The Tale of Peter Rabbit

Objective

Students will listen to and retell the key events of "The Tale of Peter Rabbit," identify the story's characters, and describe how making good choices versus naughty choices led to different outcomes for the rabbit siblings.

Materials

• "The Tale of Peter Rabbit" by Beatrix Potter (this resource)
• Chalkboard/whiteboard or chart paper and marker
• (Optional) paper and crayons for the extension activity

Warm-up (~5 min)

• Gather students in a circle or reading area.
• Ask: "Has anyone ever been told 'don't go there' and gone anyway? What happened?" Allow 2–3 students to share briefly.
• Tell students: "Today we are going to read about a rabbit named Peter who does NOT listen to his mother, and see what happens to him!"

Main Activity (~25 min)

1. Introduce the characters (3 min): Show the cover. Read the names of the four rabbits: Flopsy, Mopsy, Cotton-tail, and Peter. Ask students to repeat the names aloud.
2. Read the story aloud (15 min): Read the story straight through, showing illustrations as you go. Pause at these moments to check understanding:
3. After Mrs. Rabbit's warning: Ask, "What did Mrs. Rabbit tell her bunnies NOT to do?"
4. After Peter squeezes under the gate: Ask, "Did Peter listen to his mother?"
5. After Peter loses his shoes and jacket: Ask, "What is happening to Peter's clothes?"
6. After Peter meets the white cat: Ask, "Should Peter talk to the cat? Why or why not?"
7. After Peter escapes through the gate: Ask, "Is Peter safe now?"
8. Discuss the ending (7 min): Ask the group:
9. "What happened to Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cotton-tail because they listened to their mother and picked blackberries?" (They had bread, milk, and blackberries for supper.)
10. "What happened to Peter because he didn't listen and went into the garden?" (He lost his jacket and shoes, got very wet and scared, and had to drink camomile tea and go to bed because he wasn't feeling well.)
11. Write two columns on the board: "Listened" and "Didn't Listen." Fill in what happened to the rabbits under each column based on student answers.

Wrap-up / Exit Ticket (~10 min)

• Pass out paper (or use whiteboard slates if available).
• Ask each student to draw ONE picture showing their favorite part of the story (for example: Peter under the gate, Peter in the watering can, Peter meeting Mr. McGregor, or the bunnies eating blackberries).
• Have each student say one sentence about their drawing to a partner or to the class, such as "This is Peter hiding in the can."
• Collect drawings as the exit ticket to show understanding of a story event.

If Time Remains

Ask students to stand up and act out being Peter Rabbit: hopping "lippity-lippity" around the room, then freezing like Peter when he hears Mr. McGregor's hoe going "scr-r-ritch, scratch, scratch, scritch." Call out story moments (eating lettuces, getting caught in the net, jumping in the watering can, squeezing under the gate to safety) and have students act each one out in place.