Kindergarden - Kings and Queens

88 Kings and Queens: Supplemental Guide 4A | Sing a Song of Sixpence

A pocket full of rye,

[Explain that rye is a grain, similar to wheat.]

Four and twenty blackbirds

Baked in a pie.

When the pie was opened,

The birds began to sing;

[Tell students that long ago in England, putting birds in a pie was a fancy way to

celebrate a special occasion.]

Now wasn’t that a dainty dish

To set before the king?

[Explain that a dainty dish is food that looks nice and fancy. Dainty also means

small and pretty.]

 Show image 5A-2: King counting and queen eating

The king was in his counting house

Counting out his money;

[Have a student point to all the gold around the king. Then ask students, “Is this

a rich king or a poor king? Which other king did you hear a story about who

also really liked gold?”]

• King Midas
  The queen was in the parlour,

[Define that a parlour is a fancy room inside a house where people can sit and

talk.]

Eating bread and honey.

 Show image 5A-3: Maid

The maid was in the garden,

[Remind students that a maid is a female helper who does housework. Here

she is hanging up the clothes she has washed so they can dry outside.]

Hanging out the clothes,

When down came a blackbird

And pecked at her toes!