I am back again. I thought I would share with you a slightly unusual activity I came up with! I love all things to do with Beatrix Potter! I have visited her house in Hill Top several times and love her heart for children’s literature. I love the fact that she designed her books to be small so that they would fit into children’s hands. I have collected all her stories, (the books with the cream covers and paper inlays).
I came up with this idea from a teacher friend from years ago and also a Uni lecturer. They both believed that children love adults dressing up and taking on a character. They felt the potential for learning was increased! I wanted to share with the children how illustrators and story tellers come to write their stories and what inspires them! So………….I went to some Op shops and decided I might dress up as one of Beatrix Potter’s governess’s children. As Beatrix spent time with these children and they were the catalyst for her writing, I tried to be as authentic as possible! So as I was saying I went off to the Op shops and with the help of my amazingly understanding husband who in the end found everything I was ready to go!
Here is my outfit!
I had the boots, hat and gloves already as you do! So what I needed now was Peter Rabbit! I decided to do this activity with the encouragement of my amazing mentor teacher (in a kindergarten class) while I was on Prac from Uni! If I could have I would have definitely looked around for a real live rabbit! But I was on Prac and it was easier to search for a toy rabbit! I didn’t want just any toy it had to be as realistic as possible!
Here he is!
I am off to take more photos and I should really fold some washing!
I’m back ! The teacher told the children that there was a visitor coming and I walked into the classroom in my finery! I put on my best english accent and sat down in a comfy chair. The children looked and looked and they said,” She looks like Morah Sue???” It was quite funny!
I sat down and we talked about Beatrix Potter and the way she wrote and illustrated her books. I had asked my artistic son to draw a light sketch of Peter Rabbit and as I talked I pretended to draw and then apply the paint (while looking at Peter Rabbit and noting his features). I showed them the kind of paint she would have used to colour her drawings.
We also looked at her early drawings and paintings.
I am off again!
I am back again! We looked at this wonderful book that I have had for ages. It is called Beatrix Potter a journal. I love it as it has reproduction articles such as her letters, art exhibition events and lift ups. You can take the letter out of the book and read it to the children. It feels so authentic! The book is available at http://www.fishpond.com.au/ for $24.00. This price is incredible as I think I paid $50 in a store!
I had purchased a set of CD’s from a school. Many schools have companies that leave sets of books available for purchase. These books and items are considerably cheaper than regular stores. I have looked at Fishpond and Book depository this item is currently unavailable but I have seen many ‘pop up’ shops with them. I paid $30 for the set and they are audio stories with well known british actors lending their rich voices to the text. These I played at rest time to immerse children in the beauty and wonder of the stories.
There is also a DVD with 5 classic tales which I picked up for $5 in a book store.
When I was in England I found this amazing cook book. It has wonderful recipes with Beatrix Potter’s illustrations to accompany the dish! I have made the fisherman’s pie, the honey cake and the apple butter pudding and they are all delicious. There is a company called ‘ Book Found’ ( https://www.bookfound.com/) and they will search far and wide to find a book! So if you were desperate to have the book I know they will be able to find it, but it will be at a price! (I have sent out a search so I will let you know!).
For the activity time, I showed the children different painting techniques Beatrix Potter would have used and they had a lovely time experimenting with water colours and fine brushes.
The official website of Peter Rabbit has been updated http://www.peterrabbit.com/au/. It has always been the most beautiful, creative and engaging place for parents, teachers and children. Now it has units of study for teachers, which is such a bonus! The units have been designed to fit the Early Years curriculum in the UK. I can’t wait to go through all the material, adapt it to life in Australia and share it with children!
I could babble on for ages but I will stop! The website truly is a treat for teachers, parents and children! Till next time
Sue!
P.S. Book found just found the cookery book! It will cost $67.50 this includes delivery from overseas!
Teachers Quiver Full 