Getting Started
Overview
Queenie is
the true story of an Indian elephant who was taken into captivity. She spent
most of her life in Melbourne Zoo in the early 20th century. Her life was a
mixture of hard work and what seemed to be happy times. She was the highlight
of a trip to the zoo for many years, giving pleasure to the children who rode
on her.
When she was teased, she took playful
revenge. She was an important part of the Centenary Floral Parade in 1934. The
lack of money for feed in World War II changed her life, but she is still
remembered today through the Trail of the Elephants at Melbourne Zoo.
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Author profile
When Corinne Fenton learned about Queenie
the elephant, she knew she had to write her story. Corinne has had more than
fifteen children's books published, but Queenie: One Elephant's Story is
her first picture book. Corinne is the Victorian coordinator of the Society of
Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.
Source: Black Dog Books (used with
permission)
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Illustrator profile
Peter Gouldthorpe was born in Melbourne in 1954 and now lives in Tasmania. He is recognised as one of Australia's most versatile and skilful illustrators, adept at capturing and evoking the deepest
emotions through his art, notably in picture books for older readers. Peter
also paints landscapes, portraits and commissioned work, and designs stage
sets. He has received many awards and commendations for his beautiful work,
including the 1993 Children's Book Council of Australia Picture Book of the
Year for First Light.
Source: Black Dog Books (used with
permission)
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Useful websites
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Focus questions
Before reading the book
- What sort of elephant does Queenie look like?
- Why do you think she was captured?
- What do you learn about the time and place in
which the book is set from the cover illustration?
- Why do you think the illustrator has used the
colours that he has?
- What do you think might happen to Queenie in the
book?
During and after reading the book
- Did Queenie become a pet or stay a wild animal?
Why do you think this?
- What does this book show you about Australia's history?
- The book is set during World War II. What was
this? How did it affect Australia?
- Why do some children tease animals or people?
- From what you know about Queenie, do you think
she meant to kill her keeper? Why do you think this?
- Why is Queenie famous? How is she remembered?
Activities
Responding to text
You in Queenie's story
Individuals
Imagine you were a character in Queenie's
story. Put yourself into her story. You could be someone who rode on her,
someone who teased her, someone who worked at the zoo, or someone else.
Write a recount or short story about what
you and Queenie did.
Queenie – pet or wild animal?
Class
Was Queenie a pet or a wild animal? Re-read
the book to help you decide.
Talk about your opinions using the 'fishbowl'
strategy for discussion. In 'fishbowl', a number of students are engaged in a
discussion, debate or activity, with 'observers' (the rest of the class)
sitting behind and around them in a fishbowl arrangement. They observe, think
about and give feedback on the progress of the participants.
E-pals
Beyond the classroom
Set up e-pals at www.epals.com so that you can email other classes in Australia or other countries.
When you have come to a conclusion about
Queenie being a pet or a wild animal, email your e-pal about Queenie and ask if
they think she sounds like a pet or a wild animal. Then explain what you
believe. Your e-pal class or e-pal may also like to find and read the book Queenie:
One Elephant's Story.
Picture books
Class
Find and read other picture books that
tell some of Australia's history. You could start by reading some of the other
books in the Reading Enriches Learning (History) series at www.curriculum.edu.au/rel/history.
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Responding to images
Colours
Class
List the main colours that are used in the
illustrations. Would you describe these colours as bright or
dull? Why do you think these colours have been used?
Individuals
Create a colour palette by mixing
paints to match the colour of two or more of the main colours in the book. Paint something from Queenie's life using
these colours, such as when she gave rides or something else of your choice.
Spotlight
Class
Look at how the illustrations seem to
have a 'spotlight' (or other shape) on their centre. List all the 'spotlight'
shapes that you see. If you can't name some of them, invent names for them that
describe them.
How is the part of the picture that is
inside the 'spot-lit' part illustrated?
How is the outside of the pictures
illustrated differently?
Shape templates
Individuals
Using one of the shape templates
on half an A4 page, draw and colour a zoo animal with detail inside the shape
or 'spotlight'. Make sure that you don't draw all of the animal inside the
spotlight shape. Finish sketching the animal outside the 'spotlight' or shape
template. Look again at the illustrations in Queenie to see how the
illustrator uses this technique.
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Events of the past
Queenie's life as history
Re-read the book and select parts of
Queenie's life that show some of Australia's history. The first episode you
choose could be 'capturing a wild animal to put in a zoo'. A later episode
could be in 1931 when Melbourne Zoo got its first merry-go-round.
Small groups
In groups, show these episodes as 'freeze
frames', using the students' bodies frozen into shapes. Students prepare each
frame for the sequence, then – with the audience closing their eyes during the
preparation of each scene – they show them to the audience in ten-second freeze
frames. In this way, the action is seen as a series of frozen frames focusing
on the main moments of an incident.
Beyond the classroom
Present these freeze frames to an
audience of other students, community members or as an assembly item.
Commemorations
Queenie was so famous and popular at
Melbourne Zoo that there were Queenie posters, pencils and postcards produced
to commemorate her. She is still remembered by the Trail of the
Elephants, a jungle area at Melbourne Zoo.
Class
Select some important or popular events
in history that are commemorated in some way, such as the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, a royal wedding or Anzac Day (read the picture book Only a Donkey).
What are some important events in local
history that you could more easily find commemorations of? As a starting point,
think about the openings or inaugurations of particular buildings, including
your school.
What other items are used as
commemorations (for example mugs)? How do commemorations help people find
out about history?
Design and make a commemoration for an
event or person in your local area or state. This could be a plaque or
tile, a garden, a book or something else.
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Making connections
Zoos throughout history
Small groups
How have zoos changed through history?
Research this and write what you find out as a Retrieval Chart. Think about the types of animals that are
in zoos, and the types of enclosures they are kept in.
Beyond the classroom
Invite a zoo education officer, zookeeper or someone knowledgeable in this area to speak to your class. Make a list of questions to ask them,
including some about how zoos have changed in Australia (and the world) through
history. Also think of some questions about changing attitudes to zoos
over time.
Older students (and maybe younger
students as well) can also think about and answer the following questions about
how people's attitudes to animals in captivity have changed:
- How were animals in captivity used differently
in the past (for example, giving rides)?
- Did people have a closer relationship with zoo
animals in the past compared to now? Think of some examples.
- Are more animals left in the wild now, compared
to the past?
- What happens to zoo animals when they grow old?
Class
Show what you discover by writing your responses, drawing pictures and recording your
thoughts on a 'graffiti wall'. This
is a process of collecting knowledge and ideas from all class members onto
large sheets of paper on the classroom wall. Use coloured markers to make the
wall interesting.
After you have researched zoos, it may
also be possible to go on an excursion to a zoo to see first-hand what a contemporary
zoo is like.
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