Activity One: Let's Read Some Books

1. Throughout the next week, read and discuss several of Beatrix Potter's books including The Tale of Peter Rabbit.
2. After reading each story, select a language arts topic to develop with your students. Have the children:
   • Point to details they see in pictures.
   • State descriptive words they heard in the story.
   • Identify the front cover, back cover, title page, author, and illustrator of the book. Point to upper and lower case letters you are working on.
   • Show classmates specific words you ask them to find on a page.
   • Tell you which parts of the story could be real and which parts are pretend.

Activity Two: Rabbits

1. Make a scatter graph of things your students already know about rabbits.
2. If possible, invite 4-H or FFA rabbit owners to share their rabbits with your class. Discuss eating habits, diet, breeds, behaviors and care. Perhaps one of your students has a rabbit that can be brought to class.
3. Teach and practice the "Bunny Hop" dance routine.
4. Have a Rabbit Food Taste Test where the children try different kinds of rabbit food (lettuce, parsley, etc.). Record taste test results on graphs you prepare similar to the diagram below.
5. Discuss why rabbits are mammals and the characteristics of all mammals.
6. Conclude this activity by making a list of new information the students have learned about rabbits

Activity Three: The Garden

1. Ask students, "What do we need to grow a garden?" "What will we grow in our garden?"
2. Make a scatter graph of items that can be grown in a garden.
3. Make a list of items the students need in order to plant a garden.

Seeds

At a learning station with a parent volunteer, have the children observe various types of seeds they could plant in their gardens. Seeds may include pumpkin, zucchini, radish, turnip, carrot, and parsley. Possible discussion topics are stated below:

• Discuss seed size and seed shape. What do they look like? What do they smell like?
• Is there a relationship between seed size and plant size?
• Which packages contain the most seeds? The least seeds?
• What are some benefits and challenges with planting small seeds? Large seeds?

Making the Garden

1. Assist students in making individual gardens.
   • Distribute one container, a bottom of a water or milk jug, to each student.
   • Have the students choose two types of seeds to plant in their personal gardens.
   • Have students make plant stakes for each seed they will plant by drawing a picture of the item on an index card with colored pencils. Attach a tongue depressor to the back of the index card with duct or masking tape. If you would like, laminate the stakes or cover them with clear contact paper. Set these aside for later use.
2. As a class, prepare the soil by mixing top soil, manure (sterilized), sand, and vermiculite. Speak with a local nursery about the quantities of each or buy a ready mix of potting soil. While preparing the soil, ask:
   • "How does the sand feel? The vermiculite? The manure?"
   • "Is soil made of only one type of substance?"
   • "If you were digging in the soil in a farm field, what might you find?"
3. At planting time, have each student place about 2" (5.08 cm) of gravel at the bottom of their container (gravel from the play yard will do) and then fill the remainder of the container with the prepared soil (about 6" (15.24 cm) deep). Make sure that the students do not fill the containers so high that the soil will run off when watered.
4. Using parent volunteers, have the students plant the seeds. The parents should teach the students how each particular seed needs to be planted, watered, etc. The plant stakes should be added at this time.
5. Have the children begin each day by putting their gardens outside in the sunlight, checking to see if the garden needs watering, and then watering if necessary.

Journaling and Discussing

1. Each morning the students should draw and/or write in their journals. Encourage the proper use of periods, exclamation points, capitalization, and pronouns. Teachers and parents can assist the students with journal-writing at various times during the "season." Journal entry topics may include:
   • What I Have Done Today?
   • What is Happening in My Garden?
   • How My Garden is Like a Farm.
   • Why My Garden is Different Than a Farm.
2. Class word lists can be made to assist in journal-writing. A word list example is shown below:
3. Daily, have a discussion on a specific topic. Suggested topics are listed below.
   • What needs to be done to protect the garden plants from pests such as bugs, rabbits, birds, and mold?
   • What are roots for? Why do they grow down?
   • Why do plants wilt?
   • Why do plants need sun? Or do they?
   • What happens if one adds too much water?
   • What happens if plants are too close together?
   • Are the leaves of all plants alike?
   • Do all seeds sprout?
   • What does a plant need to survive?
   • Does air temperature affect plants?
   • What seeds are growing the fastest? Why do you think they are growing the fastest?
4. After about three or four weeks, allow the children to take their journals and gardens home. Some of the plants can be transplanted into family gardens. Smaller plants, such as radishes, can remain in the container and placed in a well lit area. Take in the looks of pride as children walk out of school with their gardens... all because of Peter Rabbit!