Cardboard Castles: Creativity Meets History. Creating 3D and 2D Castles

This week, our workshop transformed into a land of imagination and craftsmanship as children embarked on an exciting journey of building cardboard castles — both in 2D and 3D forms. The session wasn’t just about cutting and gluing cardboard. It was a full-scale exploration into history, architecture, and ART.

​

We began by introducing the concept of a castle — its purpose, structure, and symbolic meaning across cultures. Then, we delved into the fascinating world of Polish castles, starting with the most iconic: Wawel Castle in Kraków. As the children listened to tales of kings and dragons, they imagined their own royal fortresses and mythical protectors. We also explored Malbork Castle, the world’s largest brick castle, and admired its enormous size and strategic design.

With these stories as inspiration, the design phase kicked off. Children sketched their ideas, thinking like little architects. Some preferred the flat elegance of 2D silhouettes, carefully crafting each tower and turret on paper. Others took on the 3D challenge — using cardboard boxes, paper rolls, and textured surfaces to give their castles life and dimension. They worked in pairs and small teams, developing problem-solving and collaboration skills.

 

Doors were drawn and then cut, towers were measured, flags were created and added — each step teaching kids about planning, measuring, symmetry, and design thinking. Their castles came alive with details: drawbridges, windows, courtyards, and even dragons perched atop the towers!

 

By the end of the session, we had a beautiful cardboard kingdom.

We can’t wait to see what they’ll imagine next!