Castles and Gingerbread

Dax had a big Semester Project for his World History class where he had to build a castle.  There were specific things that had to be labeled as a part of the castle: moat, dungeon,castle doors, knights, archers, landscaping etc.
The instructions were; he could pretty much make it out of anything, just no pre-made kits.  I thought about this and I really didn't know how to construct anything that I knew would have solid construction.  I know several times as a kid I tried to make things out of cardboard and it wouldn't stand up etc.  I don't trust hot glue guns.  I don't know if it is the climate here, but everything I've made with a hot glue gun comes apart. Wood was absolutely out of the question with our skills. I knew Dax had good Lego skills and could build anything  but that could be a beast finding all the right pieces and expen$ive.  I came to the conclusion that Gingerbread was our solution.  Dax liked the idea.

We spent the Saturday after Thanksgiving mixing, baking and constructing .  It was quite a project. 

Draw Bridge View

Dax- Building his masterpiece

I like the alligators in the mote.   I found those guys in the cupboard, perfect scale.

 The entire castle was edible except for the people, and the trees.  The mote was blue icing, the dirt was ground up graham crackers and rock candy.

Trey was loving this castle. As we were building, he wanted to build one too.  It was way to much work to re-create this.  I just bought him a gingerbread kit, he did a great job, and this is our "Village"  Trey loved it.  This replaced our Gingerbread activity we usually do at Christmas time.

Village, with Castle and gingerbread house.

We delivered it to school in one piece.  Truly a miracle, not even a spec of dirt moved on the drive in.  Dax got a 94/100.  It was fun to see the creativity of the kids.  PVC pipe, Sugar Cubes, cardboard.  Some castles looked amazing.  Some not so much.  Dax was somewhere in the middle in appearance.  We learned a few things along the way to improve the appearance if we ever did it again.  The Gingerbread was definitely original.  His teacher said he had to hold himself back not to eat it.  It smelled amazing.  Once we got it home, the kids couldn't wait to eat it. 

I was looking at a picture of Jerusalem and the way the walls were built up around the city it looked very similar to the   design of  the Gingerbread Castle.  I said something to Dax about it.  By this time  the kids  had already dug in and started eating the Castle.  The  walls and structure was coming down.  When I told Dax his castle looked like Jerusalem he said  "More like Jericho by now"  Sometimes he can be so witty.  That was a good one.  It was in shambles by then.

The Castle  was yummy.  I am proud of Dax. This was a big project.