Tea For Ruby

           By Sarah Ferguson, The Duchess of York 

 Illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser 

 

 

 

                                                                                        Summary

 

                                                                                        Ruby receives an invitation to have tea with the Queen.  She                                                                                               must brush up on her manners before the important event.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Activities

 

1.   Language Arts

 

Read the story, listening for setting, plot, and experiences of characters across cultures.  Create a story map on Kidspiration.

TEKS:  9I, 11I, 11J, 13A,

 Write a tea party invitation or use the one included with the “KIT” on http://books.simonandschuster.com/Tea-for-Ruby/Sarah-Ferguson-The-Duchess-of-York/9781416954194   . Write a thank you note to the person giving the tea party.  TEKS:  14D, 15, 16.

Act out the story or have a tea party.  TEKS:  9C

Vocabulary:  interrupt, appropriately, welcome TEKS: 8A

 

2.   Math

 

 Approximate how many cookies are needed for party according to how

many guests are invited.  TEKS:  Math 3 Problem solving

Follow a simple recipe for making shortbread:

            2 sticks real butter softened

           ½ cup powdered sugar

           2 cups flour

           Stir until mixed thoroughly.

           Press into a pizza pan with heel of hand.  Using a fork, prick the dough and press

           tines into edge of dough. Chill dough for 10 minutes.  Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

           Bake 20-25 minutes.  Slice in diamond shapes        

TEKS: 10B, 9C, 12A & B

 

3.   Science

 

Boil water to make tea. Talk about water cycle- evaporation TEK: 7B

 Infusion of tea leaves into the water in cup or teapot using loose tea in teaball or teabag.

Identify the parts of a tea plant and the function of tea leaves.  TEKS: 6C

Add sugar, milk or lemon to cup of tea.

 

4.   Social Studies

 

 Geography – Where does the story take place?  What continent is England on?

 Locate it on Google Earth, or atlas or globe

TEKS: Geography 5C

 Where is tea grown?  Find it on Google Earth.

 Using Britannica or World Book databases; compare England’s leaders to USA leaders.

Manners – Sing songs from the “Kit” on Simon & Schuster website to help learn manners.

 

 

Internet Resources

    http://books.simonandschuster.com/Tea-for-Ruby/Sarah-Ferguson-The-Duchess-  o 4

 

  Robin Glasser website:

http://www.harpercollinschildrens.com/kids/gamesandcontests/features/fancynancybooks/

 

Kit for Tea with Ruby : http://books.simonandschuster.com/tagged_assets/ak01_1416954198_722.pdf

     

Other Websites:

The Tea Party Club:  http://www.theteapartyclub.com/Children.html

 

Afternoon Tea Etiquette: http://entertaining.suite101.com/article.cfm/english_afternoon_tea_etiquette

 

Literary Connections:

 

Kirk, David.  Miss Spider’s Tea Party.  Callaway & Kirk Company, 1994.

 

O’Connor, Jane.  Fancy Nancy. HarperCollins, 2006.

 

Weitzman, Jacqueline Preiss. You can't take a balloon into The Metropolitan Museum. Dial Books for Young Readers, 1998.

 

Wheeler, Susan and Paul F. Kortepeter.  Let's Have Tea Together: Recipes and Celebrations for Every Season.  2002