MCSD — Kindergarten students at Cardinal Elementary were treated like royalty on February 26th as they celebrated the conclusion of the "Kings and Queens" unit from their CKLA curriculum with an enchanting Royal Tea Party.
The festive event marked the end of an engaging learning domain in which students explored the lives, responsibilities, and customs of royalty throughout history. Over the course of the unit, kindergarteners listened to classic tales including King Midas and the Golden Touch, The Princess and the Pea, Cinderella, and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs—stories that have captivated young learners for generations.
What Students Learned
The unit sparked genuine curiosity and learning among the kindergarten class. When asked what they discovered about royalty, students shared their key takeaways:
"Kings and Queens say please and thank you."
"Kings and Queens wear fancy clothes."
"Kings and Queens have good manners."
"I learned that a princess should not sleep on a mattress with a pea under it."
"Students loved listening to the fairy tales and learning about all the royalty," shared kindergarten teacher, Jennifer Gavin. "You could see their excitement every time we started a new story."
Building Foundations for History and Civics
This unit does so much more than entertain—it builds critical background knowledge about different forms of government and royal customs that will support students' understanding of history for years to come.
The Kings and Queens domain serves as a crucial stepping stone in the kindergarten curriculum. Following this unit, students will explore the Columbus and the Pilgrims domain, and later the Colonial Towns and Townspeople domain, which describes life in colonial America. Together, these interconnected units lay the groundwork for understanding significant historical events—such as the American Revolution—that students will study in later grades.
A Royal Celebration
At the Royal Tea Party, students dressed in their finest attire and participated in tea party traditions, including proper etiquette and refreshments. The event allowed kindergarteners to celebrate their learning while experiencing firsthand some of the customs and courtesies associated with royal life that they had studied throughout the unit.
"Events like this make learning memorable. When students can experience and celebrate what they've learned, it deepens their understanding and keeps them excited about school."
Warm Regards,
Sara Bennis
Cardinal Elementary Principal
