Sanity Savers: King/Queen for a Day

Sponsored by: M&T Bank

By: Val Drapeau           
Education Coordinator 

Materials

Some kind of building supplies (blocks, magna tiles, duplos, plastic cups)
Construction paper
Tape
Ruler (optional)
Crayons or Markers
Stickers/Foam Shapes/Gems (optional)

Sanity Savers: King/Queen for a Day

 Length:

Set up: 5 minutes
Active: 20-30 minutes 

Academic Subject(s):

Art, Math, Science 
This lesson supports your student’s curriculum: PreK.ARTS.16
K.ARTS.17
1.ARTS.17
MST PK.G.A
MST K.G.A, K.G.B
MST 1.G.A.2
MST 2.G.A.1
SCI K-2-ETS1-2 
This lesson supports areas of Early Childhood Development and PreK Curriculum:
·        PreK Standards:  Fine motor skills such as learning to cut with scissors and drawing lines.  This activity additionally supports the Visual Arts Standard of inventing and discovering to create with the castle building activity. 

Sanity Savers: King/Queen for a Day

Directions:

King/Queen Crown: 
Step 1: Gather colorful construction paper, tape, markers and any additional embellishments that you would like to add to the project that you might have available in the house.

Step 2: Have child choose what color paper they would like and then draw a zigzag line in the middle of one piece of construction paper lengthwise using a pencil.  Drawing lines like this takes a lot of practice and may be easier for older children.  It’s a great fine motor skill for PreK and K students to attain though, so be patient as they focus and try!  Having them use a ruler to make the zigzag lines may help.

Step 3: Cut along the zigzag line with child safe scissors.  Check your child’s scissor usage, making sure the thumb is in the circular hole and that the thumb is above the other four fingers.  Mastering cutting with scissors is also an essential skill for kids of all ages, so keep encouraging your child as they work on cutting up and down the zigzag lines. 

Step 4: Once the line is fully cut, you should have two halves of paper.  Line up the two papers lengthwise and tape them together.  Decorate the crown with crayons, markers, stickers, embellishments, etc.  Allowing your child to personalize their crown will give them a sense of ownership and accomplishment!

Step 5: Measure the paper strip around your child’s head for proper fit and tape the other two edges together (overlap the paper if need be for fit).

Step 6: Talk together about what other ways they can be more like a King or Queen in addition to their crown.  Wearing a play costume?  Using a pretend wand or scepter?  Wearing special dress up clothing or a robe to feel like a royal? Enjoy playtime with your young King or Queen for the day, and ask them what rules they would make if they ruled the land! 

Castle Building: 
Step 1: Choose something that you have around the house that a child could build with such as children’s blocks, magna-tiles, Duplo blocks, cereal boxes, plastic drinking cups, etc.

Step 2: Let their imagination run wild!  See what kind of castle they would build if they were the King/Queen of the land! 

Vocabulary Words

· Embellishments – a decorative detail or feature added to something to make it more attractive
·  Lengthwise – in a direction parallel with a thing’s length
· Royal – having the status of a king or queen or a member of their family

For more Sanity Savers projects click here!

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