, they carried lit candles so they could see!
Castles were also cold. Today, our houses are insulated, which means there are materials in our walls that trap heat. Insulation wasn’t even invented until 1930–it’s been around for less than 100 years. So castles were cold, especially if you lived in a cold place like Ireland.
Finally, they didn’t have any toilets in castles. Indoor toilets were invented in the early 1500s, but they didn’t become widely used until the 1800s. Usually, castle bathrooms were built into the wall!
LET’S TALK!
1. Have you ever built a castle with building blocks or other things like cards or popsicle sticks?
2. If you could build your very own castle, what would you put in it? What would your castle look like?
3. Do you think moats are cool or dangerous? Would you want one?
VOCABULARY WORDS:
castle, 10th century, Rapunzel, battle, moats, stone construction, Harry Potter, battlements, draw bridges, towers, gateways, England, Germany, Ireland, United States castles, defense, protection, dim light, darkness, spacious, king, queen, prince, princess, knight, royalty, peasants, medieval
ACTIVITIES:
• Search the Internet for images of castles. Have a discussion with your child about what they see. Next, have your child draw a picture of a castle, or draw one for them.
• Check your state’s website. Are there castles within an hour drive? You don’t have to spend money on a tour. Simply view the outside and ask your child what they think is inside.
• Does the local park or mall have a castle in the play area? If so, go check it out!
• Allow your child to make their bed into a castle! Incorporate pillows, blankets, and chairs to add a moat. Create passwords to allow entry into the castle. What does your child see out the windows once they are in their pretend castle?
RESOURCES:
1. Castles for Kids: What is a Castle? (YouTube Video)
2. Blippi Explores a Castle And Learns History for Kids (YouTube Video)
3. Castles for Kids – Explore a Castle and Learn History for Kids (YouTube Video)
4. 25 Fortified Facts about CASTLES! (YouTube Video)
5. Peppa Pig Visits the Castle (YouTube Video)
6. A Year in a Castle by Rachel Coombs (First Avenue Editions, 2009)
7. The Secret of Terror Castles (The Three Investigators #1) by Robert Arthur (Random House Books for Young Readers, 1991)
8. Bob the Builder: The Knights of Fix-a-Lot (a DVD movie about fixing a castle)
