If your kids are into knights, castles, dragons, or medieval adventures, this easy paper plate knight shield craft is a fun way to bring their imaginary play to life. Using a simple paper plate, paint, and construction paper, kids can create their very own shield ready for defending castles, going on quests, or dressing up as a brave knight.
This is a great craft to use alongside a knights and castles topic at school or home, and it works especially well for history lessons, medieval themed activities, storybook units, and pretend play. We also have a free printable template to make cutting out the shield decorations even easier.
Materials for the Knight Shield Craft
You only need a handful of simple craft supplies for this paper plate shield. Before you begin, gather a paper plate, gray paint, a paintbrush, construction paper in yellow and blue, glue, scissors, and our printable knight shield template.
- Paper plate
- Gray paint
- Paintbrush
- Construction paper
- Glue
- Scissors
- Printable knight shield template
How to Make a Paper Plate Knight Shield
This knight shield is easy to put together, although younger children may need a little help cutting the paper plate and construction paper shapes. Make sure the painted plate is completely dry before adding the paper decorations.
Paper plate knight shield
Make your own paper plate knight shield with this easy medieval craft for kids, complete with a free printable template and plenty of opportunities for pretend play.
Materials
- Paper plate
- Gray paint
- Paintbrush
- Construction paper
- Glue
- Scissors
- Printable knight shield template
Tools
- Printer for template
Instructions
- Cut the paper plate into a shield shape, then paint the front gray. Leave it to dry completely before continuing.
- Cut two long strips from yellow construction paper, along with one yellow oval for the center of the shield.
- Glue the yellow strips onto the shield, placing one vertically and one horizontally so they cross in the middle. Glue the yellow oval over the center where the strips meet.
- Cut a slightly larger oval from light blue construction paper. This will form the border around the center decoration.
- Glue the blue oval onto the middle of the shield, then attach the smaller yellow oval on top so the blue shows around the edge.
- Leave everything to dry, and your paper plate knight shield is finished and ready for medieval pretend play.
Turn It Into a Pretend Play Shield
Once the shield is finished, you can easily turn it into a piece of knight dress-up equipment.
Glue or tape a strip of sturdy cardboard or folded construction paper onto the back of the paper plate to create a handle. Kids can then slip their hand underneath and carry their shield around during pretend play.
You could even make a whole set for a medieval themed playdate, classroom activity, birthday party, or castle role play area.
Related: Easy Knights Costume (No Sew)
Make Your Knight Shield Unique
One of the best parts of making your own knight shield is decorating it however you like.
Kids could add their initials, stars, crowns, dragons, lions, lightning bolts, or their own family crest to the middle of the shield. Metallic paper, foil, stickers, or a little glitter could also be used to give the shield some extra detail.
You could also swap the blue and yellow construction paper for your child’s favorite colors and encourage them to design their own knight emblem.
Knights and Castles Learning Activity
This simple shield craft can easily be turned into part of a wider knights and castles learning theme.
Talk about why knights carried shields and how shields were used for protection.
Older children can learn about coats of arms, heraldry, castles, medieval armor, and the different symbols and colors traditionally used on shields.
After making their shield, ask children to invent their own knight character. They could give their knight a name, design a coat of arms, create a castle, or write a short story about a medieval adventure.
Download the Knight Shield Template PDF
We have a printable template to help you make the different pieces for this knight shield craft.
Download and print the template, then use the shapes as guides for tracing onto colored construction paper.
For a sturdier reusable template, print the page onto card stock or glue the printed sheet onto thin cardboard before cutting out the shapes.
More Knights, Castles and Medieval Activities
If your kids enjoyed making their own knight shield, continue the theme with more activities inspired by castles, knights, dragons, kings, and queens.
You could make cardboard swords, create crowns, build a castle from recycled boxes, design your own coat of arms, or set up a medieval dramatic play area.
- Secret Castle Trinket Box Cardboard Craft
- Easy Knights Costume (No Sew)
- Easy Cardboard Crown Craft
- Dragon Cape Tutorial from The Knight Craft Book
- Cute Dragon Bookmark Craft
More Paper Plate Crafts for Kids
Paper plates are one of our favorite inexpensive craft supplies because there are so many things kids can turn them into.
Keep a stack in your craft cupboard for easy afternoon activities, classroom crafts, holiday projects, and rainy day ideas.
- Paper Plate Mirror Craft
- Flying Superhero Paper Plate Craft
- Fun Paper Plate Football Super Bowl Craft For Kids
- Paper Plate Octopus Craft
Share This Knight Shield Craft
If you know another parent, teacher, or homeschool family planning a knights and castles theme, please share this paper plate knight shield craft with them.
And don’t forget to save the idea for later so you can come back to the free printable knight shield template whenever you need it.
