Lesson Plan: Royal Hounds - A History of Queens and their Canine Companions

Materials Needed

• Access to the internet for research (with parental supervision)
• Notebook or paper for taking notes
• Pencils, pens, and colored pencils or markers
• For Activity 3 (optional materials): Cardboard box, craft supplies (fabric scraps, cotton balls, glue, scissors), LEGOs, or digital design software (like Canva or even MS Paint)
• For Activity 4: A large piece of poster board or a few sheets of paper to create a mini-exhibit

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, the student will be able to:

• Identify at least two historical queens and their preferred dog breeds.
• Conduct simple research to gather key facts about a historical figure and their pet.
• Write a creative short story from an animal's point of view, incorporating historical details.
• Design a creative project that synthesizes historical information and personal creativity.
• Present their findings in an organized and engaging way.

Introduction (10 minutes)

Start with a fun discussion! Ask: "If you were a queen or king, what kind of dog would you have? Why? What would you name it?"

Then, introduce the idea that many famous queens throughout history were huge dog lovers. Show a picture of Queen Elizabeth II with her famous Corgis. Explain that her dogs were treated like royalty themselves! Today, we're going to become royal historians and investigate the stories of other famous queens and their beloved dogs.

Activity 1: Royal Dog Detective (30-45 minutes)

Goal: To research and gather facts about a specific queen and her dog(s).

1. Choose Your Subject: Select one queen from the list below to investigate.
   • Queen Victoria: Famous for loving many dogs, especially a Dachshund named Boy and a Pomeranian named Marco.
   • Marie Antoinette: Queen of France, known for her Papillons and a Pug named Mops.
   • Queen Elizabeth II: Famous for owning more than 30 Corgis throughout her reign.
   • Mary, Queen of Scots: Known for her little Maltese and Skye Terriers that were her constant companions.
2. Gather Clues: Using kid-safe search engines (like Kiddle or DuckDuckGo with safe search on) or provided articles/books, find the answers to these questions in your notebook:
   • What was the queen's name and when/where did she live?
   • What breed(s) of dog did she own?
   • Did any of her dogs have names? If so, what were they?
   • Find one fun or interesting fact about the queen and her dog(s). (e.g., Did they sleep in her bed? Did she have portraits painted of them?)
3. Create a Fact File: On a clean sheet of paper, create a "Royal Dog Detective Fact File" summarizing your findings with a small drawing of the queen and her dog.

Activity 2: A Day in the Life of a Royal Pooch (30 minutes)

Goal: To use the research from Activity 1 to write a creative story.

1. Choose a Perspective: Imagine you are the dog you just researched (e.g., Mops the Pug, or Susan the Corgi).
2. Write a Diary Entry: Write a short diary entry or story (about one page) from the dog's point of view. What was your day like living in a palace?
   • Prompts to consider: What did you eat for breakfast? Did you get to sit on the queen's lap during an important meeting? Did you play in the royal gardens? Did you get into any trouble? What does the queen whisper to you when no one else is around?
   • Try to include at least two historical facts you learned in your story! (e.g., "Today, my human, Queen Victoria, took me for a walk around Buckingham Palace...")

Activity 3: Design a Palace for a Pooch (30-45 minutes)

Goal: To creatively design a home fit for a royal dog, applying historical context.

1. Brainstorm: Royal dogs wouldn't live in a normal doghouse! Brainstorm what a palace for a royal dog would include. A velvet bed? A personal chef? A slide that goes into a bowl of treats?
2. Design and Create: Based on the era your chosen queen lived in, design a royal doghouse. You can:
   • Draw It: Create a detailed blueprint on paper. Label the different rooms and features. For example, a Victorian-era doghouse might be very ornate, while a modern one for a Corgi might have tech gadgets.
   • Build It: Use a cardboard box, LEGOs, or other craft supplies to build a 3D model of your design.
   • Digital Design: Use a simple computer program to create a digital version of the doghouse.
3. Explain Your Choices: Be ready to explain why you included certain features in your design. ("I gave Mops a silk pillow because Marie Antoinette loved luxury.")

Activity 4: The Queen's Canine Curator (20 minutes)

Goal: To synthesize all the learning into a final presentation project.

1. Curate Your Exhibit: A museum curator is someone who chooses items for an exhibit. You are now the curator for the "Royal Hounds Museum"!
2. Create Your Display: On a poster board or several pieces of paper taped together, create your museum exhibit. Your exhibit should include:
   • Your "Royal Dog Detective Fact File" from Activity 1.
   • A short, exciting summary of your story from Activity 2.
   • Your drawing or a photo of your model from Activity 3.
   • A title for your exhibit, like "The Corgis of Buckingham Palace" or "The Pugs of Versailles."
3. Present Your Work: Give a 2-3 minute "museum tour" of your exhibit. Present your poster and explain each part. Share your favorite fact you learned and explain why you designed the doghouse the way you did.

Lesson Wrap-Up & Assessment

Review the student's final museum exhibit. The presentation serves as the primary assessment. Did they complete all the activities? Can they confidently speak about the queen and dog they researched? Did they successfully incorporate facts into their creative work? Ask reflective questions like, "What was the most surprising thing you learned?" and "How was life different for a royal dog compared to our pets today?"