Regal & Royal

1. When the Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz sings "If I were King of the forest…," he has lots of ideas about what life would be like if he ruled the kingdom. When reading fairy tales or hearing the news, ask students if they ever think about royal life? Being king or queen does have a lot of appeal. Why do you like the idea? Being boss? Wearing a crown and lots of jewels? Invite student groups to research well-known royals from ancient or contemporary times.
2. Students get ready for royalty with these regal-lineage hand puppets. With Crayola Scissors, cut out regal puppet faces from bright paper. Keep lunch bag folded through the puppet construction. Attach paper face to the bottom of an upside-down bag with Crayola Glue Sticks. If puppet is to open its mouth, the face shape must overlap the bag’s bottom and main part. Cut the shape in two so that some of the face rises up and some stays down when you put your hand into the bag and open the fold with your fingers.
3. Draw facial features with Crayola Gel Markers. Place the puppet’s mouth where the bag splits apart. Draw teeth and a tongue inside the fold.
4. Cut two long rectangles of construction paper for puppet’s arms and sleeves. Glue to bag’s side folds. Fashion hands at the end of the sleeves.
5. To make curly hair and beards, squiggle marks on a small paper square. Fold into a fan. Cut small strips across folds, leaving one end uncut. Slightly unbend folds. BOING!!
6. Cut out paper pieces for royal clothes and crowns. To add designs, cover paper clothing with dots or patterns. Construct jewels by folding paper and adding marker lines. Remember, there are royal personages all over the world, and they dress very differently. Some live in Africa and Asia. There is royalty of old in South and Central America. Attach all extras with glue.
7. Students poke hands up into the bag top. Move bottom fold so puppets can issue royal commands. Classmates combine puppets for a royal fairy tale show!

LA: Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension.

LA: Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.

LA: Participate in shared research and writing projects.

LA: Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade level topics and texts, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.

MATH: Classify two-dimensional figures based on the presence or absence of parallel or perpendicular lines, or the presence or absence of angles of a specified size. Recognize right triangles as a category, and identify right triangles.

SS: Describe ways in which language, stories, folktales, music, and artistic creations serve as expressions of culture and influence behavior of people living in a particular culture.

SS: Identify and use various sources for reconstructing the past, such as documents, letters, diaries, maps, textbooks, photos, and others.

SS: Identify examples of institutions and describe the interactions of people with institutions.

VA: Use different media, techniques, and processes to communicate ideas, experiences, and stories.

VA: Use visual structures of art to communicate ideas.

VA: Select and use subject matter, symbols, and ideas to communicate meaning.

VA: Identify specific works of art as belonging to particular cultures, times, and places.

Possible classroom resources include: Bartholomew and the Oobleck by Dr. Seuss; Kings & Queens: The History of the British Monarchy by Anita Ganeri; British Kings & Queens: 1,000 Years of Intrigue, Struggle, Passion and Power by John Guy; Don't Know Much About the Kings and Queens of England by Kenneth C. Davis

Students imagine their lives as kings or queens. Consider the life of Prince William of England. What things that he can do would you like to do? What things can't he do that you would miss doing? What is required of Prince William that is not required of you? How would you feel being constantly surrounded by body guards, nannies, and tutors/

Students research the garments and adornments worn by royalty, past and present, in different areas of the world. Decorate your puppet in the style of one of the royals whose clothing you are interested in.