Coat of arms

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/coat-of-arms

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is Coat of arms known for?Shield (escutcheon), helmet, crest, supporters, and motto
2. What is the period of origin?High Middle Ages (circa 11th-13th centuries)
3. What is the primary driver for development?Need for individual identification in combat and tournaments due to armor
4. Why did knights use coats of arms on the battlefield?Knights wore heavy armor that hid their faces, so the coats of arms on their surcoats helped friends and enemies spot each other quickly on the battlefield.
5. What parts make up a full coat of arms?A full coat of arms has a shield with its symbols, a helmet and crest on top, supporters on each side, a mantling that looks like draped cloth, and a motto on a scroll.

Armiger: A person or entity legally entitled to bear a coat of arms.
Charges: The symbols, figures, or patterns placed on the field of a shield in heraldry.
Tinctures: The colors, metals, and furs used in heraldic designs, each with specific symbolic meanings.