Dear Educator, Explore the world of kings and the wonder of words with this free educational program, The King’s Language Arts Speech: Rated PG-13, from The • Uses strategies to address writing to Weinstein Company and different audiences (e.g., includes curriculum specialist Young Minds explanations and definitions according to Inspired (YMI). ’s background, age, or knowledge of the topic, adjusts formality of Winner of 4 Academy Awards, The , considers interests of potential readers) King’s Speech has inspired millions • Uses strategies to adapt writing for with its uplifting story of personal different purposes (e.g., to explain, inform, triumph and friendship. To make analyze, entertain, reflect, persuade) the film available to younger •Writes compositions employing viewers, The Weinstein Company FOCUSED LEARNING persuasion has produced The Kings Speech: • Uses criteria to evaluate own and others’ Rated PG-13, which is coming to This program is designed for students in effectiveness in group discussions and theaters nationwide on April 1st. high school courses in history, English, formal presentations theater, film studies, and language arts. • Uses a variety of strategies to enhance The movie follows King George VI PROGRAM OBJECTIVES listening comprehension on his path to the throne as he • Responds to questions and feedback about struggles with self-doubt and a •To challenge students to examine the contributions to discussions and formal lifelong speech impediment to find influences on the lives of national leaders presentations (e.g., clarifies and defends his voice and lead his people as •To encourage critical thinking using ideas, expands on a topic, uses logical they face the terrors of World War primary sources arguments, modifies organization, sets II. The story’s depiction of personal • To strengthen students’ communication goals for future presentations) battles, fear, perseverance, and an skills • Understands influences on language use unlikely friendship shows the • To engage students in creative writing (e.g., political beliefs, positions of social human issues challenging the exercises power, culture) Royal Family, while the world they ROGRAM OMPONENTS *Source: www.mcrel.org live in faces turbulent times. P C • This two-page teacher’s guide THE STORY OF THE KING’S SPEECH The award-winning film’s characters • Two reproducible activity masters and themes inspired this engaging • A transcript of the speech delivered by After the death of his father King in-school program with easy-to- King George VI when Great Britain () and the scandalous implement activities. Students will entered World War II abdication of King Edward VIII (Guy Pearce), explore the role royal responsibility Bertie (), who has suffered from a and social influences play in the HOW TO USE THIS PROGRAM debilitating speech impediment all his life, is lives of kings. They will also be Review the program materials and schedule suddenly crowned King George VI of challenged to evaluate the art of the activities to suit your timeframe. Each . With his country on the brink of war communication. Students can activity is designed for one class period, with and in desperate need of a leader, his wife, complete the activities and engage additional follow-up lessons. Read the film Elizabeth (Helena Bonham Carter), the future in class discussions without seeing synopsis aloud prior to beginning the , arranges for her husband to the film. activities. It is not necessary to see the film to see an eccentric speech therapist, Lionel complete the activities. Distribute a copy of Logue (). After a rough start, Please share this program with each activity master and the transcript of King the two delve into an unorthodox course of your colleagues teaching history, George VI’s speech to each student. treatment and eventually form an English, theater, film studies, and unbreakable bond. With the support of language arts. Although these NATIONAL EDUCATION STANDARDS* Logue, his family, his government and Churchill (Timothy Spall), the king materials are protected by Historical Understanding copyright, you may make as many will overcome his stammer and deliver a radio copies as you need for your • Analyzes the values held by specific people address that inspires his people and unites classes. Please share your who influenced history and the role their them in battle. Based on the true story of comments on the program at values played in influencing history King George VI, The King’s Speech: Rated www.ymiclassroom.com/ • Analyzes the effects specific decisions PG-13 follows the royal 's quest to kingsspeechfeedback.html. We had on history and studies how things find his voice. depend on your feedback to might have been different in the absence continue providing free of those decisions educational programs that make a real difference in students’ lives.

Sincerely,

Dr. Dominic Kinsley Editor in Chief Young Minds Inspired is the only company developing free, innovative classroom materials that is owned and directed by award-winning former teachers. Visit our website at www.ymiclassroom.com to send feedback and download more free programs. For questions, contact us at 1-800-859-8005 or email us at [email protected] © 2011 YMI, Inc. © 2011 The Weinstein Company. All Rights Reserved ACTIVITY ONE: 12, 1987); 4. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. ROYALTY VS.LOYALTY (“I Have a Dream” speech, Aug. 28, 1963); 5. Franklin Delano Roosevelt (first Inaugural In this activity, students explore the address, March 4, 1933); 6. Eleanor influences on the lives of national leaders. Roosevelt (“The Struggle for Human Rights” speech, Sept. 28, 1948) PART A. Students are presented with select facts and events from the lives of three FOLLOW-UP ACTIVITY: After completing British kings—George V and his two sons, the activity, have students listen to or read Edward VIII and George VI. Students use some of the speeches featured on the this information to compare and contrast activity sheet. Then ask students to the kings, and to engage in discussion consider the question: Would these words about what it means to be royalty, and have been so powerful if delivered by what impact social perceptions and another person, during another time? personal preferences have on each Have students imagine that Lincoln, monarch’s decisions. Roosevelt, King, or Reagan delivered Kennedy’s “Ask not what your country Have students read the activity and can do for you” speech. How would complete Part A. You might complete this their voice and character have changed as a class, or have students work in groups the speech? Students can write the to discuss their thoughts. Then discuss their speech as one of these other figures. answers to the questions.

Additional discussion questions: DISCUSSION AND RESEARCH 1. What message do you think George V’s ROMPTS decision to change the Royal Family’s P RESOURCES name sent to other nations? • Speech therapy has evolved over the British History and Government 2. Do you think Edward felt compelled to years. Have students research methods • BBC History www..co.uk/history abdicate or wanted to step down? of treating speech impediments, from • Daily Mail, “The quack who taught 3. Why would George VI be concerned those used in ancient times to current- King George VI to speak” (10/26/10) that his speech impediment would day treatments. What methods have www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ impact his ability to lead? been used? What has changed? What article-1323769/Colin-Firth-stars- has stayed the same? The-Kings-Speech-quack-cured- PART B. Students examine the similarities • King George VI faced a personal George-VI.html and differences in the roles and challenge with his speech. As a class, • The official website of the British responsibilities of U.S. presidents and the brainstorm other national figures who Monarchy www.royal.gov.uk royal monarch. Have a class discussion to were conflicted with or overcame review students’ responses to the questions. personal challenges to lead their nations. How did they address their challenges? SPEECHES FOLLOW-UP ACTIVITY: Several countries • American Rhetoric in contemporary society have monarchies. www.americanrhetoric.com Some are constitutional; others are not. POST-VIEWING ACTIVITIES • Audio of King George VI’s Sept. 3, Have students research the monarchies that • Both Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (Helena 1939 speech exist today. What role do these monarchs Bonham Carter), who becomes Queen www..com/watch?v= play? Are they figureheads or do they Elizabeth, and the eccentric speech DAhFW_auT20 exercise governmental power? therapist, (Geoffrey Rush), • Library of Congress are instrumental in helping King George http://memory.loc.gov VI so that his speech challenges didn’t • Miller Center of Public Affairs, UVA ACTIVITY TWO: debilitate him. Have students discuss http://millercenter.org/scripps/ THE ART OF COMMUNICATION how they would characterize the queen archive/speeches In this activity, students explore the role of and Logue. • Our Documents Initiative voice and character in effective • Have students research additional www.ourdocuments.gov communication. information about George VI’s • Text of King Edward VIII’s abdication relationship with Lionel Logue and the speech www.royal.gov.uk/ PART A. Students listen to and read the impact it had on the king’s . pdf/edwardviii.pdf speech featured in The King’s Speech: • King Edward VIII abdicates the realm • Text of King George VI’s speeches Rated PG-13, and evaluate it. As a class, within one year of taking the throne. www.royal.gov.uk/pdf/georgevi.pdf review students’ reactions to King George Have a class discussion about why • The History Channel VI’s speech and their answers to the Edward abdicated. Students can debate www.history.com/speeches questions. whether or not they think Edward should • The King’s Speech (official movie have stepped down. website, with links to an audio of the PART B. In this part of the activity, students • After abdicating, Edward marries Wallis speech) www.kingsspeech.com match speakers to quotes from famous Simpson and leaves England. Have speeches. students research the life of Edward after he abdicates and explore the question: If ANSWERS: 1. John F. Kennedy (Inaugural King Edward VIII had not abdicated, address, Jan. 20, 1961); 2. Abraham Lincoln what if any impact would this have had (Senate nomination speech, June 1858); 3. on the outcome of World War II? Ronald Reagan (Brandenburg Gate, June © 2011 YMI, Inc.

© 2011 The Weinstein Company. All Rights Reserved R EPRODUCIBLE ACTIVITY MASTER ACTIVITY ONE ROYALTY VS.LOYALTY

PART A. LIFE AS A MONARCH The British royal monarch plays an important role in the life of his or her nation. As , the monarch represents Great Britain to the world, but to the people, the monarch also provides a focus of national identity, an embodiment of national values, a source of confidence in turbulent times, and an inspiration to public service.

What is it like to serve as the royal monarch, a public figure who has to balance the demands of the world he or she lives in with centuries of traditions and expectations? How does the king or queen balance loyalty to the and nation with loyalty to his or her personal beliefs? How does the public influence the monarch? Think about these questions in relation to the information about each British king given below. • Like his father, George VI was well-liked by the GEORGE V (REIGNED 1910-1936) public and made numerous visits to troops and • He left a career he enjoyed as a naval officer in 1892 hospitals during the war. when he became heir to the throne upon his brother’s death. He returned home and married, and Each of these kings made sacrifices out of loyalty to later became king in 1910. and to uphold their responsibilities to the • In 1917 during , anti-German sentiment people. Consider the world these kings lived in and led King George V to change the family name from discuss the questions below. the Germanic Saxe--Gotha to Windsor. 1. How do you think being royalty affected each king’s • George V started an annual tradition in 1932 by decision—George V to change the family name, delivering a Royal Christmas speech on the radio. It Edward to abdicate, and Albert/George VI to seek was believed that he was persuaded to do this speech therapy? because it was what his people wanted. 2. What role do you think society or social perception played in each king’s decision? 3. How do you think each king’s personal preferences EDWARD VIII (REIGNED JANUARY TO ) factored into his decision? • The eldest son of George V, who had been a 4. Would you consider each of the three kings to be popular figure, Edward took the throne upon his loyal to his duties? Why or why not? father’s death. • Because he had fallen in love with a married (and subsequently divorced) American named Wallis ART MERICAN EADERS Simpson, who would not have been acceptable as P B. A L queen, Edward abdicated less than one year after Think about the responsibilities the U.S. president has becoming king and married his love in 1937. to the American citizens. Discuss the questions below. • During World War II, he lived in Paris and Lisbon 1. Does the president have the same roles as a British before being appointed governor of the Bahamas. king? He remained abroad for the duration of his life. 2. How do American leaders represent their loyalty to the citizens? GEORGE VI (REIGNED 1936-1952) 3. George V sacrificed his career and name. Edward • Edward’s abdication left his younger brother Albert VIII sacrificed the throne for love. Compare and next in line for the throne. Albert, who took the contrast the type of sacrifices American leaders name George VI, never anticipated and, it is might make to those of these two kings. believed, never wanted to be king. 4. Aside from the political responsibilities, how do you • Albert had a fear of public speaking due to a speech think the positions of U.S. president and the British impediment. He saw many doctors, and spent years royal monarch (currently Queen Elizabeth II) are working with a speech therapist to help him develop alike and different? his speech and overcome his fear.

© 2011 YMI, Inc.

© 2011 The Weinstein Company. All Rights Reserved R EPRODUCIBLE ACTIVITY MASTER ACTIVITY TWO THE ART OF COMMUNICATION

PART B. WHO SAID IT? A leader’s voice and character play an integral role in his or her ability to effectively deliver a speech that resonates with people. Test your knowledge of these famous people and quotes from speeches that they made.

Abraham Lincoln Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Franklin Delano Roosevelt John F. Kennedy Ronald Reagan

1. “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.”

______

2. “A house divided against itself cannot stand.”

______

3. “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.”

______

4. “I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up PART A. EVALUATE THE VOICE and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold In The King’s Speech: Rated PG-13, Colin Firth’s these truths to be self-evident, that all men are character Bertie seeks the help of several doctors and created equal.’” works with a peculiar speech therapist on his stammer. Ultimately, through determination, he is ready for the ______moment when a leader must connect with his/her people through the spoken word. That moment comes when Firth’s character delivers King George VI’s speech 5. “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” to the citizens of Great Britain on September 3, 1939, announcing the nation’s entrance into World War II. ______

Why was it so important for King George VI to find his 6. “People who continue to be denied the respect to voice and be prepared for such a moment? To answer which they are entitled as human beings will not this question, compare King George VI’s written speech acquiesce forever in such denial.” with the recording of the speech, available at www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAhFW_auT20. ______

1. What comes through in the recording that is not present in the text? Now, consider this: How is each person’s voice and 2. Why couldn't the king simply issue a proclamation character reflected in the quote? on this occasion? 3. What do his voice, his character, and what his Listen to or read the speeches of these six people at people feel toward him add to the message? American Rhetoric www.americanrhetoric.com or The History Channel www.history.com/speeches.

© 2011 YMI, Inc.

© 2011 The Weinstein Company. All Rights Reserved