Mini Picturebook Lesson 17: The Queen’s Hat by Steve Antony

Notes

Synopsis	A sudden gust of wind blows the Queen’s hat off, so she and the Queen’s men set off on an adventure through London in pursuit of the hat.
Lesson access	via url-link or QR-Code
Equipment for child	tablet, phone or laptop, internet connection, perhaps headphones
Materials	dictionary (online or paper), craft materials
Language Skills	listening, vocabulary (verbs), speaking (read aloud)
Cross-curricular Links	citizenship, history, geography
Values	London landmarks, royalty
World Event Day	Queen’s birthday

Equipment: dictionary (online or paper), tablet or laptop & internet connection and perhaps headphones

Materials for your Map: paper, coloured pens and pencils

Time: 20-30 minutes

STEP 1: Look at the Cover

Look	What do you see on the front cover.
Read & Notice	Read the title. Can you see the Queen? Can you see her hat? What is the Queen doing? What animal can you see?
Look	Describe the Queen: clothes, hair, movement.
Count	How many soldiers are there? What are they doing?
Predict	Which country do you think this story takes place in? Why?
Research	Name three countries that have a monarchy. What form of government does your country have?
Predict	What do think happens to the Queen’s hat?
Research	What is a butler? What work does a butler do? Do you think the Queen has a butler?
Research	Find five famous landmarks to visit in London.
Pronounce	Say: swish, whoosh and swoosh. What do you think these words mean? Do you think they sound light or heavy?
Check	Look up the meaning of these words: to swish, to soar, to whoosh, to swoosh, to float. What type of weather are they related to? How do you say these words in your language?

Step 2 and Step 3: Listen and Watch

Part A	Listen and watch for general understanding and enjoyment.
Part B	Listen and watch again and answer the questions, pause and replay when you need to.
	Where is the Queen going ?
	What happens to her hat?
	What are the soldiers called?
	Why could the Queen not catch her hat?
	Where does she find her hat?
	What is the place called with the large lion? Trafalgar …
	Where does the Queen ride a giraffe? London …
	What is the name of the train the Queen drives to catch her hat?
	What is the name of the bridge she crosses?
	What does the Queen use to fly?
	Where does the Queen finally find her hat? At Kensington ….

Step 4: Add your Voice

Remember	Name the London landmarks the Queen went to.
Remember & Check	Which creatures did you see in the London Zoo? What time was it on Big Ben’s clock? Listen to Big Ben chiming. Big Ben
Review & Observe	Watch and listen to the story again and pause every time you see the butler and the dog. Where are they? What are they doing?
Review & Personalise	Look at the soldiers. How do you think they feel running after the Queen’s hat? Are they having any difficulties? If so, which ones? Do you think they like their job?
Research	Queen Elizabeth II loves dogs. Find out some facts about her dogs: What breed are they? What do they look like? When did the Queen get her first dog? Do you like dogs? Do you have a dog?
Create	Imagine the Queen lost her hat in your town or village. Draw a map of all the places she would pass. How would you help her find her hat?
Personal response	Have you ever lost anything? What was it? How did it make you feel? Did you find it again? If so, how and where did you find it?
Think	What is special about this book for Steve Antony?
Your opinion	Which is your favourite part of the story and your favourite illustration? Why?

Step 5: Share and Evaluate your work

Share	Send your work to your teacher or share in your virtual classroom.
Evaluate	Complete the evaluation sheet to reflect on your learning.

Want More?

Learn more about the Queen’s hats. The Queen’s Hats. What is a person who makes hats called in English? What is the word in your language?

The Queen’s Hat by Steve Antony published by Hodder Children’s Books, 2014