Lesson for Coat of Arms

Student Directions: For this assignment, you will use the main character questionnaire to help you design a coat of arms or a shield that represents the main character.

Preparation for Main Character Shield

Choose one of the main characters from a story to feature on a shield.

1. Complete the following questionnaire for generating the symbols or pictures for your coat of arms. You can also use the packet to help choose symbols, colors and designs to create the shield. 2. Construct the shield out of construction paper and include it on one side of the book jacket. The title of the book and character’s name must be on the front of the shield. There should be a minimum of six items on the shield. The shield should be colorful, creative and neat.

Main Character Questionnaire This questionnaire will help you to brainstorm ideas for the shield. Remember, only six items need to be placed on the shield.

1. What is the main character passionate about in the story? Is it a sport, friend, hobby, car, etc.? (Example: silver dollar -- His father gave him the coin before he died.) 2. What item is important to the main character? Or, what item represents the character the best? (Example: basketball -- Dan spends most afternoons playing basketball.) 3. What is one word that describes the main character? (Example: butterfly – Dan goes through a huge change for the better in the story.) 4. What is one emotion that the character feels intensely or feels throughout the story? (Example: Nervousness -- Dan waits to find out if he makes the school basketball team.) 5. What is the main character’s favorite color? Or, what color represents the character best? (Example: blue – Dan loves the sky and ocean water.) 6. What is the main character’s favorite song? If one song could represent the main character, what would it be? (Example: You Are My Sunshine -- Dan finally finds a friend who can help him with his problems.) 7. What type of pet does the main character have? Or, what animal is most like the main character? (Example: Panther – Dan is a very fast runner.) 8. What plant is most like the main character? (Example: cactus -- Dan is prickly like a cactus because he enjoys arguing.) 9. What season does the main character like best? Or, what season best represents the main character? (Example: Summer – Dan loves to run on the beach and play basketball in the sun.)

COLORS Even the colors can have special meaning in a "family crest" or coat of arms: Gold (Or) Generosity and elevation of the mind Silver or White Peace and sincerity (Argent) Red (Gules) Warrior or martyr; Military strength and magnanimity Blue (Azure) Truth and loyalty Green (Vert) Hope, joy, and loyalty in love Black (Sable) Constancy or grief Purple (Purpure) Royal majesty, sovereignty, and justice Orange (Tawny or Worthy ambition Tenne) Maroon (Sanguine or Patient in battle, and yet victorious Murray)

Heraldic Lines and Ordinaries: Nebuly Line Clouds or air

Wavy Line Sea or water

Engrailed Line Earth or land

Invected Line Earth or land

Indented Line Fire

Dancette Line Water

Raguly Line Difficulties that have been encountered

Embattled Line Walls of a fortress or town (also, fire)

Hope; religious steadfastness

Anchor Angels Dignity, glory, and honor; missionary; bearer of joyful news (See Sample Angels) Antlers Strength Arm (or Hand) in Armor A person with qualities of leadership

One who is watchful, who gave the signal in time of danger

Beacon (Also Lantern or Lighthouse) Strength, cunning, ferocity in the protection of one's friend

Bear Hard working, perseverance

Beaver Hard working

Bee Power to disperse evil spirits

Bells Coin Worthy of trust of treasure. Billet/Billettee Bricks or letters (correspondence); one who obtained credence, knowledge, and faith in his words and deeds; one who is secret in one's affairs. Authority

Bishop's Mitre Bravery; fights to the death Boar Hospitality Boar's Head One who has dared the terror of such a weapon in battle

Bomb (Mortar piece) Bones (crossed thighbones) Mortality Buck (deer with antlers) One who will not fight unless provoked; peace and harmony Bull/Buffalo Valour, bravery, generosity Bull's Horns Strength Butterfly Soul Camel calm, patience, and perseverance Light, life, and spirituality

Candle (Lamp) Carnation Admiration Safety

Castle (Tower/Chateau) courage

Cat Chains Reward for acceptable service Chess Rook Strategic thinking watchful for friends

Chough (Cornish Crow) Hope and joy

Cinquefoils Ready for war

Clarion Clouds Mystery Courage and perseverance; hero;

Cock (male bird) wisdom

Column Compass Direction Crane (Stork) Close parental bond; Authority

Cushions One who will not fight unless provoked; peace and harmony

Deer Courage and loyalty

Dog Swiftness, charity, and love Dolphin Person of many resources Duck (Also Teal) Eagle Person of strength, bravery, and alertness; high-spirited, Eagle with two heads joining of two forces Elephant Great strength, wit, longevity, happiness, royalty, good luck, and ambition Falcon (Hawk) One who does not rest until objective achieved Flowers Hope and joy Fox One who will use all that he/she may possess of wisdom and wit in his/her own defense

Persuasion Fret Fruit peace Greyhound Courage, and loyalty Hand Pledge of faith, sincerity, and justice; two right hands conjoined represent union and alliance Rabbit One who enjoys a peaceable and retired life Harp Well-composed person of good judgment; Heart, Flaming Intense, burning affection Heart, Human sincerity Horseshoe Good luck and guard against evil spirits Hourglass Flight of time; mortality Ivy Leaves Strong and lasting friendship Keys Guardianship Knight (especially on horseback) man's journey through life Label Indicates first-born. Light, life, and spirituality

Lamp/Lantern Leg Strength, stability, Bravery,courage

Lion Persuasive

Mascle "For my lady's sake"

Maunch (lady's sleeve) Oak Tree, Leaves, Bush Great age and strength Ostrich/Ostrich plumes Willing obedience Otter One who lives life to the fullest Ox generosity Faith, innocence, bravery, gentleness, purity, resolute spirit

Paschal Lamb Beauty, power, and knowledge

Peacock Self-sacrifice and charitable nature; When feeding her young ("in her piety"), symbolizes the duties of a parent or parental love Pelican Pine Cone Life Protection in an emergency

Portcullis (castle gate) Elephant trunks; usually represented in pairs; the elephant symbolizes longevity, strength, royalty, dignity, patience, wisdom, happiness, and good luck Proboscides Brings good tidings

Quatrefoil (Primrose) Rainbow Good times after bad Ram Authority Rhinoceros Ferocious Rock Safety and protection; refuge Rose, Red Grace and beauty Rose, White Love and faith Salamander Protection Wisdom Serpent/Snake/Lizard Skull Mortality One who will not fight unless provoked; peace and harmony

Stag Poetic harmony and learning, or lover thereof; light, love, grace, sincerity, perfection Swan Tree Trunk/Stump/Branch New life sprouting from the old Unicorn Extreme courage; strength Vine Strong and lasting friendship Swiftness and protection

Vol (Set of Wings) Wheel Fortune; cycle of life Wings Swiftness and protection