CASTLE Curriculum: A Closer Look
Summary
Play, skit, and lessons explore history, culture and symbolism which inspires students to ask questions about loyalty, secrets, kingdoms, coronations, royalty, and treasure.
Introduction
Princess Polly is turning 18 and wants more than anything to strike out and see the world. Suspicious that her mother the queen secretly intends to abdicate at her 18th birthday celebration, Princess Polly enlists the help of Rumplestiltskin to create a magic cloak that will force her mother to tell the truth about her plan. Problems arise for Queen Lily when she is suddenly faced with having to say what she really thinks in a kingdom full of zany and sometimes nonsensical nursery rhyme and fairy tale characters like Old Mother Hubbard, Humpty Dumpty and Rapunzel.
Teacher Guide
· Background · Director/Educator Preparation · Casting Notes · Performers · Working with your Set · Program · Integrating Curriculum · Fun Facts
Two Act Play
Script for 15 actors
The Castle Bedroom. It is very early in the morning. QUEEN LILY is sitting on a chair while her LADY IN WAITING helps her put on her rings and necklaces and bracelets.
Short Skit
Script for 2 actors
PRINCESS POPPY enters the spinning room stage right. She is pacing. RUMPLESTILTSKIN enters and sits down at the spinning wheel which could be designated by a chair next to the spinning wheel on the backdrop and having the character pretend he is spinning using pantomime.
Creative Play Ideas
4 Scenarios for Imaginative Play
Scenario #1: Pretend you and your friends are a group of knights set out to rescue a magical treasure. How would you get from the castle entrance to the highest tower without waking the sleeping giant who lives there? What traps or other dangers must you overcome?
Lesson #1
Vocabulary Strategy - Word Tree
Subjects: Reading, Vocabulary
Lesson #2
Let me Check My Datebook – A Weekly Calendar
Subject(s): Writing, Social Studies
National Standards:
NL-ENG.K-12.3 Evaluation Strategies
NL-ENG.K-12.5 Communication Strategies
Lesson #3
Make Your Own Family Crest
Subject(s): Writing, Social Studies, Art
National Standards:
NA-VA.K-4.1 Understanding and Applying Media, Techniques and Processes
NA-VA.K-4.2 Using Knowledge of Structures and Functions
NA-VA.K-4.3 Choosing and Evaluating a Range of Subject matter, Symbols and Ideas
NA-VA.K-4.4 Understanding the Visual Arts in Relation to History and Cultures
NA-VA.K-4.5 Reflecting Upon and Assessing the Characteristics and Merits of Their Work and the Work of Others
NL-ENG.K-12.4 Communication Skills
Lesson #4
Nursery Rhymes – You be the Poet!
Subject(s): Writing, Social Studies, Art
National Standards:
NL-ENG.K-12.1 Reading for Perspective
NL-ENG.K-12.2 Understanding the Human Experience
NL-ENG.K-12.4 Communication Skills
NL-ENG.K-12.5 Communication Strategies
NL-ENG.K-12.6 Applying Knowledg
NA-VA.K-4.2 Using Knowledge of Structures and Function
NA-VA.K-4.3 Choosing and Evaluating a Range of Subject matter, Symbols and Ideas
NA-VA.K-4.4 Understanding the Visual Arts in Relation to History and Cultures
NA-VA.K-4.6 Making Connections Between Visual Arts and Other Disciplines
