The Queen of Hearts Nursery Rhyme and Activities
What you need:
The Queen of Hearts Nursery Rhyme printable
Board
Heart pointers
Foam hearts
Preparation:
Write the rhyme on the board. Let children create a heart pointer (heart shape glued on top of a craft stick).
The Queen of Hearts Rhyme Printable (see below)
The Queen of Hearts
Nursery Rhyme
The Queen of Hearts,
She made some tarts,
All on a summer's day;
The Knave of Hearts,
He stole the tarts,
And took them clean away.
The King of Hearts
Called for the tarts,
And beat the Knave full sore;*
The Knave of Hearts
Brought back the tarts,
And vowed he'd steal no more.
NOTE: *If you choose you can change the rhyme to "And the Knave came to the door,"
Read the rhyme. Explain that it is a very old poem and that it is not ok anymore to beat or hurt anybody. Even if they did something bad.
Ask children who made the tarts. Then, ask if they remember who stole the tarts? Explain that the word "knave" is not a word we use today a lot. Explain what a knave is. (Dictionary definition: Knave, which formerly meant merely a boy or servant, in modern use emphasizes baseness of nature and intention: a dishonest and swindling knave.) Read the nursery rhyme several times to the children.
Act It Out
Pretend to be the queen making the tarts (roll out the dough, cut out pie shape, put the filling in the tarts, put the tarts in the oven).
Pretend to be the knave stealing the tarts (move quietly on tiptoes, looking around to make sure no is around to see him, etc.).
Pretend to be the king. Ask children how the King of Hearts felt and looked like when he found out that the knave stole the tarts (angry, jump up and down, stomp foot). Discuss that we don't beat or hit anyone and that even the King shouldn't have done this. Just pretend to be an angry king.
Choose three children -- one to be the queen, one to be the knave, and one to be the king -- and let them act it out while you recite the rhyme.
Circle Game
Place a chair (throne) in the middle of the circle. Place a small pie tin or silicone muffin liner under the chair (throne).
Choose one child to be the queen or king sitting on the throne. PAsk the "queen" or "king" to cover her/his eyes. Point to a child to be the "knave" stealing the tart. The "knave" quietly steals the tart from under the chair and places it behind his/her back. The queen or king uncovers her/his eyes and has three tries to find the "knave" that stole the tart.
Rhyming
Explain to children that you will say two words from the rhyme and they have to listen carefully if they words rhyme. Instruct children to hold up the heart pointer if the words rhyme.
Say,
hearts / tarts
day / away
hearts / away
sore / more
tarts / sore
Extension:
FINE MOTOR SKILLS: Play Dough Tarts
Provide children with small pie tins, or a muffin tin, muffin liners, play dough, and some decoration materials like glass pebbles, craft foam flowers, foam hearts, pearls, etc. Invite children to roll out the play dough to make some tarts.
MATH: Hearts Sorting by Size and Colors
Provide children with a varitety of craft foam hearts. Let children sort the hearts by size and color.
Available for our KidsSoup Members:
Queen of Hearts Flip and Cover Game
SHAPES: Queen of Hearts and Heart Shape Activity and Worksheet
CRAFT:
