One-off workshop: The Queen of Hearts

The Queen of Hearts is an English nursery rhyme based on characters from playing cards. There are all the familiar faces: the King, Queen and Jack of Hearts. The Queen makes some tarts for the King, but they are quickly stolen by the knave. The King calls for the tarts, only to find them gone. He beats the Knave, who returns the tarts and promises he won't steal again. This lesson is suitable for five to seven-year-olds.

Resources

• A paper crown

• Playing cards (King, Queen and Jack of Hearts)

• A bun tray

• Flipchart paper and pen

• Videos of the rhyme with music (optional) wordsforlife.org.uk/activities/queen-hearts and bit.ly/3JD11eC

Learning Objectives

• To listen and respond actively and interactively to a nursery rhyme
• To physically connect movement with verbs
• To participate in sustained role play/improvisations and conversations, with peers and the teacher in role
• To use Drama for writing

Performance poetry

Recite the nursery rhyme together. Check they understand the story and know there are three characters, i.e. King, Queen and Knave (servant).

Puppetry

You can use three playing cards as puppets to re-enact the story while reciting it. The children could use these cards as puppets themselves after the lesson.

Occupational Mime

Explain that they are servants in the royal kitchen. They walk around until you call out a kitchen task, e.g. ‘Wash the floor’, ‘Put tins on the highest shelf’, ‘Butter the bread’. The tasks can be at various heights and repeated. You join in.

Teacher in role of the Expert

Ask the class to form a circle. Explain that when you return wearing the crown, you will be the Queen and they will be servants. Command them to sit, then confidentially explain that the King is miserable, so you are going to make tarts for him, but you need their experienced help. Ask what utensils and ingredients you need. In turn, they mime bringing them to you.

Mime

Now ask for instructions – or you could read them from an imaginary recipe book. They instruct you, while each making their own imaginary tarts. Get them to mime and voice the verbs with you, when they are carrying out the actions, e.g. ‘We are…spooning flour, shaking the sieve, chopping butter, rubbing with our fingertips, pouring drops of water, pushing the pastry into a ball shape, rolling the pastry, pushing the pastry cutter, placing circles of pastry in the tin, spooning jam’.

Teacher in Role

Thank them for their help, acknowledge there are mounds of washing up to be done, tell them to bring the tarts to the king later and then leave and remove the crown.

Improvisation (pairs)

Ask them to get with a partner to wash up the utensils. One of them can wash dishes while the other dries them. Ask them to chat as they work – perhaps about the activities of the King and Queen.

Drama Game

With the class in a seated circle, one child sits in the centre with their eyes closed. The bun tin is on the floor, close behind them. Children take turns at being the naughty knave, creeping up and trying to steal the tin without being heard. The ‘blind’ tin keeper points towards sounds. If caught, another child makes an attempt.

Teacher in Role/Whole-class Improvisation

With the class in a standing circle this time, explain that the Queen is coming to see the servants again. Put the crown on and arrive as the Queen. Tell them that you are upset, and the King is angry because his tarts have been stolen. Do they know who took them? They may or may not tell you. Either way, explain that stealing is not acceptable, and the King will punish the thief. Exit and remove the crown.

Tell them the Knave now wants to talk with them. Explain that when you return carrying the bun tin, you are the knave. Re-enter nervously as the Knave, admit you stole the tarts but say you are sorry. You took them because you were hungry but feel guilty, so haven't eaten them. You are still hungry and are frightened the angry King will beat you. Ask for their help and advice.

As the Knave, ask them to help you draft a letter of apology to the King. This could lead into you reciting an alternative ending with no beating!

The King of Hearts

Saw that the tarts,

Were not outside his door;

The Knave of hearts

Brought back the tarts,

And vowed he'd steal no more.