rabbits

... with "Peter Rabbit"
by Beatrix Potter

Peter RabbitPeter Rabbit is the main character in a series of children's books by Beatrix Potter. He first appeared in The Tale of Peter Rabbit in 1902. Although he and the other rabbits are drawn from life, they wear human clothes; Peter wears a bright blue coat and clogs.

Synopsis: One day, Mrs. Rabbit goes to the bakery, leaving Peter and his sisters, Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cottontail to play in the forest. Disobeying his mother's orders, Peter sneaks into Mr. McGregor's garden and eats as many vegetables as he can before Mr. McGregor spots him and chases him around. Eventually, Peter manages to escape, but not before losing his jacket and his shoes, which Mr. McGregor uses for his new scarecrow.

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During April the children participate in a unit on " Peter Rabbit " and author, Beatrix Potter . The children are invited to bring any Beatrix Potter books they have, and/or stuffed rabbits to school to share with the class during the unit.

amile Day 1

Reading: Introduce and read "Peter Rabbit"

Discussion questions:
- What do you know about rabbits? Where do they live? What do rabbits eat?
- Is it important to mind your parents? Why? Why not? How do you feel when you don't?
- Have you ever lost a sweater or jacket? What did your mother say? How did you feel?

  • Word Study: Rabbits - make a list of facts the children know about rabbits, their habits, etc.
  • Research - Rabbit facts: Co-operative group activity: each group finds as many facts as possible about a type of rabbit, then shares their facts with the class.
  • Writing: Write a letter to Peter
  • Art Activity: Make Peter Cottontail stand-up (use as name tag)

amile Day 2

Share information about your stuffed animal with the class!
 Fill out a 3x5 index card about the stuffed animal the children brought to school. Include the following information:

- Owner's name
- Animal's name
- Kind of animal
- Animal's age

 - Animal's favorite thing to do
- Animal's favorite food
- Where does the animal sleep?
- Where was your animal born?
  • Reading: Main Idea, details - in co-operative groups, reread story, then list the main idea, and at least 3 details
  • Word Study: word clusters about Peter Rabbit (build vocabulary with words from story such as: mischievous, naughty)
  • Writing: You are Peter, write a letter apologizing to Mr. McGregor
  • Art Activity: Make puppet in water can (re-read story in co-operative groups using water can, children "ah-choo" with Peter)
  • Story Time: one of Beatrix Potter's stories brought in by the children

amile Day 3

  • Morning Work: ABC order - a list of vegetables from Mr. McGregor's Garden
  • Reading: Compare/contrast different versions of Peter Rabbit
  • Word Study: Mr. McGregor
  • Science: Needs of plants that grow from seeds
  • Activity: Plant carrot seeds
  • Story Time: another Beatrix Potter story brought in by the children

amile Day 4

  • Reading: Discuss setting; Read Benjamin Bunny, is the setting the same? different?
  • Word Study: Benjamin Bunny
  • Activity: Make scarecrow, put in with carrot seeds
  • Story Time: another Beatrix Potter story brought in by the children

amile Day 5

  • Morning Work: Peter Rabbit activity sheet
  • Reading: Read biography about Beatrix Potter
  • Word Study: Beatrix Potter, author
  • Writing: Book belt - about your favorite Potter story
  • Math: Cottontail Math activity sheet
  • Story Time: another Beatrix Potter story brought in by the children

amile Culmination:

Beatrix Potter read-a-thon!!

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 amile Websites of interest

A few internet resources where you may find more information about "Peter Rabbit" and Beatrix Potter:


◊ A Brief Biography of Beatrix Potter ◊

Helen Beatrix Potter (28 July 1866 – 22 December 1943) was an English author and illustrator, mycologist and conservationist, best known for her children's books, which featured animal characters such as "Peter Rabbit."

Born into a privileged household, Potter was educated by governesses, and grew up isolated from other children. She had numerous pets and through holidays in Scotland and the Lake District developed a love of landscape, flora and fauna, all which she closely observed and painted. As a young woman her parents discouraged intellectual development, but her study and paintings of fungi led her to be widely respected in the field of mycology. When she was 27 and on holiday in Scotland, in a letter dated 4th September 1893 she sent a story about rabbits to Noel Moore, the five year old son of her last governess. She was encouraged to publish the story so she borrowed it back in 1901 and made it into the book entitled The Tale of Peter Rabbit. Potter published the highly successful children's book, and became secretly engaged to her publisher Norman Warne causing a breach with her parents, who disapproved of his social status. Warne died before the wedding could take place.

Potter eventually published 23 children's books, and having become financially independent of her parents, was able to buy a farm in the Lake District, which she extended with other purchases over time. In her forties she married a local solicitor, William Heelis. She became a sheep breeder and farmer while continuing to write and illustrate children's books. Potter died in 1943, and left almost all of her property to The National Trust in order to preserve the beauty of the Lake District as she had known it, protecting it from developers.

 

 

 

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Site was last updated 08/03/08