The Tale of Peter Rabbit
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The Tale of Peter Rabbit .".••HT^^V" .4 M animated musical based on Beatrix Potter's classic story, narrated by Carol Burnett. STUDY GUIDE For Children Ages 3 through 9 Years S Disney ....•..•..•. • '-iSv-v .sAlfi •^.'a'r'i •'..••.••.•• . * vw •^ • ••*^»^« ....... .•.«•. Project ft »* Knowledge Introduction How to Show Welcome to HBO Project Knowledge. HBO is committed to serving not only Carol Burnett, who also narrates the the Videotape Over the years Home Box Office has its cable audiences but also its larger story. To some children, the story may The running time for "The Tale of Peter received thousands of letters from community. We thank you for your in be a warning to obey parents but to Rabbit" is 26 minutes. The tape is viewers interested in using original terest in our efforts and welcome your others, it is about the thrill of adventure. suitable for viewing in its entirety at HBO programming in educational set opinions and suggestions on HBO one showing. You may wish to stop tings. Through HBO Project Knowl Project Knowledge. the tape after Mrs. Rabbit walks off to edge, we are pleased to be able to Goals and the store and ask how the filmmaker make these high-quality programs Synopsis has already shown us that Peter is available to schools, libraries, institu Objectives going to ignore her warning. Ask what tions, professional associations and "HBO Storybook Musicals: The Tale of else viewers have noticed so far. community groups. Peter Rabbit" is based on Beatrix Pot Goals ter's timeless tale. Mrs. Rabbit warns HBO Project Knowledge is pleased to The collection includes documentaries, her children—Flopsy, Mopsy, Cotton make available this musical version of information specials and animated Discussion and tail and Peter—to stay out of Mr. Mc a celebrated children's classic. The en children's programs, many of which Activities Gregor's garden. But the adventurous richment of visual and sound imagery are multiple award-winners. Peter disobeys and heads straight for and original song makes this musical Suggested Previewing Activities Each program in the HBO Project trouble. While the good little bunnies an ideal motivational tool for using lit • Literature Knowledge collection is accompanied pick blackberries, Peter stuffs himself erature as a means to develop basic by a carefully researched study guide. with beans, lettuce and radishes. When concepts, skills and values. Many children already know the The guides contain reproducible mate Mr. McGregor sights Peter and chases story of Peter Rabbit from various rial for handouts as well as ideas for him, it seems hopeless to Peter until Objectives available versions. If they are already sparrows show him the way out of the familiar with the story, you can ask discussion and further study in both • To recognize the pattern of warnings informal and formal educational settings. garden. All of the songs are sung by them to list words which might de given and ignored as a part of many scribe the character of Peter. Give a folktales and stories. reason for your word choice: brave • To explore the setting, plot and because he dared to go into the gar characterization in the story. den, etc. If they are not familiar with For purchasing information about "The Tale of Peter Rabbit" or a catalog of HBO • To relate the concepts of being the story, you might read aloud the Project Knowledge titles, please contact: scared but becoming brave to a first 19 pages of the original Beatrix child's own life. Potter version (see bibliography) and Ambrose Video Publishing • To observe rabbits and develop a proceed from there. Or you can save 1290 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 22-45 descriptive vocabulary of their this activity for after viewing. New York, NY 10104 habits. • Story Structure 1-800-526-4663 Like many stories, this one has a This study guide may be reproduced for educational use. Ages warning in it. Discuss what a warn ing is. What usually happens in a This study guide was written by Susan Hepler, Ph.D. for KIDSNET, the computer This program is especially recommend story when someone is warned not ized clearing house for information on children's audio, video, radio and television ed for children ages three to nine. to do something? Listen for other in Washington, D. C. warnings in this story. Macintosh Production: Natalie Kelly Supervising Editor: Virginia McEnerney, Manager, HBO Project Knowledge Do you think this story has a moral or message? What could it be? © 1991 Home Box Office, Inc. All rights reserved. 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What songs do you especially re member? What songs did you like Why did Peter disobey his mother? woods and the garden. Locate im • Video Literacy: Compare the film to What bad things could have hap portant events lightly in pencil. Draw the book best? Why did you like a particular a scene from a particular event and song? How did the songs help the pened to Peter because of his ac 1. In what ways are the film and the tions? Could anything good happen paste it in the right place on the story move along? map. Fill in the background with the book similar? In what ways are to Peter as a result of his disobedi they different? Does Peter look ence? What might Peter have appropriate woods, garden rows, or 2. The birds sing a warning song walls. When the map is completed, and sound as you had imagined called "Peter Be Careful." The cat learned from his trip to Mr. McGre he would when you read the gor's garden? write a group description of what sings "Am I in the Mood?", which this story map shows. story? How are the endings dif is very different in tone. How would ferent? Which version do you you describe the tone of the cat's • Reviewing: Create a "story museum" Helpers for the Hero prefer? Why? song? How does this song suit the Many things, such as a watering cat? How is Peter feeling in the 1. Various birds appeared in the can, beans and peas, a bird feather, 2. How is watching a story on video garden as he sings his song, "Here story. What kinds do you recall? a little jacket and shoes, a teaspoon, different from reading it in a book? I'll Stay," and looks at the stars? (Birds named in the video include and so forth, are important to the How does the song tone reflect bluejay, crow, sparrow, finch and story. Assemble a museum out of Peter's feelings? real things and pictures of things. wren.) Discuss how the sparrows helped Peter. Do the crows, blue- On a card write about what this item 3. Peter's brothers and sisters sing is and why it is important to the jays, and other birds help or hinder Peter? How? The helper of the a song called "That Kind of a Day," story. Display the museum on a which is cheerful and bouncy. The table along with a copy of the book, hero is another common pattern in stories. Can you think of other words to this song appear on pages The Story of Peter Rabbit, to inter 8-9. Sing the song and accompany est others in reading the story. stories in which this pattern oc curs? List or name the hero, the yourself with rhythm and motion. helper, and the story. • Mapping the Plot and Setting 4. Can you remember any songs that Discuss and list the major events of 2. Compare the story the mother repeat in the video? Why do you the story and the site at which they mouse told her children with think the songs are repeated? occured: the warning at home; what Peter's mother told him. Peter's squeezing through the gate; How did overhearing the mouse his banquet in the garden; losing his story affect Peter? jacket; his escape from the watering can; the birds' help in finding the gate; avoiding the cat and so forth. On a large blank sheet of paper or on 1 1 OH o o CD •4—» H-> CD O W) +-• P^H ^^ PH 2 'CH CD ,q •J ° W> ^.