A great way to introduce your students to knights and the feudal system is for them to create a coat of arms for themselves, or for Don Quixote. Some questions to help create a coat of arms are listed below.
The first five cells can be related, as in the example, but they don’t have to be. If you have many interests, that is fine.
Finally, add a scroll or other text box and, in bold letters, write out your last name.
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a Coat of Arms for yourself.
Connect the coat of arms activity to subjects like history, language arts, or art by aligning project prompts with current lessons. For example, have students research historical coat of arms in social studies, write creative stories about their symbols in language arts, or explore heraldic design in art. This approach helps students see real-world applications and deepens cross-curricular understanding.
Create a sample coat of arms to show students each required element and label. Display your example on the board or digitally so students can visualize expectations. Discuss your choices to model thoughtful reflection.
Ask students guiding questions such as, “What animal best shows your personality?” or “What activity makes you feel happiest?” Encourage them to jot down ideas in a graphic organizer to spark creativity and help them choose meaningful symbols.
Offer a variety of supplies—colored pencils, markers, magazines for collage, or digital tools—to let students express their ideas visually. Allowing choice can boost engagement and accommodate different abilities.
Invite students to present their coat of arms to the class or in small groups. Prompt them to explain the meaning behind each symbol and motto. Encourage positive feedback to build confidence and a sense of community.
A coat of arms activity is a creative classroom exercise where students design their own symbolic shield, representing their personality, interests, and aspirations. It's often used to help students explore identity or learn about history, like the feudal system or knights.
To create a coat of arms in class, students divide a shield template into sections, add symbols for their strengths, hobbies, future goals, values, and a personal motto, then label each section. Teachers can provide step-by-step instructions and examples to guide the process.
Students should include an animal representing their strengths, an activity they love, a future career goal, something important to them, a symbol of what makes them happy, and a motto. Each section should be labeled, and their last name added in bold.
Creating a coat of arms helps students connect with historical topics by putting themselves in the shoes of knights or literary characters like Don Quixote, making abstract concepts personal and relatable through hands-on design.
Creative ideas include using a lion for courage, a book for love of reading, a doctor's stethoscope for future ambitions, a heart for kindness, or a favorite quote as a motto. Encourage personal meaning in each symbol!