Task

Heraldry is displaying a coat of arms, and the knights or warriors often wanted to decorate their protective shields so that they were easily identified.

Create an Coat of Arms Generator before you design your real one.  Follow the steps until the end.  You may want to print yours at the end to help you complete your final one.

You will need paper and colored pencils and/or markers. To begin creating your coat of arms, click on each of the steps to read more information and see a variety of shields. Follow the process below to create a beautiful Coat of Arms.  You will create this on paper, and then you may submit it as a picture or a scan.

Step 1

You must choose a shield or escutcheon. If you do not like these examples, you may form your own.

Step 2

Choose your tinctures.  These are the colors and patterns that are in your shield.  This is the most important part because it allows easy identification just based on the color.

Step 3

Choose how you want to divide your shield.  Most students like to have four quadrants just so they can insert more pictures or symbols in their shield; however, you may decide how you want yours divided.

Step 4

Ordinaries and subordinaries are lines or markings in how you divide your quadrants.  You  may have straight lines, diagonal, chevron, etc.

Step 5

You will insert an object or symbol on your shield called charges.  Now, think about  your hobbies, activities, sports, etc.  This is where you will place these objects.  If you have a four-quadrant shield, you may insert up to four objects:  one per quadrant.  This is where you should be the most creative.

Step 6

The next step is to choose your helm, crest, torse (or wreaths), coronets, and mantling.  You may print out any picture and trace it onto your paper.  That is the easiest way unless you are an artist. 

The helm is the helmet.  If you play football, you may want to add a football helmet.  If you are in band, you may want to add your shako.  Again, you can be creative to add a personal touch.  Otherwise, you may choose a regular helmet.

The crest is on top of the helmet but sitting on a twisted or braided wreath.  This can be humorous if you’d like.  It may be something coming out of the helm; it could continue along with the mantling.  For example, if you chose to add a helmet for your helm, the crest may be a globe resting on the top to imply you are a world traveler.  It could be a hockey mask to symbolize your love for the sport.  You decide.

The torses and coronets are braided wreaths that the crest rests upon.

The mantling is  the depiction of the protection that covers the shield.  You will see fancy flowers or vines draped around the shields.

Step 7

The supporters are figures that you like placed on both sides of the shield.  This image is to create the allusion that this symbol is holding the coat of arms.  You will see a variety of images; the lion is the most common.  Think about what you are interested in the most, and choose that for your supporters.

Step 8

The final step is to add your motto.  What saying or quote describes you?  This could be from a book you’ve read, your favorite song, a Bible verse, etc. This is generally placed at the bottom of your work.

For example, this motto could be “All bark, no bite!”

If your school has a scanner, scan your coat of arms picture and upload to the 2.02 Coat of Arms Dropbox.  If you don’t have access to a scanner, use a camera or a phone and take a picture of your coat of arms and upload to the 2.02 Coat of Arms Dropbox.  Ask your facilitator to help you submit this.

Look at the Coat of Arms Rubric for additional information.

 

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