Queen’s Knickers Analysis

Overview

This 45-minute lesson is Lesson 3 in the unit Knickers of the Queen for Year 2, focusing on reading and analysing The Queen’s Knickers by Nicholas Allan. It is designed for a class of 30 students and aligns with the National Curriculum for England: English Programmes of Study for Key Stage 1 (Years 1 and 2).

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National Curriculum Links

Reading: Comprehension (Year 2)

• Develop pleasure in reading, motivation to read, vocabulary and understanding by:
  • Listening to, discussing and expressing views about a wide range of contemporary and classic poetry, stories and non-fiction at a level beyond that at which they can read independently.
  • Discussing the sequence of events in books and how items of information are related.
  • Discussing and clarifying the meanings of words, linking new meanings to known vocabulary.

Writing: Vocabulary, Grammar and Punctuation (Year 2)

• Use some features of written Standard English.
• Understand how language, structure, and presentation contribute to meaning.

Spoken Language

• Participate in discussions, presentations, performances, role play/improvisations and debates.

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Learning Objectives

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

1. Identify and discuss the key features, tone, and structure of The Queen’s Knickers.
2. Explain the purpose and intended audience of the story.
3. Make personal connections to the text by sharing their own experiences and relating them to the story.
4. Use appropriate vocabulary to describe their thoughts and ideas.

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Resources

• Copies of The Queen’s Knickers by Nicholas Allan (physical or digital)
• Whiteboard and markers
• Sticky notes or small coloured cards
• Large paper for mind mapping
• “Character and Feelings” worksheet (pre-prepared)
• Props or costume items related to the story (optional for role play)

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Lesson Structure

1. Introduction (5 minutes)

• Greet the class and recap briefly on Lessons 1 and 2 focusing on knickers as a playful story element.
• Explain today’s aim: to read The Queen’s Knickers closely to think about how the story is written, who it might be for, and how it makes us feel.
• Display the book cover and ask a quick prediction: What do you think the story will be about?

Curriculum Link: Spoken Language - express and listen to ideas with familiar texts.

2. Focused Reading & Discussion (15 minutes)

• Read the story aloud to the class, using expressive tone to illustrate the humour and playfulness. Pause occasionally to:
  • Identify story structure: Beginning (introduction to the queen’s knickers), Middle (different knicker adventures), End (final surprise twist).
  • Discuss the tone: humorous, light-hearted, silly. Ask children how the tone makes them feel.
  • Pause to clarify any new vocabulary (e.g., knickers, knickerbocker).
• Ask comprehension questions:
  • Who do you think this story is for? (Children)
  • What is the story’s purpose? (To entertain, to make people laugh)

Curriculum Link: Reading comprehension – discussing sequence and meanings.

3. Purpose and Audience Discussion (10 minutes)

• On a large sheet or whiteboard, create a simple mind map titled “Purpose and Audience.”
• Invite pupils to add ideas about:
  • Why was the book written? (e.g., to make us laugh, to tell a fun story about the queen).
  • Who might enjoy it? (e.g., children just like us).
• Link to pupils’ own experiences: Has anything funny happened with clothes or knickers?
• Use “Character and Feelings” worksheet to help children record their thoughts about the Queen and how she might feel.

Curriculum Link: Spoken Language – articulating ideas and explaining reasoning.

4. Personal Connection Activity (10 minutes)

• In pairs, pupils share a funny or memorable story about their own clothes or something silly that happened to them (linked to the text’s tone).
• Then, each pair writes or draws one short idea about their story on a sticky note or coloured card.
• Gather all contributions and make a classroom display titled Funny Clothes Stories linking real life to the text. Encourage children to see humour in everyday life.

Curriculum Link: Develop pleasure and engagement through personal connection to texts.

5. Plenary & Assessment (5 minutes)

• Recap the lesson with three quick questions on the board, answer as a class or show thumbs up/down:
  1. What kind of story is The Queen’s Knickers (funny, serious, scary)?
  2. Who is the story written for?
  3. What did you think was a funny or interesting part?
• Collect the “Character and Feelings” worksheets to assess understanding of tone and character feelings.
• Praise pupils for good listening and sharing ideas.

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Differentiation

• Support: Provide sentence starters for discussion (e.g., “I think the book is funny because…”). Use visuals to aid vocabulary.
• Challenge: Ask more able pupils to suggest how the structure helps keep the story funny and why the author chose the queen as the main character.

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Extension Ideas

• Role play a scene from the book using costume props to bring characters to life and deepen understanding of tone.
• Write a short, silly story about their own funny knickers adventure using the story’s structure as a guide (to be completed in later lessons).

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This lesson plan actively engages Year 2 pupils through reading, speaking, listening and personal connections, ensuring clear progression in comprehension and understanding of text features, purpose, and audience — all firmly rooted in the National Curriculum’s core expectations for English.