Image courtesy of Iuliia Pavlenko via Shutterstock
The Queen's Mosquitoes
Part I Activity / Learn to Pronounce Weird Words
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Buzz is easy to say and understand because the word is meant to sound like the noise it imitates. Words like buzz are examples of onomatopoeia—a word that is NOT easy to say.
But thanks to technology, you can learn how to pronounce this and other weird words in a few easy steps.
What You’ll Need
• A smart device or computer
• Internet connection
• Curiosity
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STEP 1
Look up the definition of the following list of words. (You already have a head start with Onomatopoeia!) Learn what they mean and see if you can figure out how to say the word just by looking at the pronunciation guide.
Weird Word List
1. Onomatopoeia
2. Quintessential
3. Ubiquitous
4. Acquiesce
5. Hors d’oeuvres
STEP 2
Find an online pronunciation source. Type in the word you want to hear and listen to how the person speaking pronounces it. You may have to listen to it several times. If possible, listen to how a couple of different people say it.
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STEP 3
Use one or more of your new words in conversation and impress everyone!
Part II Activity / Make a Paper Fan
When the Maid suggests fanning the air above the Queen’s bed, she is tapping into ancient knowledge. Even thousands of years ago, people knew that stirring the air through fanning creates wind that both cools the skin and helps repel insects that don’t fly well—which includes mosquitoes.
Here’s how you can quickly make your own fan.
What You’ll Need
• Small paper plate (cake plate size)
• Popsicle sticks
• Glue
• Scissors
• Crayons, markers or paints
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STEP 1
Cut the paper plate in half. This will give you two fans.
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STEP 2
Decorate the food side of the plate.
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STEP 3
Cross two popsicle sticks about 1 inch (2.5 cm) from their ends. Spread out the opposite ends. They should reach out to span most of the smooth part of the plate.
STEP 4
Glue together the two sticks where they touch.
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STEP 5
Glue the top portion of each popsicle stick to the back side of the plate.
Repeat Steps 2-5 to make a second fan.
Let the glue dry before using your fans.
Part III Activity / Make an Insect Bite Remedy
A nurse puts mud on the Queen’s mosquito bites, which actually helps to minimize the itch and swelling. Mud works for other types of insect bites as well. And it is available most anywhere, making it a good tip to remember when you are traipsing about in the Great Outdoors.
If you are close enough to your kitchen—or a farmers market—here are some other remedies you might consider using the next time you become some insect’s meal.
What You’ll Need
See each individual cure
Make a Poultice
Use any of the following ingredients to make a paste, then apply it directly to the bug bite or sting for 10 minutes.
Basil or Sage—If the herbs are fresh, chew on them or mash them with a little water. If the herbs are dry, put them in enough water to form a paste.
Baking Soda—Add enough water, or witch hazel if you have it, to make a paste.
Sugar—Soak the sugar in a little water until it becomes thick.
Use Onions/Garlic/Potato
Cut a piece of the vegetable and place it directly on the bite or sting. Let the juices seep into your wound until they lessen the pain.
Apply Tea Bags
Place a used tea bag on your insect battle scars to draw out the itch and sting.
Part IV Activity / Prevent Mosquito Bites
The net created by the Maid is just one of many ways to keep mosquitoes away from you.
If you have read the story or fun facts, you already have some clues about how to defeat mosquitoes. Let’s see if you can use that knowledge to keep yourself from getting nasty, itchy bites.
What You’ll Need
Items you probably already have
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STEP 1
Review the following things that you learned from The Queen’s Mosquitoes:
• Mosquitoes are weak flyers
• They need water to breed in and prefer still waters to flowing
• Their eggs need 10-14 days to mature into adults
• Finely woven materials help repel mosquito bites
STEP 2
Before skipping to Step 3, think about how you can use this knowledge and things that you may already have around your house to defeat those pesky, little pests.
STEP 3
See if you came up with any of these same solutions:
• Place an electric fan outside on a deck or patio to cool off guests and drive away pests
• Add a pump to water gardens so the water flows instead of being stagnant
• Dump out any standing water, especially after it rains, from flower pots, buckets and any place that water pools; if you do this once a week, you’ll defeat the mosquitoes’ breeding cycle, which takes 10 days or more
• After dark, put on long pants and long-sleeve shirts when you go outside to protect more of your vulnerable skin
• Use screens on windows or other types of netting to keep the bugs out in the first place
STEP 4
If all else fails and you do get bit, see Activity 3.